Young Mom Shares Marriage And Parenting Advice On TikTok, Here Are 24 Of The Best
When Caitlin Fladager posted her first photo online, she had no idea how many people would end up following her.
"I was 18 and I was about 15 weeks pregnant with my daughter," Fladager, now 27, told CBC. "I liked posting pictures of my belly. I just liked sharing it for myself to remember and for my family who lives far away, and people kept following me from there."
Eventually, Caitlin started getting recognized while she was shopping. Today, the mom-of-two has over 3 million followers across her social media platforms.
"I got well-known for my life looking perfect," said Fladager. But behind the scenes, the young woman was struggling with her mental health, and maintaining the illusion of perfection was taking a huge toll on her.
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This is so true! I always have done this, and still do, and my son is now 19 and still loves to cuddle! And I NEVER go in his room unannounced! I still shudder with the idea that when I was young and my parents threw a party I had to go around the room and kiss everybody! Even those I didn't really know!
My mother knocks before entering my room, and it's truly made a world of difference in how much I respect her. My dad, on the other hand...
I do however question how much kids of this age know what they are consenting to. Can they fathom the consequences of a certain foto now, when they are in their puberty and classmates find this foto, or later in life?
Agreed. You ask a 4 year old if you can post this "adorable" photo> they don't know what people might do with it, but you do.
Load More Replies...This is how a good parent teaches manners and values; by example! Great Job!
I did this as soon as she got old enough to not be a danger to herself. A toddler or very young child sitting quietly in a room, may not answer me fast enough if she is up to something she should not be. In my case my daughter got her sensibilities quite early, I'd say 3-4, some will take less, some longer.
If the children are minors, their photos and videos should NEVER be posted on social media. Pedophiles are experts at taking a child's photo, Photoshopping it, and then posting it on either the dark or the deep web (or both.) They are also experts at editing and otherwise manipulating videos. This has been a warning since I first began to use the Internet in the 1990s. I'm shocked at how many parents don't heed this important warning.
NO!! How did the parents allow this? I'm disgusted with this generation. For the love of everything that's holy, HE NEEDS MATCHING SHOES!!
Dance of the Sugar Plum Ferries comes to mind for some reason.
Aww, reminds me of my little brother. He was the first boy after 3 girls, and we would all play princess ball together. We all helped him into the dresses, and he loved dancing with us. Sadly, he grew out of it at around 5 or 6.
My ex didn't want his boys playing with anything but 'masculine toys', and doing masculine activities. Thank God his brother and niece lived with us. That girl cousin was a perfect balance!
Scrolling through her feeds, it's easy to see why so many people want to see her life unfold.
Caitlin and her then-boyfriend, Noah Slomski, started dating when they were 16 and 15 respectively. She documented and shared their goofy teenage relationship mature into a lovely family when their daughter Ariana was born 2 years after they met.
The high school sweethearts soon married, and when their son Jack was born in 2015, Caitlin's following was so big that companies were offering her up to $3,000 to post about their products on Instagram.
Are there SERIOUSLY people who tell little boys they can't have hugs? Ugh!
My nephew used to play with his sisters and their dolls when little. Grew to big hulking guy, in the army and 3 sons.
And don't say "You throw like a girl", "You cry like a girl" "You play ball like a girl". Things my son's coach has said to my son and his team.
Maybe you could try to find another coach for him or at least have a private talk with this one
Load More Replies...My FIL had an absolute fit when my son (3 or 4) asked for and got Barbie dolls one year. He was the only grandson, so I needed to "rethink things". He got a Barbie and a Ken, as well as Thomas stuff and Legos. Just like my daughter got trucks, at 12 got a cross bow, etc. Nothing wrong with that
My son has a dolls house with dolls. All he saw was a toy house. We bought the accessories kitchen, bathroom etc and some dolls. He plays with it happily.
We tell our boys that they shouldn't play with dolls or play house or pretend to cook or know how to clean. Then, when they grow up and have intimate relationships, they are lacking in the knowledge of how to cuddle and otherwise show physical tenderness to a baby/child, how to show empathy to a baby/child, how to cook, and how to clean. We rob them of some of learning the most valuable skills that anyone can have . . . especially men. Let's stop programming our children to fit some mold that will limit them from being who they can be, and many times, want to be.
Load More Replies...This one is a double edge sword for me. I condemned my little brother for playing with them. Not because they were"girls'" toys, but for the unrealistic standards that are set as a role model.
They come in more body shapes now. That counts for something.
Load More Replies...I was on board with giving my brother my barbies (I'd never used them for more than the occasional bank heist/hostages). Then I found out why he wanted them... He was stripping them and burying them alive. Future Bundy down the hall from me.
This reminds me of when my daughter was little and a boy who lived down the street liked to come play at our house because we had all kinds of toys and he could play with dolls and no one said anything about it.
I used to play with dolls. One day they were gone. I always thought that they ran away because they didn't like me. I later realised my mother (who loved me very much) threw them away because real boys don't play with dolls.
my so had his own dolls pram and a babie doll . he is a 6'6'' NORMAL MALE. he also has empathy, kindness , he is nurturing, he a gentle kind man .
Fladager admitted she enjoyed the attention, but the more supporters she had, the more trolls came to her social media accounts, leaving one nasty message after another. Furthermore, haters were constantly criticizing her on forums like 'YouTube Momma Drama.'
"I like to please everybody and that made it very difficult for me," Fladager explained. "It was hard to accept the fact that not everybody is going to like me and that was something I really struggled with."
Consent does not stop with consent to physical things. It well includes information, including privacy and sharing of fotos, quotes etc..
Couldn't agree more. Can't tell you how many family fights I've accidentally started just because I didn't want my photo taken or my life discussed on social media.
Load More Replies...Why would you post videos of your kids on the net? They will become the target of hateful or creepy comments. Let your kids be kids without subjecting them to insults and internet bullying.
Could just be putting a clip of them blowing out their birthday candles on Facebook for family, not necessarily exploitative content.
Load More Replies...All Mum's need to print this one out an read it everyday. Too many time they are far to hard on themselves and feel guilty for being human.
So true. I had a rule that if I'm in the bathroom and it doesn't concern blood or fire, wait until I come out!
Fladager doesn't blame social media for her depression but thinks that spending so much time online didn't help either. Scrolling through other people's feeds only made her feel inadequate, and maintaining her own public image left her feeling like a fraud.
At her lowest point, Fladager recalls dragging herself out of bed, putting on fake eyelashes and hair extensions, and dressing up so she could take a photo to post, then immediately taking everything off and returning to bed.
"I wasn't going anywhere, I didn't feel like doing my makeup. I just did it for the 'Gram.' That's what you see when you go onto Instagram. Especially when you have a lot of followers, you feel a lot of pressure to post content people want to see, and what they wanted to see at that time, I thought, was perfection."
I like "A Happy Spouse... A Happy House!" When both people want to make their spouse happy, they'll share lots of happiness together! They'll also be good role models for their children ~
I like the "happy wife, happy life" sentiment. I take it as in a happy wife spoils her family. In my country the patriarchal model, where the majority of chores and child-rearing falls on the woman, is sadly still prevalent, so it's important to often remind men that their wife needs support as well.
Asking for permission and discussing each others plans are two very different things.
Asking each other about making plans is not the same as asking your spouse for permission.
I don't ask for permission and neither does he but we do give each other a heads up when one of us makes plans. It's the considerate thing to do.
My mom kept her original last name too, and that should never be a problem if someone decides not to take their spouse's name
With the arguing thing, I do agree with it, I just sometimes get sad/scared when my parents fight because I’m a divorce kid and I get scared that my set of married parents will split up, but they wouldn’t and arguing is natural so yeah
I agree! The one I like most is arguing in front of your children. How else will they learn how to fight fairly? So many people draw emotional blood when they argue by bringing up past issues and being mean. The correct way (in my mind) to argue is to approach it more like a debate. By coherent, try to be logical and listen o the other person!
Missed the point of the Happy wife saying. It means if you make your wife happy she will ensure you have a happy life. That’s how women are if we are happy, we will nurture the c**p out of you
In all honesty, I think these "small gestures" might be even more important than the grand ones. I've seen cases where checks are written, luxuries are bought, but no real attention is being paid to each other. Not a kind word, not a reassuring hand not something as simple as making two cups of coffee instead of just one, even when the other person looks like they would like one. I've come to realise that grand, public gestures are for the public and not really for the recipient.
Quality alone time does not mean bedroom time. Quality family time does not mean the Amusement park.
Fladager said she thought about terminating her social media accounts all the time, but she had to make a living.
"I needed a way to support my kids," the mom said. "You can't just quit your job when it gets hard."
However, she could no longer hide her depression. As her family began noticing what was happening, her marriage broke down. Five-year-old Ariana asked her mom why she was so tired all the time.
It was when Fladager decided to start therapy. "I was like, my five-year-old is noticing this. I need to get help."
And yet there are a lot of people who really think they have no obligation to "account their live to their SO." It's about sharing information, sharing plans, sharing your life and has got nothing to do with control or asking permission.
Those people are really not wanting to commit. So stay single then! What's the point of a relationship if they want to have highschool affairs their entire life?
Load More Replies...Best advice I got from an older lady. Sometimes its 60/40. But other times it will be 30/70. That takes understanding.
Good for you guys! A marriage is always giving 100% of yourself. Treating each other as important pieces in life is essential.
My parents have been together for 17 years and 10 kids. They are happy amd still very much in love. Understanding, respect, and splitting of responsibilities goes a long way.
I had to explain the "you do not complete me" thing the 1st time I told my S.O. that. The look on his face was extreme disappoint and hurt. Once I explained it he understood how important it was for both of us to have that kind of mutual respect.
It's quite significant that the very normal word "sex" has to be disguised as s3x to escape censorship.
Omg, thank you for clearing this up, I was genuinely wondering what kind of computer equipment an s3x drive is and why a couple would need separate ones. rofl
Load More Replies...All normal stuff! As your years together increase and your personal self changes, there will be changes in both of you that do not coincide. But, as always, hang in there and the ship will right itself.
"Noah was there the whole time," Caitlin recalled this difficult period on Love What Matters. "He held my hand while the doctor assessed me. He stood by me while I waited for my anti-depressants to be filled. He came over at night when it was all just too much for me. He was the better parent when I mentally couldn’t be one."
After about a year and a half, she was mentally better. "I was cleaning more, cooking more, smiling more. So, Noah and I decided we were too good to be apart any longer."
Keep repeating to a child long enough that they are acting stupid and need to grow up and be surprised that one day they are gone out of your life forever. Because that's why kids commit suicide or run away from home and end up in the gutter.
One time, I had a panic attack when our fire alarm went off before Christmas. My mom kept dismissing me and telling me to stop yelling and crying. WeLl I'm SoRrY mOm
Load More Replies...Awesome, though I'll note, I (and many others) HATE being told: "You're okay". If I'm desperate enough to go to my mother, I'm definitely not "okay", and even if it's meant as a reassurance, it feels like a dismissal, and coming from my parents, it usually is. Don't tell someone what they are, especially if they are experiencing a crisis, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you. They're not necessarily ok, but that's ok.
Accepting that your kids are real people and not just extensions of yourself or a 'mini-me' it a great first step.
i adore my parents, but they don't deal with my emetophobia well. i have panic attacks centered around worrying that i could vomit or have diarrhea, someone near me is doing that, I panic when I hear someone puke... I think you catch my point. they don't get it and it isn't helpful to be told that i'm being irrational and cruel to the sick person when i panic after hearing/seeing someone in my household throw up.
Sometimes kids are just anxious. But sometimes they have incomplete information which makes them worry. Other times, they have been exposed to adult information that they are too young to process. When my son was 6, their school decided to have an assembly to tell them all about 9/11. It had happened just the prior year and they wanted to explain what the kids might be hearing at home. My son came home from school telling me that we were under attack and airplanes were flying into buildings. He was scared and had nightmares for a week. I explained and talked to him constantly until he had worked it out. That principal got a major piece of my mind! They should know better as this was a primary school teaching Pre-K through 2nd. As parents, we need to be vigilant. As I told that school, they needed to tell us parents before doing something like that so we could prep our kids or remove them from the assembly.
Things like this also can be possibly linked to a dormant medical issue that may arise more predominantly in later years. Such as thyroid issues or celiac disease. I would keep my eye out for these or other possibilities <3
If I knew about all of these a year ago I would've been able to help myself so much more.
Dawson...that surname brings back so many memories of a family of people who made me feel accepted when I didn't feel accepted in my own family. I have anxiety. Always had it, just recently discovered what it was. Looking back, so much trauma was caused because my parents didn't see that I had it. It's a bit better now, since at least one of my parents allows me space to cool down when I'm anxious.
Load More Replies...In addition to seeking professional help, she also decided to share her struggles with her followers and tear down the facade on what was really going on.
"It's been a struggle for Noah and me," the mom said. "We've been dealt our fair share of crappy cards. But we've made it. It's not always easy. It's not always beautiful. It can be quite ugly sometimes. Because that's life. That's relationships. Sometimes it takes time apart, work, or whatever it may be, to get back on track."
Caitlin's posts have transformed from genuine snippets that she no longer feels guilty for sharing, and her followers appreciate her openness and authenticity as the woman strives to find the right balance between being an influencer, a mom, and a healthy human being.
Not seeing my parents (mom & wonderful stepfather from age 10) argue led me to believe that a happy marriage was between two people who automatically sensed each other's needs and supported everything the other did or thought without batting an eye. REALLY SCREWED ME UP!! Because I went on to feel like a failure as a GF or wife if I wasn't able to do the same. It took me many adult years fraught with emotional torture and self disgust to realize I'd missed a lot beneath the surface of their relationship and it was okay to disagree on things with a partner. It leads to compromise, understanding and mutual growth.
Applause! Absolutely! My parents fought nasty (no violence) and I decided never to do that to my kids. It is pretty easy to be nice about disagreeing, a bit harder when you are really angry. But good job on you!
You seem like a lovely, normal (if slightly more emotionally intelligent), couple and I'm sure your kids will grow up well balanced individuals as a result. Thanks for this post. I take away a couple of tips to improve my/our parenting too.
Be practical in your expectations. The high part of being in love mellows over the years. I think most couples fall in and out of love throughout the marriage. But that doesn't change the love, it keeps it real. You can't eat s'mores everyday and truly appreciate them.
She's been married for 10 years and talking about boring phases already, eek lol
I've been married 9, and there were boring phases BEFORE we even got married. Not every relationship is chock full of excitement.
Load More Replies...You can say sorry without meaning it. These other statements show a willingness to work it out, to take responsibility and move forward.
Absolutely right, perfect wording. Taking responsibility, and willingness to talk again and work on it / try to solve the issue.... makes all the difference in a relationship. Otherwise we never really move forward.
Load More Replies...I would go with a statement similar but from the heart. I'm sorry, but only psychologists speak like that.
you know you’re being really annoying scagsy? i get maybe you’re sore at life cus you act like you’ve been in many relationships and know everything there is to know about love but in reality you’re probably just some kid who doesn’t know anything about dating or marriage so instead of being annoyed i will try to feel sorry for you.
Load More Replies...While this is how I have always handled it, good for you in realizing how to explain it. Validate their emotions, straighten out any confusion, and reassure him that he is always loved and everyone has problems. It is ok and so is he.
You know herhusband might have filmed that, right?
Load More Replies...Yes! You can even have a date night at the playground as you watch the kids play!
Amen! Marriage is built on friendship. The best friend part of marriage is often underestimated. My grandparents were together for 52 years until death separated them. They stayed friends their entire lives throughout very tough times. My parents were married for 63 years, they were happy for about 12 and fought and hurt each other for the last 50 until death separated them. Guess who I used as my role models? Both! This is what you do, this is what you don't do. I think the most important thing is for each partner to be on the same page. If one fights dirty, they will never make it work.
I like what she says, but the "people nowadays" comments are old. Everyone, through time, and I'm sure in the future as well, would like for things to be easy. No one is looking for a hard time. making negative comments about different generations needs to stop.
In previous generations, the only role models were people you knew. Later, we added in the idyllic people as found in books. Later radio and movies and TV and the internet. But the only 'real' relationships and people were and are those people you actually know. Because of the fictitious relationships, we have people expecting their loves and lives to be everything but real to the point of psychologists having named these 'syndromes'. That includes the fairy tale syndrome of Cinderella, knights on white horses, and Prince Charming. The entire idea of there being 'The One' and 'Soul Mates' are new ideas of the 20th century and beyond.
Load More Replies...The bf and I go to bed at separate times and that works for us, the important thing is figuring out what works for you as individuals; what works for one couple wouldn't for another. The trick is talking it out and saying what you think works and what doesn't, and adapting. There is rarely a one size fits all rule.
Me and my wife used to go to bed at the same time all the time, and it eventually led to some severe sleeping troubles for me. I had anger issues and was tired all the time. Eventually we figured out that I need about 2,5 hour less sleep than her. That improved things a lot.
Load More Replies...mealtimes together as a family is great. i'm not in a relationship, never dated anyone, but my dad works a LOT (70, 80hr weeks) and seeing him at meals at least once a day helps.
Practically every one of these is about arguing. Sorry, but I'm not taking advice from someone who argues that much and thinks it's normal.
I think she stresses this point so much because it's a myth that's been hammered into so many peoples brains. "Never go to sleep without a kiss." "Talk things out before going to sleep" "Never go to sleep when you're angry with your spouse." And it's wrong, when it's time to sleep you are tired. And if you're also angry, you really aren't able to communicate anymore. Why is it fully accepted to "sleep over it" when you're planning a big step in your life? A quarrel that gets out of hand not only affects you, but also the lives of a lot of people around you.
Load More Replies...I think it's because the content creator doesn't have very much to talk about
Load More Replies...I listened to my husband vent about his job for years. I went through a very rough patch at work and was venting at home. After a couple of months of that both my husband and his brother (who lived with us) told me to 'quit bitching, all I ever due is come home from work and b***h'. This was my first clue that things were not as they seemed. We had been married for 12 years and his brother had lived with us for less than 1 year. The writing was on the wall and we split 12 years later. But in hindsight, we had never been on the same page and we had never been equals in the partnership. Love can distort your vision pretty well.
This also works the other way round. After a day that went not so well, sit together for dinner and everyone may name a thing that he or she enjoyed that day. It turns out that you can find joint positivity even in bad days and realize that the clouds often are not as dark as they may seem at first sight.
We play a game called "High/Low" while we eat dinner, and we talk about the high point of our day and the low point. 99% of the time we eat at the table with no electronics at all, the only time we make an exception is if there is a sporting event we can cheer for or it is a Movie Night. I wish I could take credit for this, but it is from one of my favorite movies, "The Story of Us".
Load More Replies...I let things calm down if there’s been a day of grump or tantrums from any of us and really try to bring my daughter into the conversation so she knows bad days happen, we learn from our behaviour, and really mistakes/emotion are all just part of the tapestry of life
No, I never did that and don't like the idea. It is too much like a work review or report card. Talk it out at the time and don't bring it up again, unless it happens again. If you have to talk about how they were wrong, then balance it with how they were right. You were wrong to break all of her crayons, but trading her for your new was was a perfect way to make up. And so on.
Being tired and cranky is more likely to start a fight than end them. I always got my husband up for work and we would spend 30-45 minutes talking as we watched the sun come up. It was wonderful, peaceful, and calming.
Saying "Thank You" is also very polite and shows you respect your partner. Just because you are married, does not mean you have to lose your manners.
One of my favorites that I coach is that manners are not meant just for strangers, they are meant for those who mean the most to you.
Load More Replies...Each couple has those little endearments that make life special. But to thank them out loud for being the man you love needs to be said.
I really hate these posts, that are all about showing pictures of yourself. It is possible to give advises without 100 pictures of yourself.
I don't like those either, but that's a video from TikTok and apparently TikTok has some secret rule, where you can't upload a video unless you are in it and speaking directly to the camera in close up.
Load More Replies...This all sounds great, until you see the pictures of the kids with the captions, and realise she is using their lives, their issues, and posting them on a public forum, with some commonly found "advice" to get approval for herself. I've seen these mothers in real life, one went to an ice skating rink I was at with two kids both dressed up, got her partner to take hundreds of photos while they posed on the ice, then they all left, the kids quietly went off without playing once. This feels similar.
She says she asked her kids before posting. She just wants to help others.
Load More Replies...Ah yes, a 27 year old social media model/influencer who got kids way too young is going to teach the rest of us how it all works…
What do you base your "too young" claim on? The fact that she's a competent and insightful young mother, who understands how relationships work? She could be my daughter, and if she was I'd be very proud of her approach to her loved ones.
Load More Replies...The moment I saw the title I went: "Who would take advice from a Tiktok mum who's doing it for clout?" Apparently a lot of people. Smh
Well good for her if it works for them. BUT it kind of comes across like they fight a lot.
Could someone please take her children away from her because I'm worried about them, if you're going to have kids you've got to be ready to take care of them
I really hate these posts, that are all about showing pictures of yourself. It is possible to give advises without 100 pictures of yourself.
I don't like those either, but that's a video from TikTok and apparently TikTok has some secret rule, where you can't upload a video unless you are in it and speaking directly to the camera in close up.
Load More Replies...This all sounds great, until you see the pictures of the kids with the captions, and realise she is using their lives, their issues, and posting them on a public forum, with some commonly found "advice" to get approval for herself. I've seen these mothers in real life, one went to an ice skating rink I was at with two kids both dressed up, got her partner to take hundreds of photos while they posed on the ice, then they all left, the kids quietly went off without playing once. This feels similar.
She says she asked her kids before posting. She just wants to help others.
Load More Replies...Ah yes, a 27 year old social media model/influencer who got kids way too young is going to teach the rest of us how it all works…
What do you base your "too young" claim on? The fact that she's a competent and insightful young mother, who understands how relationships work? She could be my daughter, and if she was I'd be very proud of her approach to her loved ones.
Load More Replies...The moment I saw the title I went: "Who would take advice from a Tiktok mum who's doing it for clout?" Apparently a lot of people. Smh
Well good for her if it works for them. BUT it kind of comes across like they fight a lot.
Could someone please take her children away from her because I'm worried about them, if you're going to have kids you've got to be ready to take care of them
