Instagram Mom Dishes Real Talk on Motherhood Beyond the Filters

Evie Brooks, a mother from Northamptonshire, is using social media to show what real life as a parent is like. She goes by Council House Mama on Instagram and TikTok, where she shares honest stories about motherhood. Evie has two sons and often talks about the challenges she faces, including feeling torn between working and caring for her children. She wants to break the cycle of parents comparing themselves to the perfect images they see online. Instead of only showing the good moments, Evie posts about the messy and difficult parts of being a mum. She believes that being open about her struggles helps other parents feel less alone.

Evie has experienced postpartum depression, anxiety, and maternal OCD, which have all influenced what she shares online. She says that many parents have mental health problems, but not enough people talk about it. According to the Mental Health Foundation, 68 percent of women and 57 percent of men with mental health issues are parents. On Parental Mental Health Awareness Day, Evie explained that people are looking for honest and relatable stories from mums like her. She has noticed that more people are interested in real-life posts instead of just the perfect, Instagrammable moments. Many of her followers thank her for being real and honest about motherhood, and she now has 90,000 followers on Instagram.

There are also organizations in Northamptonshire that support parents. Nichole Walker works for Milk and You, a charity that helps mothers and fathers support each other and their babies. The group offers a safe space for parents to talk and get help, no matter their situation. Nichole says that as long as you have a baby and need support, you are welcome. Another group, KidsAid, focuses on helping families early, before problems get worse. Geoff Russel-Jones from KidsAid says that it can be hard for parents to get therapy, but early help is making a difference. They offer counseling, education, and support groups for parents who have had tough experiences. In the last year, 44 percent of parents whose children used KidsAid also got help themselves. The goal is to make sure parents get the support they need, not just when there is money or enough sessions.