This Woman Broke Down The Idea Of Not Being A "Mother Type"

Gylisa Jayne is a prominent blogger and a mother in Cornwall, UK. She happens to have colorful hair and tattoos. Because of her appearance, some people think she's not fit to be a mom; but in a recent Facebook post, the blogger fired back at stereotypes surrounding mothers and the unrealistic and limiting standards they're expected to meet. Her post went viral; and at the time of this article, it's gathered over 3.3 thousand reactions, 577 shares, and nearly 200 comments. Support has flooded in, and it's clear that Jayne isn't the only one who thinks we're being too hard on moms.

In the post, Jayne explains that the whole thing started when someone made a comment to her that she hadn’t thought Jayne was the mom type, implying that there is, in fact, a certain type. She acknowledges that while this woman might not have really meant anything by it, it still bothered her, due to the meaning behind it: that a mom “has to live up to a certain standard.”

Jayne goes on to drop some serious truth bombs about what it means to be a mom — including all of the rules that you don't need to follow. Read her full post below:

She makes an important point, and it's that moms are human too, and thus flawed creatures, just like everybody else. They don’t need to have spotless records and perfect pasts, because nobody does. And if we're being honest here, weren't some of the crappiest moments of our lives — some of the worst decisions we made growing up — also some of the moments that helped shape us most? It's called living. "But how can we raise our children effectively if we haven't experienced a bit of life beforehand?" Jayne writes. "Without navigating my own chequered past how could I possibly hope to guide a new soul through similar times?"

Another crucial takeaway here? That moms don't need to give up everything for their kids and put their own desires on the back burner. I'm a true believer in the whole "you can't take care of someone else if you don't take care of yourself" school of thought. It’s OK to go get a manicure. It’s OK to have piercings, if they make you happy. It’s OK if taking care of your child isn’t the only thing you care about. Many things bring us happiness in life; having a child doesn't mean you turn in everything in exchange for childrearing.

Gylisa Jayne clearly isn't one to shy away from the truth, and her words have proven to be a breath of fresh air to women and parents around the globe. She digs past all the BS — the unfair expectations, the posed Instagram pictures where new moms look flawless, the struggles with weight and emotions and breastfeeding — to get to the heart of the matter and have a seriously honest conversation about what it's like to be a woman. She puts on an act for no one, and her words are much needed during a time and culture when we're consumed with impressing each other online.

Even if you're not a mom, spend some time reading what Jayne has to say. I guarantee you'll find something you relate to.