EACH WEEK, A different Irish parent chats us through a family photo from Instagram and explains what was really going on outside the frame – from tantrums to toilet disasters.

Fancy taking part?  Email amy@thejournal.ie with a few lines about yourself and your kids for a chance to feature.

Danielle Websdale Danielle Websdale

This week, Danielle Websdale (@dannithemammy) filled us in on what’s happening behind the scenes in a picture of her with her fiancé and two children; Ever-Leigh, two-and-a-half years; and Ollie, 11 months.

Tell us a bit about this photo. What inspired you to take it?

It was Christmas Eve 2018 and I wanted to capture the perfect Instagram-worthy picture before bedtime in our new matching pyjamas.

What’s one thing that’s going on in this photo that you wouldn’t know from looking at it?

This particular day was pretty stressful, as I recall. I was still adjusting to life raising two under two. That morning I had dressed Ollie in lovely new festive clothes… before he had a poo explosion. Once that was resolved, I went to dress my daughter and change her nappy. As I was reaching for the clean nappy, she grabbed the dirty one, threw it, meaning poo landed all over me.

A while later, I remember picking Ollie up for a cuddle, and him puking on me.

Later, after a tantrum in the pram, a trip to the playground, and a tantrum at the till in Penneys, I was at boiling point – but I met with their dad (my fiancé) and we all went to his parents’ house to exchange Christmas gifts. Things got easier after that.

We went home, bathed the kids and the excitement of Santa kicked in. I set my camera on timer to capture this picture while we all chilled before Santa came.

Did it take many attempts to get the right shot?

It took three attempts. I wanted all of us looking to be looking and smiling for the picture but it was never going to work out so thought I’d naturally capture what happens every night in our house before bed. The result was better that what I had anticipated.

What do you love about this photo?

I love that after all the drama, at the end of the day this is what life is all about: all of us being together. We are perfectly imperfect and although my day didn’t go to plan, my kids do not know and they don’t care. All they want is our nurturing love and our time.

Was there any editing done to the photo before it was posted?

I brightened the photo, and the locker on the other side of the bed has been cropped out because it’s full of baby bottles, bibs and soothers!

How well does this photo reflect your family life in general?

This picture perfectly sums up my family because this is how we end every single day. All four of us winding down on our bed after the chaos that the day has brought – because 90% of the time you can be guaranteed there was chaos. The next time you see a perfectly posed picture, please take solace in the fact that there was likely a meltdown or a poo explosion along the way somewhere.

Do you have a family photo from Instagram with a great behind-the-scenes story? The day at the beach when the little one ingested a mouthful of sand – or the smiley photo taken just minutes after a tantrum? If so, we want to hear from you! Email amy@thejournal.ie with a few lines about yourself and your kids for a chance to feature in What You Don’t See Here.