• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2026 ABC News
  • Family

'Just so I'm being honest' tweets TV mom with hilarious photo

1:59
Working from home mom gets interrupted on conference call by her kids 27 times in 10 minutes
SciMomJourneys/Twitter
ByGenevieve Shaw Brown
Video byWill Linendoll
September 22, 2020, 5:59 PM

People on television always look like they have it all together.

But that's not always so, as displayed by the viral tweet of Gretchen Goldman of Washington, D.C. Part of Goldman's job is to communicate science policy news in the media. She had 45 minutes to prepare for a national television interview.

And because she's a boss, and also a mom of two boys, she did what moms do: she got it done.

Editor’s Picks

Mom's photo of son crying on 1st day of virtual kindergarten hits home for parents

  • Aug 27, 2020

Mom's viral video on the confusion surrounding school year is hilarious

  • Sep 08, 2020

Mom's 1st day of school photo is funny because it's true

  • Sep 01, 2020

Goldman said she needed "good lighting, the computer at eye-level, and a professional background. I put a chair on top of our coffee table and wedged the chair I sat in between coffee table and the couch to get the best shot."

The perfect spot, as it turned out, did not look as perfect off camera as it did on.

Related Articles

MORE: Mom's viral hack just might save the teen years

"My husband snapped a photo of my interview from decide and it was clear how ridiculous it looked," she said. "I'm awkwardly placed, wearing a jacket but only shorts, and I'm surrounded by our children's toys which are scattered around the room."

Related Articles

MORE: Why this parent says teachers should stop saying 'your mom and dad' to kids

Still, Goldman wanted to "be honest about the situation," she told "Good Morning America."

"I had no idea it would get so much attention," she said of her viral tweet, which has been liked more than 300,000 times. Many others are tweeting their similarly chaotic work-from-home lives.

"I thought surely people have done this before after many months of the pandemic but the response has been overwhelming," Goldman said. "It has been amazing and uplifting to see the photos resonate with so many people. Many of us are struggling right now, especially parents and especially moms with small children who are living in a mess we can't keep up with. And that's OK. We shouldn't have to pretend things are perfect right now because they aren't. And we should acknowledge that."

Related Topics

  • Parenting

Editor’s Picks

Mom's photo of son crying on 1st day of virtual kindergarten hits home for parents

  • Aug 27, 2020

Mom's viral video on the confusion surrounding school year is hilarious

  • Sep 08, 2020

Mom's 1st day of school photo is funny because it's true

  • Sep 01, 2020

Up Next in Family—

Influencer family of 10 speaks out after hit-and-run crash with 3-week-old in car

April 16, 2026

3-year-old steals the show with viral walk-up song strut

April 16, 2026

3 things parents need to know after $10M Roblox settlement

April 16, 2026

NeeDohs are the new viral toy: What to know

April 16, 2026

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2026 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2026 ABC News