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"Being a parent is tough." We've all heard it, but realize what it really means only later in life. Either when we grow up or when we have some little ones of our own. We finally understand the sacrifices they make, the sleepless nights, the worrying, the amount of patience that one needs to have to raise a child.
But sometimes parenting can be just absurdly comical. Kids sometimes really do the darndest things. In these situations, you don't know whether to laugh or cry. Bored Panda has scoured the vast sea of parenting content to bring you this list. These parents may not be having the best day, but they may certainly lighten up yours.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Mom Rage Aside, We Made A Memory, Right? And Had A Laugh
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#2
A Very Slow Flushing Toilet Led To My Discovery Of The Most Ironic Toilet Clog. Kids Are Stupid
#3
Yeah, That's What It Translates To In Kid Talk
We named this list "Parenting Failures", but it's more about the realities of being a parent than the failures. It's important to know the difference between rough patches every parent feels and actual parental failure. Ashley Hudson LMFT explains that difference on her blog.
"Parental failure is when a parent causes significant trauma and/or physical or emotional damage to their child through their parenting style," she writes. "This could be in the form of abuse, neglect, abandonment, and/or when parents are involved in substances or violence that is affecting their parenting."
#4
I’m Sorry. They Are Spectacular
Upstaged75 1 year ago (edited)
My niece recently had a huge melt down because her brother gave their mom a high five. Apparently she's the only one who's allowed to do that. :)
#5
It’s Always Mom. Dad Is For When Mom Says No
David Henry 1 year ago
Rookie mistake; never leave the chance this wide open for a kid to insert some brutality.
#6
That Is Triggering
What most parents mean when they say they think they're failing as parents is just stress and weariness talking. Hudson writes that it's a response to a stressful event, several days, weeks or months. True parental failure has serious long-term repercussions for the child.
#7
But Seriously
#8
My Kid Eats The Entire Pint Of Ice Cream And Then Fills It With Water And Freezes It To Make Me Think I Had A Nice Treat To Enjoy At Night
#9
Kid Drew All Over My Mom’s Ralph Lauren Purse
One of the reasons parents feel this way is because they feel too much pressure. Either from the outside or from themselves. Tia Slightham, M Ed. and Parenting Coach writes that parents desperately want to feel they are enough. Not messing up their kids, doing the right things as a parent. But the truth is, according to her, "if you love your kids, you're trying your best and you keep trying to learn," that's enough.
#10
Like Being Unreal Isn't A Full-Time Job Already
Giraffy Window 1 year ago
My preteen and I are reading a book series where dragons are the main characters. It gets pretty violent, and since this was the first time we'd read a violent thing together, I tried to reason "Well they ARE dragons, not humans, so it's less of an issue because dragons are naturally going to be violent creatures." My kid side-eyed me and stated "Yeah, but it was written by a human, and the dragons all act and think like humans, so it's REALLY not that different, mom." ... ok... fine, be all logical. it's a really good series and we've both been enjoying them.
#11
My Kids Just Told Me They’ve Been Putting Fruit Stickers Under Our Kitchen Cabinet For Six Years
#12
Bro Thought The Toy Was Identical
Ashley Hudson narrows down the things that might make one feel like a failing parent. Most parents, according to her, feel they have too little patience while disciplining. Others panic when they don't feel control over tantrums, rebellions and defiant behavior. First-time parents have it the worst – they simply haven't had the experience.
#13
I Find Parenting Involves A Lot Of Saying “Don’t Laugh, Don’t Laugh” Or “Damn, That Was A Good Try” But Remembering To Keep My “Adult” Face On
#14
I Just Didn’t Think It Could Get This Awful
#15
I Have No Idea How Mad I Should Be
A Certified Positive Discipline Educator and Life Coach for Parents Adrienne Bishop writes that these feelings of failure also stem from the fact that parents have no control over kids. "The fact is, our children have agency, which means they have the ability to make their own choices. No matter what you want your child to do, they ultimately have the final say."
#16
My Kid’s End-Of-Year Open House. My Wife And I Are The Oldest Parents In Her Class, At 39. Thanks For Making Us Feel Good Kid
Ross “Sarcastic Dad” 1 year ago
Last 3 answers tell you that you're doing a great. Forget that he thinks you're 80, lol.
#17
Left The Kid For A Minute
Brett Layton 1 year ago
why on gods green earth would you leave a child unattended in a medical exam room ? I see at least 4 ways the kid could off themselves just from this picture alone.
#18
My 8-Year-Old Is Going To Grandma's Place. I Told Him To Dress Nice And Hurry Up Because He's Going To Church With Them. I Didn't See How He Left The House... My Mom Just Sent Me This Pic
Bishop writes that when parents think they're failing, they're blaming themselves for their kids' actions. "We try to control our kids’ behavior in order for us to feel better," she claims. "But since it is impossible to control others' behavior, we consistently struggle to feel good, and to not feel like failures, and then as a result we give our power over to our kids and become their victims."
#19
Didn't Get A Picture Of The 25-30 Pounds Of Rice He Evenly Spread All Over The Kitchen Floor The Other Day, But Checked Up On Him Half Way Through Disney's Cars 2 To Find This
Kobe (she) 1 year ago
TIL that parents exist who do not child lock their cabinets or leave them alone with stuff - and are still surprised with this outcome ...
#20
Sounds Normal Enough
Couragetcd 1 year ago
I had to run away from a toddler and hide the lavender baby lotion on the top shelf of the coat closet after every bath to keep him from eating it all. He has just started not to leave CK any extra lotion off her s hands at 7
#21
Don’t Let Your Kids Run Free In Bulk Barn
The educator recommends redirecting thoughts since they are one thing parents can control. Instead of thinking "I have failed my child" or "She will always eat this way" try to think: "I am learning how to help my child make better food choices." Bishop writes: "After I work on changing my thoughts, I can start taking steps to set limits and expectations from a place of acceptance and peace and not blame or overwhelm."
#22
“I Don’t Want Anymore, Dad”
#23
My Wife Had To Write A Not-Sick Note For School
Sooploosh MacSchnibble 1 year ago
Ok but like one time I was horsing around too much one morning w my dad, and he was playfully holding me against the wall, but I told the school he slammed me into the wall and they sent someone to interview him. My stupid a*s almost had him lose custody of us
#24
My 2-Year-Old Son Made A Puzzle For Me
Tia Slightham has some simple, down-to-earth recommendations for struggling parents. The first one is to get enough sleep. Try going to bed just a few minutes earlier each night. She writes that without enough sleep it's easier to give in to bad thoughts and frustration. You're truly not you when you're tired.
#25
Really Son?
#26
Ok, But I've Done That Too
#27
One Of My Adult Kids Left This In The Fridge
Secondly, Slightham advises to learn to walk away. Parents can avoid unwanted outbursts of anger and frustration if they try counting to ten. "Learn from your mistakes and next time try your best to walk away before you open your mouth and yell, give empty threats or say something you regret," she writes in her blog.
#29
Same Daughter Who Laughed At Idiot Kids On TikTok Cutting Bangs And Crying… Cut Her Bangs Just Now. And Cried. And Cried
Andrew Keir 1 year ago
every day is a school day, it's just that some lessons are remembered for ever.
#30
My Daughter, Ladies And Gentlemen
Her last tip is to document one good thing you did each day – doesn't matter how small. "Maybe you and your child had an amazing snuggle and book time before bed. You were able to connect during a board game. You kindly asked your child to brush their teeth instead of harping them." Slightham lists all these strategies as examples.
#31
My Wife's Stationary Bike Just Became A Jellybean Dispenser
#32
My 6-Year-Old Is Mad At Me
Giraffy Window 1 year ago
Ohhhh that had some BIG feelings behind it. Hope it's all worked out now!
#33
This Is Your Reminder To Take Your Birth Control
#34
We Can Just End This Topic Now... My Kid Just Took The Cake
#35
The Kids Left The Remote On The Heater
dan martyr 1 year ago
How high do you have your heating on? If the radiators are glowing it’s time to turn down the thermostat
#36
Consequences Of Oversleeping With A 4-Year-Old In The House
Zoey Rayne 1 year ago
4 year olds should never be able to touch anything as pointy as those scissors. Lock that s**t up. * remembers horror story about young child cutting off her cat's whiskers; poor kitty was never the same *
#37
Found Out My Son Has Been Stealing And Selling My Pokémon Cards
Jo Maxwell 1 year ago
That's not okay no matter the age. Also how did he sell them without you noticing?
#38
My 3-Year-Old Daughter Did This Today To My Favorite Thesaurus Which I Held Perfect For Almost 20 Years Since School
#39
My 2 Preschoolers Just Did This To An Entire Bag Of Cable Ties
Gustav Gallifrey 1 year ago
Could have been worse. At least they didn't zip one extra tight around a part of the anatomy of one or the other.
#40
My Partner's Son Is A Monster
#41
When My Kid Runs Out Of Toilet Paper, She Will Improvise
#42
My Child’s Playroom 90 Seconds After I Finished Cleaning It Up
#43
My Kid Was Driving While We Were Inside And My Other One Looks Out And Says: Dad, The Golf Cart Is Smoking
Hans Georg 1 year ago
Without even knowing, what actually happened, this picture just shows a burning golf cart. Could have been a defect. That has nothing to do with bad parenting for now.
#44
My Niece Stole My Sister's Phone, Hoping For A Feed
#45
“Eating The Other Half Is Too Hard” - My Kid
#46
Rest In Peace 140 Hz Monitor
Giraffy Window 1 year ago (edited)
If it's sharpie, you can just use an ethanol alchohol-based hand sanitizer to wipe it off. Worked at a book store where we'd get in orders of deep discount books the sellers thought ought to have a sharpie mark across the covers of. We'd used alchohol based hand santiizer because it was just strong enough to lift the all the ink without seriously drying our hands out like a rubbing alchohol would. Please don't throw out your monitor just because there's marker on it.
#47
Toddler Is Mightier Than The TV
Sooploosh MacSchnibble 1 year ago
My brother wanted to join the Power Rangers once and he had this little Power Rangers sword and when the villain was onscreen he repeatedly whacked him and the screen broke. My brother is so powerful in the Power Rangers universe he accidentally destroyed reality.
#48
My 4-Year-Old’s Work Of Art
#49
I Told My 8-Year-Old To Put The Dryer Sheets Where All The Laundry Stuff Goes
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David Paterson 1 year ago
Baby proofing is a myth. My sister thoroughly babyproofed her house. But even that didn't stop her child from getting a pair of (blunt) scissors, undoing the (childproof) lock on a power point, switching the power on, inserting the scissors into the live power point, and being thrown across the room by the jolt of electricity.
Load More Replies... David Paterson 1 year ago
Baby proofing is a myth. My sister thoroughly babyproofed her house. But even that didn't stop her child from getting a pair of (blunt) scissors, undoing the (childproof) lock on a power point, switching the power on, inserting the scissors into the live power point, and being thrown across the room by the jolt of electricity.
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