Many parents enjoy sharing photos, videos and updates about their babies and children on social media to show their pride and to also make far-away friends and family feel involved.
While it can be touching to see, some tend to post far more frequently and share every tiny update on their profiles and in messages or group chats.
This can be tricky to navigate for those who are struggling to conceive a child and one woman has taken to Mumsnet to share her experience.
She writes: “Sister-in-law is a lovely person, I do like her and she works hard as a nurse and puts up with my brother - god knows how. They recently had a baby together - all happy and healthy, we celebrated alongside them and I adore my new nephew.
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“But. She is posting pictures daily. New personalised outfits for baby, '4 weeks old today, 5 weeks old today' etc, Easter outfits, sharing every detail over social media and sent to me via WhatsApp.”
The woman reveals that her brother’s wife is now not only sharing photos and updates but also sharing posts that can be perceived as insensitive.
“Now she's posting memes with her pictures, one of which today says along the lines of 'until you become a mother, you'll never know deep, true love...' etc.,” the post continues.
She concludes by stating that her ‘patience is wearing thin’ and adds that she is feeling hurt.
The user writes: “I can't possibly say anything, I wouldn't want to upset her, but it's hard - after a long TTC [trying to conceive] journey ended without success for me personally, I've come to terms with being childless and I'm looking to foster, but I think it's cruel to say you can't possibly know 'love' if you're not a mother - there are all kinds of deep bonds, relationships and connections in life, surely?”
Many also felt torn about what she should do next, but some also gave handy pointers.
One wrote: “That must be very hard for you, but I think you would be unreasonable to spoil her happiness. Are you able to adjust your social media settings so you no longer see her posts (or fewer of them)?”
Another explained: “Mute. Just reply every few days. Spread the responses out. She's got a lovely Oxytocin high. Things will steady as time moves on. For now your views don't align (of course you don't need children to understand love!!) so step away for now and prioritise your own feelings.”
However, one commenter was infuriated with the memes and said: “Anyone sending me a WhatsApp meme about not knowing love until you’re a mother would get blocked. That’s totally out of order and hugely insensitive. The other stuff I would just mute.”
Another agreed, writing: “I'd have to say something. New baby excitement/hormones is lovely but saying that only mothers can know true love is cruel, smug and insensitive, even if you didn't have fertility issues.
“It's one of my pet hates and I always pull people up on it. Tell her you enjoy seeing the baby photos but that you feel belittled and hurt by her comments about motherhood and that love comes in many forms.”
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
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