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Olympic gold medallist Libby Trickett has revealed how the power of social media has been one of the biggest challenges she faces as a mother.

The former Australian swimmer said vulnerable mothers who are constantly seeing the seemingly perfect lives other parents lead on Facebook or Instagram could be detrimental, shares Daily Mail.

Speaking to Kidspot, the 32-year-old has called on fellow mothers to share the reality of being a parent – whether it’s good or bad moments.

‘Share the poo in the bath. Share the midnight spew you’ve just had to clean up…share those moments as well as the gorgeous first birthday and the perfectly made cake and those sorts of things,’ she said.

On parenthood Libby said, ‘It’s probably tested me to my limits more than I ever could have imagined. More than I was tested in swimming because swimming I was good at, you know. And you kind of get feedback that you’re good at it…,’ she said.

‘But when you have a newborn particularly, but even at 19 months you still kind of go “I don’t know if I’m doing a good job. I don’t know if this is the right way to do it.’

On Monday, Ms Trickett spoke candidly on Instagram about the tough side of motherhood in an effort to remind other parents they ‘are not alone’.

‘It’s sometimes hard to put into words what motherhood is,’ she said.

‘Yes, it’s joyful. Yes, it’s a blessing. Yes, it is without a doubt an absolute miracle. But it’s also hard and lonely. It can be isolating and bone achingly tiring.

‘I found the transition to motherhood tough. Hell, I still can find it bloody tough at times 19 months in but I wanted to share my story in case it helps another mother out there that might be finding things hard right now.

‘And mums, out there, just remember you are not alone!! If you’re having a tough time, reach out for help. We are all just trying to do our best.’

Speaking to Mamamia, the 32-year-old said she screamed at her new baby because she hadn’t slept for more than 45 minutes after her daughter arrived.

‘I ended up yelling at her, literally at the top of my lungs for about 15 minutes straight,’ the mother-of-one said, honestly.

‘I was so resentful of the fact that she wasn’t letting me sleep and I had no space from her because we were co-sleeping all night and then she was tired because she was waking every 45 minutes, too…

‘It felt like we weren’t connecting the way I really wanted to.’

After she found herself ‘yelling’ at Poppy, she went to see her GP as well as a psychologist.

Libby admits she makes sure she does something that is ‘nourishing for myself’. Whether she goes for a morning walk or heads to the gym to go for a swim or lift some weights.

‘That could be considered as quite selfish but you can’t pour from an empty cup,’ she said.

Do you try and take a moment each day just for YOU?

Share your tips below.

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  • yeah there is no official book or one size fits all when it comes to parenting AND the first child you raise will be the hardest to make decisions with because it is all new! just have great convos with people and learn to have a laugh to get through it all

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  • It isn’t all champagne and skittles raising a child – there are so many mishaps and no-one can tell you whether you are doing a good job or not because every child is different, every family is different. So you are left out there on a limb until finally they have grown up and then you can decide whether you did a good job or not. And social media doesn’t help one iota.

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  • I was recently told by a Mum that as parents they felt like they were starved of air when they were sleep deprived. Even older babies sometimes you keep you awake at night – sometime all night. If it happens two nights in a row and none of you have slept there is obviously a problem with your baby, not just you.

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  • I always thought that I was doing something wrong. Never being able to have a break and do something for myself just wasn’t an issue. I felt that if I took a break everyone would think I was a selfish mother. I know better now. Every Mum needs to have some me time and I would always help with my granddaughters to give their Mum a break.

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  • Think we all can relate and that parenthood is not all sunshine and rainbows, but that there are moments we’re tired and irritable and that is so normal indeed !

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  • Very brave to share her experience given she is in the public light. But oh so normal, as we all feel like this at times or all the time.

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  • I agree with here it’s horrible

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  • She forgot the bit where it gets mind numbingly boring.

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  • I really resonated with all that Libby had to say. Thank you for sharing!!

    It took me six years of parenting to learn that it truly is essential for us to fill our own cups in order to be adequate parents. I feel that the question shouldn’t be whether we try to find time in our day for this, as such a question could be setting ourselves up for negative self-judgement. It is something that should be on our priority list.

    Mums, this is a tough gig. You are all doing an amazing job!!

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  • I admire her for speaking up and sharing her story. It is so terribly tiring and exhausting and beautiful at the same time and so so incredibly important for some ‘me time’

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  • I can so relate. It’s fantastic when high profile people speak out and share their stories. It humanises them and makes us realise we’re all just the same, going through the same parenting stuff together. No matter who you are!

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  • Good on Libby for speaking out and being real!

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  • She is starting to look a bit old. Perhaps being a professional athlete has really pushed her body too hard.

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  • And it never changes. My kids are 23 and 26 and I still wonder if I’m getting anything right as a mum

    Reply

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