Merging motherhood with a whole lot of humor and down-and-dirty reality is Alyssa Goldwater, the mom behind the Instagram handle @aglassofgoldwater. A Glass of Goldwater has become a community and support network of more than 20,000 women across the world.
Chicago Parent: Many moms struggle to be the “perfect social media mom.” Why is it important for you to just be you – real and raw – on social media?
Alyssa Goldwater: I saw there was a need to show the good, the bad and the ugly of motherhood and what it’s like to be a woman, trying to build a business and have her own career at the same. We’re all just trying to make it work, and I think there are far too many people in this world, and this space, who take themselves far too seriously. We have to be able to laugh at ourselves, and I do this by being myself.
CP: What would you say to the moms who feel bad about themselves when they see these perfect social media moms?
AG: I’d tell them to hit the unfollow button.
CP: Social media mom shaming is a real problem. As moms, how can we support versus judge one another?
AG: I love the mantra “You do you.” Let’s try and remember that a little bit more. This doesn’t have to be a mom-eat-mom world. We’re all parenting our kids in different ways, choosing different tactics to enhance our careers, eating different diet shakes, wearing different colored Lululemon leggings, and ordering different drinks at Starbucks, but at the end of the day, don’t we all just want to be good moms, happy wives and fulfilled women? Your candle never gets extinguished by lighting another flame. That’s something to remember.
CP: As a social media influencer, how does it feel to be approached by followers in real life?
AG: I love it! Instagram is only one avenue where we start to get to know each other, and it’s so important to remember that there are real people behind that screen. Some of my favorite relationships have started just from a follower approaching me in real life.
CP: What’s your parenting style?
AG: My kids aren’t complete savages, and they’re both growing and are healthy. So I guess my style is “keep them alive and make sure they’re not complete a-holes.” I think I’m doing OK so far.
As a mom juggling a career, kids, marriage and everything in between, what are some of your mom hacks to make life easier?
Leave breakfast on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator to buy you an extra 15 minutes in bed. Throw things in bins and pretend it’s not there. Don’t sweat the teeny stuff, and learn to live with sweat, because you will be sweaty from now until eternity. #causemomlife.
Mom in Spotlight: Alyssa Goldwater
Hometown: Chicago
Day job: Social media personality, CEO of AG Creative Consulting, a boutique digital marketing and brand strategy agency
Spouse: Adam
Children: Miri, 3, and Azi, 2
Parenting must-haves: Nose Frida Snotsucker, indestructible Yeti Tumbler for mom, Boon high chair, and a great therapist.
Favorite things to do in winter in Chicago: Ice skating at Maggie Daley Park, riding the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier, and visiting the butterfly exhibit at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
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This article originally published in December 2019 issue. Read the rest of the issue.
