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\"I think that this is a big reason as to why a lot of people aren't open to the honesty of parenthood because you're putting yourself out there and you're being extremely vulnerable and you're allowing yourself for open criticism.\"

The power of parenting in the world of social media

Lachey is someone who openly shares her family's life with fans on social media.

As part of their global research within the campaign, Lachey's partners at WaterWipes found that parents feel pressure to be perfect after spending time on social media.

Lachey said she tries to be mindful of what she posts so that her life doesn't appear so flawlessly filtered.

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A post shared by Vanessa Lachey (@vanessalachey) on Mar 17, 2019 at 9:25pm PDT

\"I remember [my kids] were hugging...as I was going to post it I remember feeling like, 'This isn't normal,'\" Lachey said. \"There were 30 pictures and this was the only one where they're smiling and not killing each other...I remember feeling like if I was another mommy and I saw this I'd be like, 'Of course her kids have matching clothes and they're smiling.'\"

She added, \"So I wrote in the caption, 'Don't let this picture fool you. They're not always like this.'\"

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A post shared by Vanessa Lachey (@vanessalachey) on Dec 25, 2018 at 11:04pm PST

\"It's about finding balance. \"We put so much pressure on ourselves in trying to be what it is on social media then feel disempowered -- we feel like we're not the picture perfect parent.\"

The importance of leaning on your partner

Lachey said the documentary, which also explores love between partners, reminded her how crucial her relationship with her husband is, both for them as a couple and for their children.

\"We created this family and we started this party of five together,\" she said. \"The first time that Brooklyn is going to see how a man's going to treat a woman is watching Nick and the first time Camden is going to see how a man and a wife interact is [by watching] me and Nick and so we don't actually give them lessons like a school book. It's all subconscious and that's even more scary to think they're all soaking it all in.\"

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A post shared by Vanessa Lachey (@vanessalachey) on Feb 14, 2019 at 5:19pm PST

With three kids and two demanding careers, Lachey said she and her husband make it a point to say one thing every day that they appreciate about one another.

\"PHOTO:
David Becker/Getty Images
PHOTO: Nick Lachey and Vanessa Lachey attending JBL Fest, an exclusive, three-day music experience hosted by JBL in Las Vegas, Oct. 19, 2018.
>

\"It takes all but 3 minutes and it's been really great for us,\" she explained. \"He was away doing a performance and I texted, 'I love you. Goodnight. I appreciate how hard you work for our family. He wrote back, 'Love you. Goodnight. I appreciate how amazing of a mom you are when I'm away.' And so it just made me feel good.

\"I saw that and I said, 'He does see me.'\"

Don't forget about *you*

Besides acknowledging your partner, Lachey is encouraging parents to take time for themselves and recharge.

\"It's also showing them that I'm not dropping everything in my world to make them the priority,\" Lachey said. \"I know that might sound negative at first but if you really think about it, when they step into school or into the work environment or into another relationship or into life, they will be faced with that. I'm giving that to them in small doses and in a safe environment where they're going to have to figure out delayed gratification, independence.\"

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A post shared by Vanessa Lachey (@vanessalachey) on Apr 3, 2019 at 10:17am PDT

She went on, \"There's no cookie-cutter way to do it. We all love differently. We all execute differently and we all have to make it work differently...I hope this [campaign] is, even if it's a tiny bit, the start of parents feeling better about themselves and being OK to not have it all together.\"

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