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When I became a parent, I didn't want to get my parenting advice from social media. Then the pandemic happened, and not only was I getting tips and tricks from my Instagram feed, but I also started writing articles on how to be a better dad, which has been one of the most fun and rewarding aspects of my career.
I still regard many influencers with a healthy dose of skepticism, as anyone should, as they're often there to sell you something. But I've found that there are many parents, doctors, writers, and others who are trying to send good out into the world. Here are 10 that make me smile or make my day, and I hope they do the same for you.
Virginia Sole-Smith
While other parenting podcasters are taking on topics like streamlining your morning routine or meltdowns (critical issues, by the way), journalist Virginia Sole-Smith uses her newsletter and podcast Burnt Toast to take down diet culture and its effect on children. She told NPR that more than a quarter of children in the United States will be on a diet by the time they reach middle school, which is a staggering statistic. Her idea for battling the bias is for parents to explain that we all come in different shapes and sizes, which we all need to hear to start accepting ourselves for who we are.
Dr. Becky Kennedy
There's been some fuss over Kennedy's philosophy that parents should discipline their children with kindness rather than fear. But judging from the popularity of her podcast, book, and social pages, the Good Inside doctor strongly resonates with stressed-out parents who want to break free from what they experienced growing up. Her advice assures the listener they are doing their best, which everyone needs to hear occasionally.
Brown Bag Brown Dad
Some parents leave a note in their child's lunch. Lynell Jinks spends hours illustrating pictures on his kids' lunch bags—with everything from characters from the holiday classic Home Alone, recreations of the Smithsonian's portrait of President Barack Obama, or a picture of Coach Deion Sanders—and posting them on his socials. The account is a fun reminder that we can infuse fun and creativity into even the most routine aspects of our child's day.
Cup of Jo
Joanna Goddard's blog has grown by leaps and bounds since it began in 2007, employing a team of writers and editors to cover motherhood, relationships, travel, and recipes (which I've often used to successfully feed my picky sons). Although the site has evolved, the content still feels raw and honest, even as the founder navigates her recent separation from her husband. Additionally, the comments never disappoint.
The Dad Father
Aaron Thygesen cracked the code of making hilarious parenting content without appearing to be a self-righteous father. And let's face it, when someone's sponsored content makes you laugh until you cry—which happened to me when I saw one of his spots for Dave's Killer Bread—you know he's on to something.
Feeding Littles
My wife has followed Megan McNamee, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, and Occupational Therapist and Feeding Specialist Judy Delaware since we introduced our oldest son to solid food. In the beginning, I was skeptical of their methods for baby-led weaning and promoting intuitive eaters. In the years since, I've seen my boys go from very picky to slightly adventurous eaters (the gap is wider than you think). They also have a great relationship with food, making the stress over meals over the years worth it. Their socials are no-shame zones where the underlying message is always this: "Do what works for you."
Momma Cusses
Gwenna Laithland is my kind of parent: She tells dad jokes to the annoyance of her kids, has no filter (hence her moniker), and knows that the best expert to help you be a parent is you. Other influencers may try to be relatable, but Laithland excels at it, bringing authenticity to the one place on the internet that is not known for it: social media.
The Mom Psychologist
When my boys were going through their terrible twos (and threes and fours), it seemed that every day another applicable piece of advice from Dr. Jazmine McCoy's Instagram account (@themompsychologist) would pop up on my feed, offering straightforward and valuable guidance as I navigated myself through yet another meltdown. McCoy doesn't dole out blame or shame, just easy ways to help you connect with your little human, even when they're throwing a fit.
The Dad Gang
The Dad Gang came together in 2016 to "defy stereotypes, shatter myths, and celebrate black fatherhood every day. Here is a place where we encourage, teach, support, and share tips that can help all fathers become better dads." If you spend one minute on their socials, you will find nothing but positive and inspirational content and a strong community of fathers looking out for their kids.
The Oh.Henrys
At first glance, nothing really sets the Henry family apart from other influencer families. But look closer, and you see they have some great hacks, like assigning one of their four kids a day of the week they're responsible for all the chores, but that kid also gets to choose where they sit in the car, what's for dinner, pick a show, etc. for that day. They're also not shy about how difficult marriage can be when raising four children, so they introduced The Marriage Comeback podcast this year.
They're a good reminder that social media is often just a highlight reel. We’re all dealing with our own challenges, and a little grace and understanding can make all the difference as we work to become more engaged and supportive partners and parents.
from LifeHacker https://ift.tt/V1cwqpd
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