I try to be open and honest about my experience of motherhood: Manali Tiwari

Manali Tiwari started her blog to tell stories about motherhood, especially the struggles new moms find difficult to talk about.

While starting with her blog, Manali Tiwari used to spend hours teaching herself the craft of making videos and editing the. The exercise helped her get better at telling the stories she wanted to share about motherhood. In conversation with Social Samosa, she talks about her journey and an absurd brief by a shapewear company that wanted her to link the product to the confidence of a new mother.

Looking back, where did it all begin?

Just after having my baby, I struggled a lot at the beginning of my motherhood journey. Yuvaan had jaundice and doctors told me I was not making enough breast milk to feed him. The first two months were a disaster where I had no clue what was going around. Taking care of a teeny tiny human, feeding him, cleaning him, dealing with sleep deprivation and the frustration — basically everything that a normal woman will have to face postpartum.

At times I felt very alone. And because nobody talked to me about the struggles a mother face, I was at times ashamed of my feelings. I bottled in all the emotions. After 8 months of struggle somehow one day I made an account on Instagram and started writing about my feelings. I gradually started making funny videos about my motherhood journey. All the videos and memes, which I make and posts I write, come from either something that has happened to me or stuff that I hear from my friends and relatives. I was so glad so many moms out there share the same feelings and stories. 

What's in the name?

My Instagram name is Mommywood India because guess what, this Mommy loves Bollywood!

What is your USP in this cluttered space? How does your content give you an edge?

Mom blogging is an emerging industry in India, I am just trying to be as honest and as open as I could be about my experiences with motherhood. My videos are definitely my USP. They are relatable, they make people laugh but, at the end, there is a message.

Please take us through your content creation process. How do you stay relevant and relatable?

Well, I shoot my videos at home with my toddler around. When I started out, I had to spend hours teaching myself editing and filming. I make content out of real things that happened to me, and it's quite exciting to see how so many moms go through such similar things. 

How do you make moolah with your efforts?

I collaborate with the brands which I connect to as a parent, which I trust and can confidently recommend to my followers. 

Also Read: Motherhood is not the end of the adventure: Shweta Thota, Mom Blogger

How do you maintain editorial objectivity with the influx of brand briefs?

Whenever I am making a video, I make sure there is some message or some relatable content to my followers. Even if its a brand promotional video, I try to be authentic and genuine to the brand as well as my followers. I don't collaborate with the brands I don't connect to. 

One instance/experience that made it all worthwhile

Momspresso published an article about my work. It was at that moment I realised I am doing something worth and noticeable and people are acknowledging it. 

Weirdest brand brief/request ever

A shapewear company wanted me to promote their product, which I refused because they wanted me to tell my followers that shapewear will raise the confidence of new moms. Well!! This is absolute nonsense, new moms must be given the confidence to embrace and love their body as it is. 

If not blogging, you would be?

An actress, for sure.

A day in your life...

Nothing different from a normal Indian homemaker. My life revolves around my two babies, my son and my husband. 

Message/tips for upcoming bloggers

The whole purpose of blogging is being honest with your followers and at the same time being true to yourself. People will connect to you if your content is original and relatable. 

Your Favorite Influencer

Kristina Kuzmic 

The Future you foresee for your Personal Brand

It's just a start, I have a long way to go. Writing and making videos is a therapeutic outlet for me where I can share and talk everything about motherhood be it joy or depression or frustration or the emotions that many moms don't bring out to open for fear of judgement and shame.