October 18th 2024.
Hannah Hiatt, a mother of two, received backlash for a recent video she posted on TikTok. In the video, she filmed herself picking up dirty nappies (or diapers) that were left around her house after 24 hours of solo parenting. She found four on the coffee table, one behind the sofa, two in the hallway, three on the landing, and seven by her bed - totaling to 17 nappies. However, her video sparked a heated debate among the 6.7 million viewers, with many criticizing her for leaving the dirty nappies around the house.
Fellow mothers in the comments expressed strong disapproval for her actions, stating that it was unacceptable to leave dirty nappies around the house, even for a short period of time. Brianna, a fellow TikToker and mother of four, commented, "I'm a mum of four and there's just no excuse. It literally takes two seconds to throw it away." Another user, @Sophwils944, wrote, "Not once did it ever occur to me to discard a soiled nappy on the floor."
In her defense, Hannah, who was less than a month post-partum at the time, explained that she was solo parenting and doing the best she could with a newborn and a toddler. Her husband was out of town and had recently been injured and sick, leaving her to handle everything on her own. However, her explanation did not stop the criticism, and many labeled her as "nasty," "unsanitary," and "not relatable."
Parenting expert Laura Guckian, the founder of Mind Mommy Life Coaching, saw this backlash as a clear case of mom shaming. She expressed her sadness over the pressure society puts on mothers to parent in a certain way. Laura stated, "This mum is solo parenting, she has young kids, and it sounds like she's doing the best she can."
The negativity towards Hannah quickly turned into a wave of support as more and more women shared their own "17 nappies" moments using the hashtag #17diapers. The aim of this movement was to normalize the struggles of motherhood and praise each other for simply getting by. Mothers shared their own stories of moments when they were overwhelmed and couldn't "do it all." The response was heartwarming, as women offered their support and empathy for Hannah and other mothers in similar situations.
Hannah's video also received an outpouring of support from mothers who wanted to "be her village." One user, @thehousethatjennbuilt, commented, "That's 17 times your sweet babies were prioritized over your house. It's 17 times your sweet babies were cleaned and felt comfort and loved. Being a mum is hard. You got this mumma!" Another user, @hope_k_hunt, wrote, "Early motherhood is a train wreck of survival. The rest of her house is clean! Quit shaming and move along."
Parent consultant Dr. Beth Dawson emphasized the importance of having compassion for mothers, particularly those who are solo parenting. She explained that even just one day of solo parenting can feel like an uphill battle and that tasks that seem small can become monumental when you're the only one responsible. She encouraged mothers to seek support from family, friends, or professionals and to take moments for themselves to reset and recharge.
For easier parenting days, Beth suggested creating nappy stations in multiple rooms to make it easier to dispose of nappies quickly. She also recommended tidying up little by little throughout the day instead of letting things pile up. It's essential to set realistic expectations and not aim for perfection. Laura, the mum life coach, added that having set times of the day for specific tasks can make them feel more manageable. She calls these times "anchors" and suggests timing how long chores actually take to help move from procrastination to action.
In the end, it's important to remember that every mother is doing her best and that it's okay to ask for help and support. Let's continue to uplift and support each other in this journey of motherhood.
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