What an unexpected and crazy ride this past week has been. I just wanted to thank everyone who has taken the time to leave comments both here and on my Instagram account. I have been overwhelmed by all the support but also by all the thoughtful and intelligent criticism. I wanted to let you know that your comments have really made me evaluate my own actions and beliefs, and I am thankful for a platform where we can discuss and debate parenting issues like this.
There has been a lot of media coverage highlighting both sides of this story, and while I think there are some important issues to be raised, I have also felt pretty exposed and vulnerable. A lot of stories have been very sensationalised, many of them have had incorrect facts, but this story from The Southland Times in New Zealand seemed to raise some interesting points (it is also one of the only papers I submitted quotes to). There is also a column in The Telegraph which, although mostly critical of my decisions, also highlights some interesting points, and for many reasons I enjoyed reading this editorial too.
Thank you again for all of your comments.
Courtney x
Comments (22)
I Courtney,
please don’t misunderstand me, but I’m glad for all the rumors of the past week, because I discover your blog. I really like it!
And, by the way, you kid is lovely! I have two little boys (3 and 1 year old) and I love take pictures of them in every funny moment!
Keep going on!
Love from Italy
Federica
Hi Courtney, everything you write comes from a place of a huge warm heart, intelligent mind, protective mother, and strong woman. You set such a wonderful example. I , as well as countless others, are so pleased that you are still sharing these precious moments of your life. So no need to thank us, THANK YOU! XO
I really love your photos, your stories, your kids and all the things you make me feel. Of course, it´s your decision, but I really miss your personal blog :-C
I loved it!!
Thanks for sharing your life, it´s inspiring for all of us and everybody needs beautiful and inspiring moments
Courtney, I was a new follower who found you thru Cup of Jo. I’m afraid you’ve lost me on this instagram battle, but good luck in the future. I’m glad you are attempting to listen to the “critical” comments. This whole debate has certainly opened my eyes, which is why I’m kindly exiting.
I really like this quote from one of the articles:
“I don’t like the idea that posting a picture of your child is somehow exploiting them. I can’t police the private thoughts of everyone, or spend my time treading on eggshells because of hypothetical dangers. I let my children be seen in their swimsuits on the beach, but I can’t go around checking whether or not everyone who can see them is having inappropriate thoughts.”
Like you said, you just have to live your life and lovingly tell the stories of your children. It’s a beautiful IG feed and blog. Keep it up!
Hi Courtney! I hope you are doing well despite all of the IG drama going on lately! I left you a comment on IG but I’m sure its lost in with all of the hundreds of comments you’ve received lately! I just wanted to let you know about @chatbooks on Instagram. Their app lets you download your photos from instagram into books which they print in volumes for you. The cost is only $6 per volume. This may be a good (and very affordable) way to preserve all of your gorgeous photos!!
Anyway, everything here in Mount Vernon is well! We have been having some really nice weather and have just hit berry season! Which is our favorite season 🙂 Do you get to come home for another visit this summer?
Keep posting all of those lovely photos!
Tricia Carter Chase
Sweet Courtney — would you mind sharing how you were able to get your account reactivated? I am a mother to two boys and two girls, 5 and under, and my feed is all baby pics all the time. I’ve received two emails from Instagram in two days saying I have violated their guidelines and I honestly cannot figure out where I have! Thankfully my account has not been disabled but I am preparing for the worst. Any insight or guidance you can share is more than appreciated! Thank you so very much in advance for your help. XoxoSheridan @sheridanfrench
Courtney,
I recently reported an image on Facebook of a young lady, who was topless, but lightly covering her breasts with her hands. Her right nipple was visible through her fingers. Though it could be considered beautiful art, it is not something I want my children seeing. Facebook replied that the photo did not violate any of their regulations. It absolutely sickens me that social media lets something like that pass, but removes your entire account because of beautiful and spunky Marlow being a cute little toddler. For the comments brought up about protecting a child’s safety…. people just need to butt out. She’s your fourth and you have done an amazing job with raising your children right, just as your parents did with you and your siblings. Keep up the good work, Court. It is such a delight to read your blog and see pictures of an old friend, not to mention being an inspiration for all of us mothers out there.
Take Care xoxo
Rachel Adams (Armstrong)
Hi courtney, thanks for posting the links to these articles, I have been following the whole thing over the last week and the south land article and the guardian editorial really raise some useful arguments and respond well I think to the actual issues that have been going on.
I love the quote about motherly love being the best protection against abuse in terms of giving our children a secure identity and confidence.
I’m really sorry for you that you and your family have had to be at the centre of all of this and can imagine it must have been a really horrible experience. I suppose having the huge following on IG that you do and your high profile though babyccino has meant you’ve really been targeted but we are all have a responsibility to think about photos on social media of our children and this is new territory for everyone. I’m still intrigued to know though you’ve thought about making your account private? I asked about this and whether your older children know and are involved in which photos of them go on your feed as a comment on your IG but you had so many comments don’t expect you to have been able to read it!
Anyway, please keep on with your fantastic IG feed and blog posts, always inspiring.
Louise.
londonlistmaker on IG
Dear Courtney
I have just my two small people to bed and come down stairs
to read up on your ongoing Instagram story.
I have read the articles you suggested and cannot imagine how
you have been able to deal with all of it so gracefully and then it dawned on me you are a mother of 4 little people you can deal with anything ! Keep smiling keep posting x
Hi Courtney,
Keep fighting the good fight and if you ever feel the pressure articles like this will hopefully bring some relief and a smile…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3634055/Come-off-it-folks-how-many-paedophiles-can-there-be.html
Love to you and the family x
Hi Courtney,
I am a follower of the blog and your instagram accounts.
Here in Portugal even one of the most recognized newspapers has mentioned your case (http://p3.publico.pt/node/12708).
This is important for us as an example of the still so confusing new era of internet. And I hope we all can learn (including instagram developers) with this unpleasant situation of yours.
Wish you all the best,
RitaBurnay
Hi Courtney,
Keep fighting the good fight and if you ever feel the pressure articles like this will hopefully bring some relief and a :-)…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3634055
Love to you and the family x
Hi Courtney,
This is another sad reminder of the way society thinks, There is nothing wrong with the photo you posted however anyone who could look at this image as something sexual is quite another story.
Certainly as parents we have responsibility to protect our children ( I have 2 little boys 6 and 4) but at the same time I feel this is another reminder of what is wrong in todays society everything is so sexualised that we see it everywhere, even in places it doesn’t exist.
I really thought The Southland Times article raised some good points, In the meantime I am so pleased to see your instagram has been re-instated and I hope you continue to share your lovely family snaps!
All the best to you and your family,
Nicole
Dear Courtney,
This must be really stressful and exhausting. I know that people can be very quick to judge. I have not read all of the articles or comments so I am not exactly sure of all of the comments and issues that have been raised.
I am very aware that I have had a lot more mail coming through my mailbox from “babyccino” a blog on a commercial website that makes money. I think the main issue is not the content of the picture of your child but the fact that the images are used to promote your business and make you money. I can see from some of the comments that the incident with instigram has actually earned you more followers, more business and more money. I think you may need to look at your motives for posting the images. I hope I am wrong.
Hell of a week and I think instagram were extreme in their decision to remove your account but I really do wish this whole affair didn’t slightly smell of a bad situation turned into lucrative PR. You should seriously consider making your account private and I was shocked to see you have linked the articles attached to this article via an Aweber link which makes you money per click through.
That’s very poor. Exploited become the exploiter.
Emma,
We don’t make any money for any of the clicks in this post. To be honest, I don’t even know what you’re talking about when you say ‘aweber link’. I have simply linked directly to the news articles, no benefit whatsoever to us.
Also, making my account private only stops future people from following my account – it would mean that everyone who already follows me could still follow me. So it wouldn’t really be a private account.
I would like to encourage people to think and be open minded before making judgemental, unfounded comments like this.
I think people have thought about this with an open mind. Every mother would have out herself in your shoes. The issue is the hysteria surrounding it makes it hard to fully engage with the debate. Thankfully instagram saw the error of their ways and reopened your account. Sadly what you perceive as judgemental behaviour comes from opening up your children’s lives to the public. You’re right, it’s not mine or anyone else’s place to judge and for that I am sorry .
Emma,
Thanks for your follow up comment. I think it’s important that readers of this blog know that the press hysteria was not something I expected, engineered or exploited. I declined multiple offers for television appearances and every offer for ‘exclusive’ newspaper interviews. I was offered significant sums of money to tell my story, all of which I declined.
I gave a radio interview with LBC, a phone interview with the Huffington Post and comments to a New Zealand publication. All of the rest of the 30+ articles based their stories and quotes on my blog post or other reporters’ articles. Most contained glaring errors and/or inaccuracies.
This event has really opened my eyes to how poor the standard of journalism is these days. You really cannot believe anything you read. It will certainly affect how I interpret news or make judgements in the future.
You are completely right about how lazy journalism is, especially from the tabloids. I know someone in the public eye and am aghast at the lies that are printed about her, a simple check would clarify them but they never dig for the truth… however, she puts much of this out herself, which is another topic in itself.
Personally I do not agree with your fight with Instagram, but I wanted to ask, as you seem so passionate about this subject and you were given the opportunity to bring this issue to a wider audience with television interviews, why did you decline them ? These would have reached so many people and they cannot twist your words on television ?
As for boosting your business and receiving freebies, why not ? You shouldn’t worry about annoying a few people, I think most people are clued up to how the business world works and since when was any business a charity ? That is how business works. Let’s all be real. You shouldn’t have to defend making a living.
I think you depict motherhood in a beautiful way. I have three children aged three and under, and at times when I’m feeling a little overwhelmed I flip through your instagram for some inspiration. I hope these events haven’t completely tarnished what was and still is a genuinely lovely little squared glimpses of your life.
Hi Courtney,
I write not as a parent but as a professional who works with families. I strongly feel that the photo of your little girl was innocent, beautiful and a happy reflection of your family unit. Looking into the media furore further (via Google!), I am dismayed
at the comments and opinions that have been directed towards you. It’s a very sad sign of the times that concerns have been raised, and I agree with comments that have been made that paedophilia needs to be addressed as a societal issue, rather than at parents who wish to record cherished moments. You clearly are protective of your children and I don’t feel that posting that particular image deflects from that.
I have never commented before about ‘public’ issues, but really wanted to lend my support here! It shouldn’t even be an issue.