Scientist sums up the reality of mums working from home in a single photo

Gretchen Goldman, an accomplished scientist and PhD environmental engineer, has captured the realities of working from home in a single snapshot.

Goldman appeared via video link on a CNN news broadcast to discuss climate change and America's federal leadership this week.

What the camera didn't capture, however, were the toys scattered across Goldman's living room floor — and that she was only dressed from the waist up.

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The Board Member of 500 Women Scientists addressed her off-screen reality on Twitter, writing, "Just so I'm being honest."

Goldman revealed both what the camera did and didn't see, sharing a screenshot of her live interview next to the image of her in her living room.

The environmental engineer had used her skills creatively, resting her laptop on a chair on top of a table to get the angle of her camera right while she sat in front of it.

Goldman's post has since racked up 115,000 likes on Twitter, with users applauding and relating to the science mum's experience of working remotely.

"This wins the internet. Thanks for sharing this marvelous piece of honesty. I wish I was that bold," wrote one.

"I wish I could applaud you louder," commented another.

One person said Goldman's post showed a helpful glimpse into the lives of working parents during coronavirus.

"This unfiltered glimpse into your reality is so important for the mental health of working mums in a pandemic," they wrote.

"If they only see the left image it can be very disheartening. The right image allows them to have a knowing laugh and cut themselves some slack."

Goldman joked that she was clearly "off to a good start" with her work duties, both as a scientist and mother.

When one Twitter user explained he and his wife's home currently look like a "bomb went off in a toy store,", Goldman replied with a cool and simple: "Same".