Christina Anstead defends herself from parent-shamers calling her an ‘absent mother’

Just because Christina Anstead’s Instagram timeline isn’t non-stop photos of her kids doesn’t mean she’s not spending quality time with them.

That was her message on Thursday when the Flip or Flop star used the social media platform to respond to parent-shamers calling her an “absent mother.” The timing of her post wasn’t random — just a couple hours earlier, her estranged husband, Ant Anstead, from whom she filed for divorce this week, posted a photo of himself with their 1-year-old, Hudson, at the beach.

“This year has been incredibly isolating,” wrote Christina, who announced her separation from Ant in September. “Activities like church, travel, dinner, movies, sports- canceled. No longer seeing my friends smiling faces on set (all covered by masks) it all feels like s**t. So many changes for so many people. So despite what you see on Instagram most people are struggling.”

Christina continued, “When I get told ‘you must be an absent mother because you are not with your kids.’ [Smack my head.] Wake up people. I hardly post anymore ... and I def do not want to post my kids every freaking day to make it a contest of who’s a better parent 🤦🏼?♀? [F**k] that. This doesn’t mean I’m not with my kids — it means the opposite — I am with them — I’m present.”

The HGTV star, who has also has two kids with ex-husband and Flip or Flop co-star Tarek El Moussa, concluded by writing, “So stop parent-shaming people, stop choosing sides when there is no side to choose. My point being — when you see stuff on here take it all with a grain of salt. There is a whole lot of filters and fake smiles. I’ve been guilty of faking it too. We are all struggling - some of us are just better at ‘masking’ it.”

Just hours earlier, British star Ant — who announced this week he’s leaving Wheelers Dealers to work on new shows in California — shared a snap with Hudson enjoying the sunset and fro-yo in Laguna.

He also shared them in Halloween costumes.

And during a visit to his workshop. (Ant also has two children from a previous marriage.)

Christina’s timeline isn’t without photos of her trio of minis, she’s just making the point it’s not a contest. She shared a Halloween photo of Hudson, too.

And recently shared pix of her bigger kids.

Christina surprised her fans on Sept. 18 when she announced that she and Ant had split after less than two years of marriage. The pair started dating in October 2017 and married at their Newport Beach, Calif., home in December 2018. Hudson was born in September 2019.

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