Last evening, my younger one returned from her school trip, buzzing with stories and excitement. As she animatedly shared tales of their adventures, she suddenly turned reflective and said, “Mamma, I feel bad for some girls.”
I was curious. “Why do you feel bad?”
Her response left me both surprised and contemplative: “They miss their best days in life by trying to be these little ladies in crop tops, torn jeans, showing their belly buttons.”
This came from my 12-year-old Gen Z daughter, who had the clarity to observe something deeper in a world obsessed with trends and appearances.
It took me back a few days when I had a similar moment of discomfort, scrolling through social media. It was a stream of maternity shoots— the likes of Sonam Kapoors and Deepika Padukones, followed by influencers... Anisha Dixits. While motherhood is a beautiful journey, these highly curated displays felt off to me.
The bare bellies, the provocative poses—what message are we sending? It wasn’t about celebrating life; it felt like a thinly veiled attempt to sensationalize something deeply personal. These same women, who shield their babies’ faces with emojis for privacy, don’t hesitate to bare it all during pregnancy.
Motherhood is raw, messy, and magical. It’s sleepless nights, quiet moments of joy, and an unparalleled connection. Why reduce it to a performance? Why turn it into an exhibition of flesh disguised as empowerment?
I’m all for celebrating individuality and choice, but there’s a difference between expressing beauty and turning it into a spectacle. As a mother, this reminds me to guide my daughter toward cherishing authenticity over appearances and values over fleeting trends.
On second thoughts, I am doing a fine job :)
The best days of our lives aren’t lived through the lens—they’re lived in the quiet, unscripted moments that truly matter.
