For far too long, we've been subjected to seeing immaculate, minimalist-style homes on Instagram. The kitchens are always spotless, the couches are bright white and stain-free, and despite following influencers who (allegedly) have kids, there's never so much as a stray toy spotted in the background of their stories.
But times they are a-changing — and boy, does it feel good to see.
Now people are coming clean about their not-so-clean homes. They're showing the "real" shots that never made it into our feeds before. And they're no longer feeling embarrassed of their less-than-Instagram-perfect living spaces. In other words, they're finally being honest about what life with kids really looks like — and few people have done it better than Emily Feret (aka @Emilyjeanne333).
Feret frequently shares honest glimpses into her life on TikTok
The 30-year-old mother of two, who reportedly lives in Chicago, according to HuffPost UK, isn't afraid to be "filter-free" in an effort to normalize the crazy, chaotic, and yes, MESSY reality of having kids.
@emilyjeanne333 Just getting through the day is how it is sometimes #motherhood #normalizebeingnormal #mentalhealthday #nofilter #normalizingnormal ♬ original sound – Emilyjeanne333
Most of her videos get thousands of views (and her follower count is up to an impressive 1.2 million), but it's her "cleaning" videos that seem to resonate the most with fellow moms.
In these videos, she often invites followers to watch her clean
And when she does, she's not afraid to show the real "before" images that most of us would rather hide. (You know, the ones that show just how messy we let things get behind the scenes before we finally break down and get all Mary Poppins on things.)
@emilyjeanne333 It’s doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing to be wonderful #normalizenormalhouses #normalizingnormal #normlizethemess ♬ Summer Mood (Royalty Free / No Copyright) Background Music – Lesfm
Sometimes, the "after" shots aren't even that pristine. But as Feret often points out, that's okay, because as long as things are in a manageable place, they're "good enough."
On January 18, Feret shared a particularly honest clip while cleaning her kids' playroom
"Come clean my non-aesthetic playroom with me," she wrote in her caption.
Within days, the clip went viral — and moms everywhere have been chiming in on it ever since.
@emilyjeanne333 Come clean my non aesthetic playroom with me #nonaesthetic #nonaestheticmom #messyhouse #normalizethemess #normalizebeingnormal #normalizingnormal ♬ Slam Dunk (Full) – Jonathan Paulsen
Unlike most playrooms we see on Instagram or TikTok, Feret's isn't one of those nearly pristine kid rooms, designed in that "sad beige children" style that seems to be all the rage right now.
Instead, the playroom is a battleground of colorful toys, books, and other random kid things that are strewn about the room haphazardly — and by all accounts, it isn't particularly "Instagram-worthy."
As she makes her way around the room, the tired mom pauses to show her exasperation over how long it takes to tidy up her kids' mess, which might be the most relatable part of the video. She also doesn't hide the naked Barbies, chewed-up figurines, and other bizarre sightings she comes across.
"Normalize the mess," Feret added in her caption — and it's safe to say that she certainly does.
The comments she gets in response speak for themselves
Many of them come from moms who find her content both refreshing and reassuring.
"Obsessed with you and the comfort you give me in my motherhood," one mom wrote, in response to her Jan. 18 TikTok.
"Silent follower, but I have to say… EVERY DANG TIME I see one of these, my heart is filled," another mom shared. "Thank you. Thank you. #itsthewording #nonaesthetic."
"I'd love my house to be aesthetically pleasing, but I have 3 kids," someone else wrote. "It will be one day, but not until they are grown. [Until then], we make memories."
@emilyjeanne333 It’s doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing to be wonderful #normalizenormalhouses #normalizingnormal #normlizethemess ♬ Summer Mood (Royalty Free / No Copyright) Background Music – Lesfm
Others use the comments section to vent about how constant cleaning has become the bane of their existence since having kids.
"Isn't it funny that husband never gets to enjoy a clean house, because after you clean it the kids mess it up by the time he gets home?" one mom wrote on another post.
"My house is ALWAYS cluttered, and we somehow have managed to have a living room full of toys AND a full playroom," another mom shared. "Tell me how."
Feret's main goal is to help other moms feel less alone on their journey
"I want to show and talk about the difficult parts of it because people want to only show a curated highlight reel online, and when you compare yourself to a highlight reel, it can feel like you are less than," she recently told HuffPost UK. "I want people to see an average person, talking about all the ups and downs, with no filter."
(Can you say mission accomplished?)
