Drew Barrymore Refuses to Sugarcoat the Reality of Being a Mom

Actress Drew Barrymore has started a social movement inviting parents to be more realistic about their trials and tribulations. #TheWayItLooksToUs challenge is inspired by her recent mom “faux pas,” where she wore sweatpants to drop her daughter off at school and beat herself up over it.

“I showed up at my kid’s school, a little bit late with her this morning. I was in sweatpants and I felt like I didn’t look like a proper mom, and I started beating up on myself. It’s so typical of what parents do to themselves,” she shares in an Instagram video.

Instead of spiraling into a day of self-hate and criticism, she used it as an opportunity to launch a five-part social media series to encourage fellow moms and dads to speak openly about the challenges they face and how appearances aren’t always what they seem.

Staying true to her word to “present the same thing right back,” she uploaded a post to kickstart the campaign.

In it, Barrymore shares an illustration of two picture-perfect young girls dressed in pretty pink dresses and sipping on sugary sweets. But if you swipe to the next photo, you’ll find the reality of the situation. The mom shows a video of her two rowdy girls after they completely covered her house in a layer of powdered sugar. Good times, good times.

Every parent can relate to Barrymore’s woes. With the constant judgment of others, it’s easy to feel like you have to put on a perfect parenting show for the world. But the truth is, there are more parents who don’t have it all together than those who do. Even Instagram influencers—who are often paid to look perfect—want others to know what you see isn’t always what you get.