As an artist in her thirties, Constance Hall, 33, knows that it takes a huge effort to be creative. However, she still manages to find time to pursue her artistic endeavors while taking care of her four biological children and two stepchildren. She even finds time to squeeze in frequent updates to her blog about her lifestyle and all the things that she does to keep herself busy throughout the week – and she’s very outspoken and honest with how she leads her life with her family.
One theme that threads through many of her blog posts is to encourage people to be less judgmental toward others. Because moms are dealing with so much stuff all the time, Hall wants other people, especially women, to be kinder to moms and to not be so quick to judge or shame others for doing something differently than they might do.
Today’s story occurred after Hall went on a vacation with her family. Upon returning home, she and her daughter went to the grocery store to purchase food to fill up the fridge and pantry, which was left bare because of the trip out of town. While in the aisles, Hall snapped a photo of her young daughter sitting in the grocery cart. She posted the image to Facebook.
However, internet trolls barraged Hall’s image with hateful comments and criticisms that left mom reeling. She had shared the photo because she thought it showcased a tender moment with her daughter – but the internet trolls saw something else, something “unhealthy” that mom was doing to her family.
Hall lives in Perth, Australia, with her large family. The grocery store image of her daughter was inundated with a lot of attention, including from people who were quick to criticize the Australian mom for buying so much junk food to satiate her children’s growing appetites.
Critics accused Hall of buying “healthy” food for her children. Strangers even criticized Hall for the way she stuffed her grocery cart with food. They complained that she was doing to get dents in her bread and possibly damage other food along the way. These people called Hall “poorly organized.” These critics didn’t think Hall could do anything right.
That day, Constance Hall shelled out $350 on groceries because she had to feed nine people in her family. She decided to address her trolls directly because they had hurt her feelings.
“Getting mom-judged on your anti-mom judging page,” she wrote on Facebook. “Then everyone attacks the judge-y mum even though you’re an advocate for women sticking together. And if I was to drink the stiff bottle of scotch that this thread made me want to drink, I’d be judged for that.”
She added, “The bananas and celery and carrots and potatoes and onions and garlic and mandarins and apples aren’t visible in this picture. Should I post the receipt?”
Negative comments kept piling up – but some brave moms came to Hall’s defense.
“Seriously peeved about the healthy food comments,” one mother wrote. “I buy my fruit and veg and meat separately to my pantry items, so it may look like I buy junk as well.”
What do you think about mom’s grocery cart?