At a Glance
- The HGTV star, 40, posted a candid Instagram reflection on aging after watching the latest Home Town episode
- She says she now chooses pancakes for her daughters over perfect hair and no longer worries about viewer opinions
- Napier reveals her arms are “softer” but loves that her 4-year-old calls her “the softest mommy in the world”
- Why it matters: The post challenges societal pressure on women to fight natural aging, especially in the public eye
Erin Napier is rejecting vanity norms. In a Jan. 12 Instagram post, the Home Town host shared raw thoughts on aging after watching herself on the new episode, saying she now prioritizes motherhood over appearance.
From TV Anxiety to Pancake Priority
Napier, who has co-hosted the hit renovation show with husband Ben for ten years, admitted she once stressed over viewer opinions. That changed after noticing her hair “half wavy, half flat” on the Jan. 11 broadcast.
She wrote: “I noticed the way age is changing me. I noticed my hair, half wavy, half flat, evidence of abandoning my hair styling at the 4 minute mark because I would rather make pancakes for the girls before leaving for work instead of staring at myself in the mirror worrying what you, viewer, might feel about the way I look.”
The mother of two daughters-Helen, 7, and Mae, 4-says the trade-off is worth it. She celebrated her “softer” arms because Mae “mutters that I am ‘the softest mommy in the world’ when she pushes her face into me as she falls asleep.”
A Decade of Growth
Napier contrasted her current mindset with earlier seasons.
“I have been on TV for a decade now, and years ago I cared more what the viewer might think,” she explained. “Oh but these days I’m the softest mommy, who makes the pancakes and wrinkles up my forehead worrying if we did enough reading today.”
Her conclusion: “It’s delicious and comforting to be rebellious about our vanity. We can’t care about everything, mamas!”
Previous Reflections on Aging
This is not Napier’s first public dismissal of anti-aging pressure.
- August 2024: Ahead of turning 40, she posted an unfiltered selfie on Instagram Stories with the caption: “Y’all, are we out here caring about forehead wrinkles? I’m turning 40 this month and I think… we should all decide we don’t care.”
The photo showed minimal or no makeup, reinforcing her stance on natural aging.
Homeschooling and Screen-Free Childhood
Napier’s focus on family extends beyond body image. In a recent interview with News Of Losangeles alongside Ben, the couple revealed they began homeschooling their daughters this academic year.
“We started homeschooling,” Ben said. “The kids. And we’re doing it. [Every time] when we say it, people are like, ‘Oh, did you hire a tutor?’ And we’re like, ‘No, we’re the tutors.'”
Erin added: “Homeschooling. It’s not a non-negotiable, it’s what we’re trying this year. But they’ve never had devices, they’ve never held phones or tablets or iPads. We’re trying to live like it’s our childhood again.”
Key Takeaways
- Authenticity over perfection: Napier chooses real-life moments with her children over polished TV appearance
- Body-positive messaging: She reframes physical changes as signs of love and motherhood
- Parenting philosophy: Homeschooling and zero screen time reflect the Napiers’ desire to recreate a simpler childhood
- Public influence: By sharing unfiltered thoughts with 1.2 million Instagram followers, she normalizes aging for women in the spotlight
