News Anchor Posts Exhausted New Mom Selfie, No One Can Believe It's Her

News anchor posts photos comparing herself before and after baby

After having a baby, there’s a period of time when you might not look or feel like yourself. Where you once felt pulled together and attractive, you now feel exhausted and proud if you simply manage to change your milk-stained t-shirt and brush your teeth. Your standards change a little, and that’s totally expected.

Iowa news anchor Erin Kiernan posted a comparison of photos of herself — one pre-baby and one with her infant, showing just how much has changed. Of course, people had to be horrible about it and suggest that they aren’t even the same person. Because people suck.

She shared an adorable photo recently on her Facebook page for viewers to see. In this adorable photo, Kiernan’s holding her adorable son. Adorable, right? The thing is, she’s looking very much like a tired, new mom in the photos. Probably because she IS a tired, new mom. A few readers decided to point out the fact that it “doesn’t even look like her” and Kiernan, bad-ass that she is, took them to task.

Along with these photos, she included a spectacular rant. She begins by pointing out that she is indeed not the same person anymore, as that jerky viewer meanly suggested based on the two pictures. She says, “Snarky message… “This doesn’t even look like the same person!” Etc, etc…mean, nasty, hateful comments. Newsflash! There ARE NOT pictures of the same person.”

Damn straight.

Of course, it’s her. But none of us are “the same” after having a baby. Sure, we could doll ourselves up with make-up and look “the same” but we’re now on less sleep. And more worry. And no free time. She posted an honest photo with her baby boy looking exactly how most new moms look while hanging out at home with a tiny poop and spit-up machine — not like a perfectly coiffed news anchor about to go on air, that’s for fucking sure.

Kiernan goes on to point out exactly what the differences are between the photos, and she doesn’t mince words. “The woman on the left is well rested, spent two hours on her hair and makeup, had a professional photographer take her picture (and Photoshop it, I’m sure), and is in the “glowing” second trimester of pregnancy.”

I’m not sure any of us looked that stunning in the “glowing” second trimester (frankly, I still looked like I’d eaten several burritos at that point and was nothing close to glamorous) but I get what she means. She was rested. Her time was her own. She wasn’t finding errant baby poop crumbles under her fingernails in the middle of a work meeting (OH, THAT WAS JUST ME? OK THEN!) and she sure as hell wasn’t trying to get herself dressed and ready with a screaming baby begging for her attention.

Of the “after” photo, Kiernan says, “The woman on the right got two hours of sleep (maybe), hadn’t looked in the mirror, took a selfie, did not put a filter on it and is covered with spit up and drool from a teething and very crabby baby.”

First of all, can we take a moment to appreciate and love this mom for posting a filter-less photo without make-up and obviously not her most pulled-together self? This woman’s career is largely based on her image and appearance so the lack of fucks given is refreshing and admirable. I want to be her friend now, honestly.

Second of all, she still looks amazing. Glowing, even. She’s a new mom. She’s doing her thing. Good for her.

But as she mentioned, some asshole had to point out that she didn’t look like the same person. And she awesomely put said asshole in their place saying, “You are an idiot if you think these are pictures of the same woman.”

Preach.

Now, I will be the first to say that I bristle when told I’m “not the same” since having my kids. I don’t enjoy the notion that a woman is totally changed after having a baby, physically or otherwise. We are still us and everything we were as human beings is intact after having kids.

But we aren’t the same. We never will be.

Kiernan is stating the obvious — that of course, the photos themselves are drastically different for clear reasons. But there is a lot more to that statement. She means she isn’t the same because chances are excellent that she wouldn’t have so brazenly posted a make-up free, less-than-perfect selfie before having her son.

Things have shifted for her now in every way. And instead of hiding or pretending she’s still the same glossily perfect woman she once was, she’s being as real as can be.

And that’s pretty amazing.