Sharing Our Stories Without Selling Our Kids: Navigating Motherhood, Content, and Consent in 2025

It’s 2025, and the internet has become the family scrapbook, the advice circle, and sometimes the vent session we all need. But what happens when our stories include our kids? When their little faces, voices, and milestones become part of the brand, the content, the income?

Recently, states like California, Utah, Illinois, and Minnesota have started enacting legislation aimed at protecting child influencers. These laws require a portion of a child's income from content creation to be set aside in trust accounts. They also grant children the legal right to sue or demand content removal once they reach adulthood. Honestly? I think it’s overdue.

As a mom, a coach, and someone who shares publicly, this hits close to home. And not just in theory, this has been a personal dilemma for me.

My Own Wake-Up Call

When I first started my business, it carried more of that "influencer energy." You know the kind—posting family snapshots, sharing daily life, and letting people in on the cute, chaotic, and personal parts of motherhood.

And it worked. I got engagement. Growth. Relatability. It felt like the thing to do if I wanted people to connect.

But deep down, something didn’t sit right. I started questioning how much of my children’s lives I was offering to strangers. They hadn’t signed up for this. And while I was growing an audience, I was also putting my kids in the spotlight before they even had the words to say, “No, Mom, I don’t want that online.”

So, I made the hard decision to pull back. To protect their privacy. To share my motherhood story in a way that centered my experience without using their faces, names, or daily details. And with that came (unsurprisingly) lower engagement. Fewer likes. Less “reach.”

But I’ve never regretted it.

Because long after the algorithm changes again, I want my kids to know that I chose them over numbers. That I valued their consent and dignity, even before they could fully understand it.

The Line Between “Sharing” and “Showcasing”

Many of us turn to sharing as a way to connect, cope, or even create income. But here's the hard truth: when our children become part of our content, especially when there’s money involved, it’s not just our story anymore. Their images, behaviors, and words live on in a digital space they didn’t consent to. And they might not want it there forever.

So how do we navigate this with clarity and care?

5 Ethical Questions to Ask Before Posting Online About Your Kids

1. Is this moment mine to share, or theirs to protect?
   If it’s a vulnerable moment—meltdown, medical, or deeply emotional—pause before posting.

2. Would I be okay if this resurfaced when they're 16 or 26?
   Imagine a future friend, employer, or partner seeing the content. Does it still feel okay?

3. Have I asked for their input, if age-appropriate?
   Older toddlers and school-aged kids can start practicing consent now. Ask how they feel about a photo being posted.

4. Is there a way to tell the story without identifying them?
   Blur faces. Use nicknames. Share your experience without exposing theirs.

5. Are we benefiting financially, and if so, how are they protected?
   Even if you’re making a little extra for your family, consider setting aside a portion in their name and clearly outlining how those earnings are used.

When Motherhood Becomes Monetized

The rise of child influencers and now, the laws designed to protect them highlight how capitalism seeps into even our most sacred spaces. We’re not just mothers anymore. We’re brands. Content creators. Ambassadors. That’s not inherently bad, but it does require a new level of mindfulness.

It also begs the question: How much of motherhood are we expected to perform in order to stay relevant, relatable, or profitable?

This is where I want to invite you to reclaim your voice—separate from your child’s. You can tell your truth, share your experience, and connect deeply with other moms without putting your kids in the spotlight.

Finding a New Way Forward in Digital Spaces

Let me be clear: you’re not wrong for sharing your motherhood story. We’ve all done it. And we NEED one another’s stories to bind us together and remind us that we aren’t alone. What matters is evolving with awareness.

Here are a few ways to create more ethical content while staying true to your journey:

• Center your narrative. Focus on how you felt, what you learned, what helped you cope.

• Use visual storytelling that protects your children’s identity. Think back shots, blurred faces, or symbolic images.

• Model consent. Let your child see you asking before sharing. Let them say no.

And if you’re trying to figure out how to share your motherhood journey ethically while growing a business or platform, I get it. I’ve been there.

If that’s something you’ve been wrestling with, I’d love to support you. Coaching spots are open, and we can find a way to honor both your purpose and your privacy.

The truth is, the digital world isn’t going away. And our stories are powerful. But they’re most powerful when shared with integrity.

Let’s keep evolving together. For us, for our kids, and for the mothers coming up behind us.