Plus-size model Tess Holliday posts tearful selfie to show the realities of motherhood

As any mum will likely testify, there are good parenting days and bad. But while the good often pass by largely unnoticed, the bad can really shake your confidence that you got this whole motherhood thing.

Thankfully, we can rely on Tess Holliday to tell it how it is and make us all feel a little better about those can’t-do-this moments.

Taking to Instagram, the 31-year-old, who is mum to eight-month-old Bowie and 11-year-old Rylee, shared an image of her crying and opened up in the accompanying caption about how hard juggling being a working mum can be.

“This is the reality of being a mum,” she wrote. “I’ve been up since 3 am, and every time I get Bowie to sleep and try to lay him down, he wakes up.”

“He is teething and has no clue I have to work today, and most days I can work 15 hour days, take care of both boys and put some lipstick on and deal with it. Most days I drink my coffee and smile at every little thing he does thinking it’s the best thing in the world, but not today.”

“I’ve been crying for nearly two hours and I’m crying as I write this.”

The model went on to admit that her confidence has taken a knock since giving birth to her second son in June last year, which has made her job in the public eye even more challenging.

“The pressure of “looking good” for a living is too much today,” she continued. “When your face is breaking out from the hormones of breastfeeding and total exhaustion from lack of sleep, bags under your eyes, patchy red skin & to top it off no energy to work out or leave my bed. How do you do it? How do you feel confident in your skin and feel like you aren’t letting the client down by showing up exhausted and dishevelled?” she asked.

“Yes, I chose a career based on my looks & I’m the first one to say that beauty isn’t what should drive you, it’s certainly not what motivates me. As a working mum in an industry that’s as critical as mine, where is the line? The balance? The compassion?”

“Is any career understanding when you show up at negative 10% because your kids wouldn’t let you sleep and you want to hide under your covers and cry? Not many.”

Following the emotional post fans were quick to step in and reassure Tess that she wasn’t alone in feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.

“I feel you! 4:30AM with my teething non sleeping 10 month old after 4 wake ups during the night then my 3 year old was up at 6:30 for the day. This is most days! Official zombie Mum!!!!” one user wrote.

“As a fellow mumma, I feel you …,” another agreed.

“Motherhood is paved with guilt and struggles and ALL mums walk the same road… keep on walking though… but stop often & look around because it’s also a really beautiful journey too.”

“Hang in there..its not easy but sure worth the adventure. So proud of you showing emotion and truth. Thank you, you’re not alone,” another parent commented.

Tess ended her post by revealing that she hopes that one day the pressures on mums will be somewhat lifted and they won’t feel they have to keep striving for perfection.

“I hope one day that changes and society views mothers as the flawed human beings we are that are just trying to keep our shit together like everyone else #effyourbeautystandards #workingmums #disruptperfectmumsyndrome,” she wrote.

Keep preaching Tess, keep preaching.

Do you think there is too much pressure on mums to be perfect? Share your thoughts @YahooStyleUK

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