With almost 250,000 Instagram followers and a growing number of lucrative brand partnerships, social media is the bedrock of Sophie Cachia’s business.
The 26-year-old built her following on being ‘The Young Mummy’ – a no bullsh*t, refreshingly relatable mum – in what felt like a sea of parents doing everything right. Immaculately so.
But if you follow the mum-of-two from Melbourne, you may have noticed a shift in her posts – namely, less Sophie. And in an Instagram story posted on Wednesday, she explained why.
“I’m getting some messages coming from people saying they miss me talking on my socials and they want to see me do it more… I guess I’ve made a decision of late to be more present in my life and to be putting my phone down a lot more,” she said.
“I no longer feel the need to record every aspect of my life, I find when things are happening or my kids are doing cute things or we’re having a laugh, and I automatically go to get out my phone and I now I feel that, you know what, I don’t need to do that, really being present in this moment.”
Listen: This Glorious Mess asks… could your family really live tech-free? (post continues after audio…)
Cachia assured her followers her decision to step away from her phone wouldn’t mean they’d never see her again. Just that, at this time in her life, she’s choosing to make quality time with her family a priority. And after the busy and successful year she’s had, we don’t blame her.
“I’m still here, I’m still the same Sophie, I guess I’ve just chosen and evolved I suppose in the way that I want to present myself and my family to the public, still me, still me, just a little less of me.
“Sometimes I forget that I had a baby girl this year, it’s been such a f**king fantastic year with everything we’ve achieved, but it’s been a busy year and I’m taking a break.”
The debate about whether our addiction to smart phones is affecting our kids is one that will continue to go on for years to come. But in 2017, making these kinds of decisions is necessary.
The decision to put our phones down is also one every parent can and should make for themselves, and for what's right for their family.