We're pretty sure overshare-y new parents are the worst thing to happen to Facebook since our parents. To that end, today's special guest blogger is B. of STFU, Parents, a painfully hilarious blog dedicated to the parental overshare.I can't count the number of times I've been on Facebook, shaken my head and thought, "I haven't seen you in 10 years, but I know your infant son is constipated?" or "Where did we meet again? And why do I know that your 4-year-old is still breast-feeding?"
You don't have to be a parent to overshare, and not all parents do. But to those moms and dads out there telling the world every detail about little Catharyn or Jackson, this list is for you. Here are the Top 10 Reasons Not to Talk About Your Kid on Facebook:
1. The Gross-Out Factor / I'm Eating Over Here
Just because you're a parent now doesn't mean you're allowed to gross me out. As tempting as it may be to show the world Mackynzie's potty-training accomplishments, her bathroom habits do not qualify as news. And if what you're eating for lunch can be classified as 'afterbirth,' I don't need to know how it was prepared (or that you ate it at all). Keep your gag-worthy observations to yourself, please.
2. Our Parents Didn't Do It
Our parents' generation didn't make daily announcements to all of their friends about diaper explosions, so why should you? "Because I can" isn't an answer. Tell us what we want to hear: First steps, first 'I Love You's. The nice stuff. Then maybe tell us about you. Your friends miss you.
3. No One Cares
Everyone is thrilled you've made the ultimate sacrifice and become a parent. But no one is as thrilled as you are. Keep that in mind.
4. They Will Grow Up to Hate You
There's one sure way to ruin the years of trust you've built with your children, and it's putting their puberty on blast. It is not OK to post about your adolescent daughter's reproductive milestones, nor will your son think it's funny if you joke about his "long showers" on the Internet.
5. We Don't Want to Go to Jail
Your toddler is in a naked phase, and it's totally healthy and adorable. But creepy perverts don't exclusively visit "pervert Web sites," so keep the crotch shots -- innocent as they may seem -- to a minimum. Thanks.
6. You Sound Like an A-hole
Don't bring your child to an adults-only event, and definitely don't brag about it on Facebook. Announcing gift registries when you're pregnant or for your kid's half-birthday party over your status is just plain tacky.
7. Uh, Shouldn't You Be Doing Something Else?
If your child accidentally bonks his head or falls off the couch -- especially while you're on the computer -- it's a bad time to update your status.
8. You're Scaring Us
The girl we were friends with would not upload a birthing video where we can see her "Britney" or photographs of her newborn's "exit." You are frightening your friends. Who are you?
9. It's Just Weird
Starting a Facebook page for your kid is as weird as starting one for your cat. I don't want 8-week-old Elijah to "comment" on my status about health-care reform. And please stop using sonograms or pictures of your kid as your profile image. It's one thing to post a picture of the two of you together; it's another for your identity to completely disappear the minute you get pregnant.
10. Your Child Comes Off as Annoying
Less is more. I'm happy to hear about your child, but using Facebook as a prop to remind me of his every development ("OMG, Aiden just rolled onto his back!!") kind of makes me resent him. Not to mention, why would I want to babysit your rambunctious toddler when I know he prefers to poop in the grass? Some things are better left unsaid.
B. is the author of STFU, Parents, a "public service" humor blog.
More Fun Stuff on the Web:
If State License Plates Told the Truth: "Florida: You Gotta Die Somewhere" (Maxim)
Sleep-walking girlfriend has sex with strangers, but not with her boyfriend. Sucks to be you, buddy. (Blog of Hilarity)
A different kind of Rick Roll (Neatorama)












Comments:
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Thursday 08 October
By Rachel
Ugh, the worst thing is when women are in LABOR and still have time to post to Facebook how many centimeters they're dilated. Ack. No, thanks! Let me know when the kid is born, but until then, no updates on your lady bits, please.
Reply
Friday 09 October
By Sondra
"it's another for your identity to completely disappear the minute you get pregnant." Too true! When women get pregnant, it's like their only identity is "Proud mommy to ____!" Gag.
Reply
Friday 09 October
By Hannah
This article is so true! I have friends on FB who insist on telling everyone about how their child is "this close" to crawling, walking, potty training, etc. It gets annoying. I know you're super excited for them, but most of us don't care. If you are that interested/amazed, then get off of your computer and spend some time with them!
Reply
Monday 22 March
By Kymberly
THANK YOU!! I have been saying just that all along...
Friday 09 October
By Tim
I don't know if the author is a parent, but I'm guessing not.
There's a reason that there are options to "remove as friend" or "see less of this."
I suggest that the author use them and quit whining about other people's happiness.
Reply
Friday 09 October
By Dustin
Awe, it's ok Tim, it's ok.
Friday 09 October
By Katy
I am a parent and I follow stfuparents on my tumblr account. I think my child is hilarious and adorable and yes SOMETIMES I am really tired. However, I fully realize that probably almost everyone I am friends with on facebook doesn't really care about the daily goings on of my daughter. She is a huge part of my life and I do post an album every 3 or 4 months of what we have been up to lately. I also understand that there are people who work longer hours than my daughter is awake (and when she sleeps I get to do whatever I want), or work and then go to school after that and they are probaby pretty freaking tired at the end of the day too. I don't think being a mom is the hardest job in the world and I have a lot of help around me too. Martyr Moms are the worst. Therefore, pointing out that no one is as tired or overworked as me is just self-absorbed. I regularly hide status updates from people who overpost about politics because it bores me and I also hide people who post every few hours about their damn kid. If I don't even care that baby Grayson missed his nap, I am betting most of our single or childless friends don't care either. Obviously this author is aware that you can hide status updates; I think the point is that there are people out there who are so completely unaware that life has continued around them despite the fact that THEY HAVE A BABY and these people need to be mocked mercilessly. I don't think making fun of or being grossed out by someone posting pictures that involve their own post birth vagina is whining about someone's happiness. I
Friday 09 October
By Simmer Down
Yes, that sounds that a splendid idea, Tim. Let's just remove that friend from our life altogether. The whole point of the article is that it's not that we aren't happy for you and your child. It's that somewhere along the way, the friend we knew disappeared and became an oversharing mombie. Posting all this stuff is validation for a lot of these parents. It doesn't need to be in print to be real and be good. And if you know most of your friends (and yes, I guarantee it's most-even the other moms) don't like it, why would you keep doing it?
Sunday 25 October
By jen
i agree with you.
Wednesday 28 October
By Jenn
Tim - We're not jealous of your happiness. We're happy not to have children. We just don't want to hear about it because we chose to keep kids out of our lives. So kindly stop oversharing about crap no one cares about. K thx.
Thursday 31 December
By Lisa
Tim, you nailed it.
Sunday 07 March
By Cherie
Nobody is complaining about "happiness" but sometimes we don't need to hear about poop or every sniffle. Really. I think the point is that the parents used to be people on their own and we want to hear about THEM.
Friday 09 October
By Dustin
Good advice Tim, why don't you apply it to your own internet activity?
Reply
Friday 09 October
By riot718
While we're at it. I don't need to hear how many beers you drank last night, how you screwed a random stranger from the bar, that you have cramps, or see your pictures of your friends kissing the porcelain god. I don't need to see a hundred wedding dress pictures and listen to you talk about the difference between the catering service at Wedding Factory A versus Wedding Factory B. I don't care if you got that job you were hoping for or if you will end up destitute and living with your parents again.
I only want people to post things on their Facebook pages that are interesting to me. From now on, status updates will be limited to commentary on Star Wars, new england clam chowder, the Yankees, the Patriots, and Phish versus The Dead.
Thank you for your cooperation, world.
Reply
Friday 09 October
By Keith
Dude! Let's be friends!
Friday 09 October
By Gabriel
Clap clap clap.
Having a kid is a big deal and fun to share. I you have a friend who talks about their kids, click see less and get over it.
You also might want to look into why other peoples happiness bothers you so much :)
Friday 09 October
By corinne
Jeez riot, there is a difference in importance of Jr's poop quality and whether or not your friend got a job. One is cool, one is icky.
Re: wedding factory comments, please see http://stfumarrieds.tumblr.com/
Friday 09 October
By Hay
Hmm...then you probably should just delete your facebook account. It's really just the over-the-top stuff she's talking about.
Friday 09 October
By layt
haha, brilliant
Monday 12 October
By april gugin
OMG, I totally agree with you and I see this all the time.............I dont want to waste my time reading through all the posts about how someone is taking a nap, or eating lunch, or watching something on TV.......bla bla whatever.......who cares..........tell me something important or keep it to yourself...............that doesnt sound mean does it?? oh well