Instagram vs Reality: Why I’m Showing Up Messy

I’ve worked in marketing for almost 20 years. I know how to build a brand. I know that authenticity connects. I know that showing up as yourself is what people want. Especially when you’re building something like RoutineRoo, which is all about helping families find calm in the chaos. 

And yet… I’ve been struggling. 

Not because I’m shy. Not because I’m afraid of the camera - although I do prefer being behind it.   

But I realised recently that the thing holding me back is my home. 

It’s a mess. 

There are toys everywhere. The sofa often looks like a wardrobe because I dress my kids downstairs every morning, and by the time I take the clean ones up to the wardrobe, I’m bringing more back down. There’s always something on the floor, always something out of place, and always a little voice in my head whispering, “You can’t film here. It doesn’t look good enough.” 

That voice? It’s not mine. It’s Instagram.  

It’s the curated feeds, the spotless homes, the perfect lighting and the minimalist shelves with one wooden toy and a plant that’s somehow still alive. 

It’s the standard we’ve all absorbed without realising, the one that says if your house doesn’t look like a showroom, you’re failing. 

But here’s the truth: I’m not failing. And neither are you. 

My kids are fed. They’re happy. They’re clean (most of the time). And if I’m tripping over toys, it’s probably because they have too many, not too few. 

So why am I holding myself to a standard that doesn’t reflect real life? 

Why am I letting a pile of washing stop me from showing up for a brand that’s built on realness? 

RoutineRoo was born out of the chaos - out of the daily juggle, the forgotten PE kits, the tantrums at teeth-brushing time. It’s not about perfection. It’s about helping families feel a little more in control, even when the house looks like a toy shop exploded. 

So, I’m choosing to show up messy. 

I’m choosing to embrace in the chaos. 

I’m choosing to be the mum who says, “Yes, the house is a tip, and I’m still here, doing my best.” 

Because I know I’m not alone. I know there are thousands of parents out there feeling the same guilt, the same shame, the same pressure to make everything look perfect. 

And I want you to know; you’re doing great. 

Your house doesn’t need to be spotless. Your sofa doesn’t need to be clear. Your kids don’t need to be dressed in matching outfits with brushed hair and angelic smiles. 

They just need you - showing up, loving them, and doing your best. 

So here I am. Messy house, full heart, and finally ready to show up, not despite the chaos, but because of it. 

Because this is real life. And it’s worth sharing. 

If this resonates with you, if you’ve ever hesitated to show up because things weren’t “perfect” - I want to hear it. Let me be that person that hypes you up, because we’re much better at doing it for others than we are for ourselves.