Laura Newell: Forget body image, home organisation the new way woman are flagellating themselves

Showing off a picture of our perfect body in the perfect workout gear used to be the first priority for our social media profiles.. Then it was meticulously prepared bento school lunchboxes for our little darlings. Now it seems every self-respecting mum on a social platform has moved on to pumping out “content” that shows off perfect home organisation. Just when we thought the uber-high achievers might have eased off piling pressure on other women and setting new standards we’re expected to live up to, along comes another trend for us time and cash-poor ladies to fend off with a stick when all we really want is to enjoy seeing pictures of family and friends and the odd humorous meme as we scroll on the phone through the 3am breastfeeding. “Unboxing” videos are out, and we’re now going crazy for pictures of neatly stacked pantries full of matching Tupperware-style plastic containers (not actual Tupperware because that’s so last-decade now that you can’t easily replace lids without sending them off into the ether — we’re now supposed to aim at “cheap” dupes) and “reels” of laundries with rows of cute little wicker baskets, printed labels and powder and softener in those jugs with taps on the side. And the pressure is starting to show in the playground. As I stood waiting to see off my girl into the classroom the other day, another — absolutely lovely and usually very sane — mum furtively asked me if I knew where you get those magnetic calendars you stick on your fridge. When I said they were usually available at Kmart she looked seriously relieved. Apparently she was genuinely worried about what other women would think of her not having one should little Joey blurt out news of the oversight during a playdate over the holidays. “I’ve seen them all over Instagram,” she said, “I hope that if I can just get one of those and sort out that junk cupboard in the hall these holidays it’ll at least look like my life is under some sort of control.” I’d have loved to have pretended not to understand but as a full-time working mum, like so many of us out here on the coalface I know exactly how she feels — I have three of those calendars on my fridge. I’ve even taken pictures to share on my social media. But I’m still late to everything.