The Moms of Instagram

Right now Instagram and Podcasts are a large part of my free time. I work from home, for myself, and spend the rest of my time a toddler playing imaginary games. These are my quick windows to the larger world on a daily basis. And Instagram has connected me with a lot of people I know I would hang out with IRL, but for now are in my DMs. 

In the mom social media and pod-media (let's make up words!) world I feel like there are two kinds of moms represented: either you're a sassy, gives-no-fucks, wine slugging mom or you're a precious, bassinets and bonnets, scrap booking mom. I've never met a mom IRL that falls into either bucket exclusively. And to be honest I've never made it through a single episode of a mom-podcast... even The Longest Shortest Time.

Over my nearly 4 years as a hobby mom of one, I started and then stopped following accounts like Scary Mommy, and accidentally started finding women I really enjoyed following because they were real human people with dimension who also happen to be moms. 

So if you're looking for some fresh moms in your feed (oh yeah) hitch up your mom jeans, and get those thumbs tapping, here's the short list of my favorite moms to follow on Instagram right now. 

Eva Chen — @evachen212

Mom of two, lives in NYC, works at Instagram in fashion. She sits front row at NYFW and also posts IG stories pleading with her toddler to her lunch at baby school. 

🤬😒 Ren and Tao accurately capturing all of our feelings about 2017 yesterday whilst sledding! Happy new year, guys! See you next year 😴😘

17k Likes, 139 Comments - Eva Chen (@evachen212) on Instagram: "🤬😒 Ren and Tao accurately capturing all of our feelings about 2017 yesterday whilst sledding! Happy..."

Ren made her #NYFW debut today in a chicken hat and mixed prints (she chose her own outfit today). 📸 by @gastrochic for @nytimesfashion

35.1k Likes, 374 Comments - Eva Chen (@evachen212) on Instagram: "Ren made her #NYFW debut today in a chicken hat and mixed prints (she chose her own outfit today)...."

Jenny Mollen — @jennyandteets2

Mom of two, NYC transplant from LA. She's written two books, I've read one. Was an actress, now funny on the internet/my Kindle. Married to Jason Biggs. Legit friends with Chelsea Handler. Brutally real about everything postpartum and mom life, calls her toddler the dictator, posts pumping photos...you'll be lulled into thinking you found a new best friend. 

Swaddling tutorial (swipe right)

35.5k Likes, 2,777 Comments - Jenny Mollen (@jennyandteets2) on Instagram: "Swaddling tutorial (swipe right)"

Today I was struck w the profound realization that none of this shit lasts forever. When I first had Sid, I spent the first two years of his life feeling like I'd fallen off the deep end. The gravitas of being a mother was so unbearable that all I wanted to do was run. Not from him but from the weight of the responsibility. Whether it was putting him to bed, getting him out of diapers or simply teaching him not to grab our dogs by their tails I felt as though each obstacle would last forever. Today I took Sid into a women's clothing store and he didn't have a total meltdown or try to destroy the place. In fact, he actually enjoyed himself and even insisted on trying on "something in his size". This was a major win and also bitter sweet bc it was a true indicator that he's growing up! Every waking second, he's evolving. We've come so far in just 3.5 years it's almost unbelievable. Watching him dance around @isabelmarant and tell me that I should "wait on my sweater but that he was buying his" I promised myself that instead of fighting it, I'd try and enjoy each hurdle. I want to have every moment with him (even the brutal ones) because they go so fucking fast! (Ps. I didn't buy him the sweater. But I'm not gonna lie, I came damn close...)

25.7k Likes, 526 Comments - Jenny Mollen (@jennyandteets2) on Instagram: "Today I was struck w the profound realization that none of this shit lasts forever. When I first..."

Leandra (Medine) Cohen — @leandramcohen

New mom of twins and founder of Man Repeller. My favorite IG series of her pregnancy were #crouchingselfiehiddenfupa, ~küL~ grandma, the updates on her leg/foot swelling and her insanely long hilarious poll stories... like what to put in a jar. Choices being things like "human teeth or m&ms". 

Quick hurry run wear all your sandals before it's too cold again #crouchingselfiehiddenfupa

26k Likes, 186 Comments - Leandra (Medine) Cohen (@leandramcohen) on Instagram: "Quick hurry run wear all your sandals before it's too cold again #crouchingselfiehiddenfupa"

Genga — @spokewoven

Mom of one living in Brooklyn. I started following her because she makes these INSANE dreamcatchers that I dream of (and am saving up for)...but then started really resonating with her mama posts. They are really sweet and real, and funny and true. She's honest about the struggle to get pregnant, the balance of a full time job with a side hustle of art plus being a mom, and what it really takes to make it work. 

Up all night with a stuffy nose baby who can't sleep soundly and when you look at your clock- it's time for work....Again. Sometimes I feel so tired I just want to cry. But I get my teeth brushed, son on my hip, throw on some clothes that hopefully don't have pee, puke or no 2 on them- and head out. 2 things that never leave my body and are part of the strength I feel in my soul to keep creating, keep moving and never give up are my pieces from @communionbyjoy ❤️ I'm so thankful for her, her kindness and craft and ability to channel so much feeling into her work. And I feel so lucky to call her my friend. The ring on my power finger is called "Love Connection" and I wear it to celebrate my son and journey to his miracle of life. I always look at it on the train when I feel like I'll never make it through another day. And I find strength in love. HappyThursday! Love to you Joy!!🙏🏻💫magical friend

226 Likes, 26 Comments - Genga (@spokewoven) on Instagram: "Up all night with a stuffy nose baby who can't sleep soundly and when you look at your clock- it's..."

Beth Gerdes McKenzie — @bethgmckenzie

Mom of two. Ironman triathlete, co-founder of Wyn Republic, always on the move! I love how her family travels, races, trains, and obviously loves sharing the adventure together even when it's tough. And she's honest about the tough stuff too, so it's not just some airbrushed picture of life with a toddler in Thailand. She tells the hard and good, and just like in your life... a lot of times it's the same stuff. 

Been sick, jet lagged, busy with a new business, shorts don't fit, too slow, etc but finally silenced the excuses & made it out for my old favorite run today. The old "45 min easy" is now a full hour and feels like a massive accomplishment. #26weekspregnant #seenonmyrun #fitpregnancy

2,044 Likes, 56 Comments - Beth Gerdes McKenzie (@bethgmckenzie) on Instagram: "Been sick, jet lagged, busy with a new business, shorts don't fit, too slow, etc but finally..."

Roma — @chittawellness

Mom of one, living in Brooklyn. Roma is a pre/post natal coach, run coach for Every Mother Counts, and writer. She dealt with thyroid imbalance (hyper thyroid) and then a hernia repair in her first 7 months postpartum. She shares it all through the lens of a fitness and wellness professional, and has a lot of good insight there. Thyroid imbalance is actually super prevalent in new moms, and left untreated can spiral! The more you know. The REAL road "back" after baby can be super bumpy and unpredictable, I love how honest she is about it. 

Find your tribe. Love them hard. ❤️ As tough as it is to get out the door with both of them, they had so much fun. Zola doing big loops and Max watching her while munching on dried fruit. It doesn't always turn out like this and my body was aching from yesterday, but the stroller and added responsibilities, keep these recovery runs slow and flush the legs out well. 💪🏽#everymileeverymother #motherrunner #strollerrunning #vizsla

96 Likes, 7 Comments - Roma Van der Walt (@chittawellness) on Instagram: "Find your tribe. Love them hard. ❤️ As tough as it is to get out the door with both of them, they..."

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Even more MOMZ! 

I have a feeling you all already follow these moms...but just in case...

Lauren Fleshman — @laurenfleshman

Kara Goucher — @karagoucher

Alysia Montano — @alysiamontano

Erin Taylor — @erinjasyoga

Ashley Fizz — @runningbun

Michele — @nycrunningmom

Sarah Marie — @missfitznyc

Erica Sara — @ericasara