A Cuban mother named Gladys Vargas (@gladis._02) has captured the attention of TikTok users by admitting she hasn't showered in two days and candidly explaining her reasons: her two young daughters keep her constantly occupied.
“I've gone two days without a shower, and before you judge me, let me tell you why,” begins the 53-second video she posted on Tuesday.
Gladys paints a picture of an unrelenting cycle of exhaustion: “When one cries, the other does too. When one wants water, the other asks for juice. When one wants to sleep, the other wants to play. It’s like this all day long.”
The brief moments of peace, such as the midday nap, are also not hers to enjoy.
“When they nap at midday, there are dirty dishes, laundry to hang, clothes to fold, or floors to clean. There’s always something more pressing than taking a shower,” she explains.
Self-care, once again, takes a backseat.
At the end of the video, Gladys poses a direct question to other mothers: “I want to know how many other moms are also going through this, and if I’m not the only one who always puts herself last. Comment with a red heart so I know I'm not alone in this.”
The clip is part of the #RealMotherhood and #UnfilteredMotherhood trends, formats that have garnered millions of interactions on TikTok among Spanish-speaking mothers who openly share the daily grind of parenting, counteracting the idealized image often portrayed on social media.
Among Cuban mothers, these candid accounts are particularly resonant. In recent months, several have gone viral with messages of extreme fatigue: one detailing a week without water, another voicing frustration over Havana’s power outages, and one simply sharing her “mental exhaustion.”
The island's ongoing crisis—prolonged blackouts, water and food shortages, insufficient wages—exacerbates the already overwhelming domestic load for those raising children under challenging conditions.
Gladys’s video, however, doesn’t cite Cuba’s crisis as a factor; instead, it highlights the universal challenge of simultaneously caring for two young children, broadening its relatability beyond the island’s audience.
Another viral video also made the rounds on Tuesday, featuring Cuban mothers reenacting farewells with their emigrant children, amassing over 45,200 views, further emphasizing how Cuban motherhood remains a hot topic on social media.
Understanding the Challenges of Motherhood in Cuba
Why did Gladys Vargas go viral on TikTok?
Gladys Vargas went viral on TikTok for candidly sharing her experience of going two days without a shower due to the constant demands of caring for her two young daughters.
What issues do Cuban mothers face according to the article?
Cuban mothers face issues such as prolonged blackouts, shortages of water and food, and insufficient wages, which add to the overwhelming responsibilities of raising children under difficult conditions.
How do the #RealMotherhood and #UnfilteredMotherhood trends impact social media?
These trends allow mothers to share honest and unedited accounts of the daily struggles of parenting, challenging the idealized portrayals of motherhood often seen on social media.