Parenting is one of life’s biggest and most enjoyable challenges. Helping your children grow into incredibly capable, morally upstanding, and passionate dreamers is every parent’s wish. However… we sometimes lose faith in the future of the human race when we see how some parents are acting online. The sad fact is, just because someone is a parent doesn’t mean that they’re a good one (even if they love their kids as much as anyone else).
There’s an online group on Reddit with 245k members called '[Stuff] Mom Groups Say' that’s been active since 2018. It's dedicated to shaming bad moms and all of their mom group drama. From anti-vaxx showdowns to debates about essential oils, the subreddit believes that these parents deserve to be called out for their behavior that, frankly, causes more harm than good.
Scroll down to lose a chunk of your faith in humanity, upvote the best of the worst pics, and do let us know what you think about these anti-parents, dear Pandas. Bored Panda spoke about the drama and misinformation that sometimes can be found in social media mom groups with the moderators of the '[Stuff] Mom Groups Say' subreddit, as well as with Samantha Scroggin, the founder of the 'Walking Outside in Slippers' parenting blog. Check out what they had to say below to pick up some great advice.
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This Mom On Why She Is Refusing The Big C19 Vaccine
Why Do They All Have To Hate Science Though?
Why Are Karen’s So Against Thermometers? Don’t Consent! Bonus Snark At The End
And yet I bet if their government talked about banning ACTUAL assault weapons due to someone ACTUALLY shooting children, she’d screech about “communism”.
"In my experience with online parenting communities, it's best to abide by the rules posted in these groups. Usually, that means no selling anything and no foul language, at a minimum. I generally try to be patient with people and open to different viewpoints, but it's aggravating when people are acting ignorant or spreading misinformation. In those cases, I try to give evidence of the facts without personal attacks," parenting blogger Samantha said.
Samantha used to be a professional journalist and is now a public information officer which means that she's very wary of fake facts. "Parents will make all kinds of claims in parenting groups online, including that vaccines are harmful. They'll recommend all sorts of remedies. But it's up to us to seek out reputable sources of information to help us make our own decisions on what's best for our kids," she warned that we have to do proper research instead of believing every bit of advice that we find online.
"I think we should reserve judgment of others' parenting styles when the actions taken are harmful to the child. And I realize what is harmful is open to interpretation. But if no one is being abused, let's have some grace for one another and the choices we make. Each child is different, and parents often know what works best for their child. Parenting is hard, and we can use as much support as we can get," she added.
I Asked About Learning Activities For My Toddler
"kindergarten as it is now" ... I don't know what kind of kindergarten you have, but the ones that I know of involve a lot of play time and fun activities, including learning social skills. Of course kindergarten teachers are well aware of kids' short attention spans, so they would plan the activities and learning accordingly.
Saw This And Just Knew It Belonged Here
The Mom Group I'm In Is A Goldmine For Crazy. I Posted About My 2 Year Old Asking For Privacy In The Bathroom And This Was A Comment I Got
Meanwhile, a lot of the subreddit's moderators pitched in to answer Bored Panda's questions. The mods explained that mom groups can sometimes be full of potentially dangerous misinformation, a desire to make money off more naive parents, and perpetuating "toxic rhetoric with zero consequences." The community also calls out those online groups that fanatically believe they're raising their kids "The Right Way" and anyone not doing so is a bad parent.
"The biggest lies are the coordinated lies spread in these groups on new parents at a vulnerable point of their lives. These women don’t need essential oils, or colloidal silver, they need paid family leave, affordable post-Partum care, health equities," one moderator explained. "New parents can be as dramatic as they want to be, they’re sleep-deprived and scared and have bills piling up and a new baby. Parental groups are allowed to be dramatic, they reflect the rawest human nature at one of the most 'precious' and yet frighteningly lonesome, most physically and mentally demanding, moments of our lives."
Is Covid19 Real? Asked And Answered In A Local Mom Group
"I will immediately ignore you if I don't agree with your views/facts/science"
Gay Satanic Clowns
It’s Gross Karen. I’m Also Pretty Certain It’s Illegal To Feed Unsuspecting People Your Bodily Fluids
The moderator continued: "So when people enter their lives promising a listening ear, a magical solution, and then shame them for breastfeeding or not breastfeeding, for co-sleeping, or sleep training, or not using magical amber teething beads, or for choosing vaccinations, then those are the heinous people that need to be shamed. They are actively manipulating people with a phony agenda and they need to be called out.”
Another moderator told Bored Pand that what inspired them to start the subreddit in the first place was the overall culture in mom groups that pushed their personal parenting philosophies as the one and only way to parent.
"These groups (like Cherry Universal, with specific subgroups for the crunchy moms and the sanctimonious moms) focus on preaching their way of parenting and viciously attack anyone who doesn’t fall in line. They’re a bigger problem for society too. Do you want to know where the anti-masking movement started? Look at posts from March-May of 2020 in crunchy mom groups. They push and perpetuate vaccine misinformation and an overall general mistrust of science and they use shame, groupthink, and banning to enforce their beliefs."
Found On A Baby Sleep Help Website. Says
Maybe Because That’s Illegal
Don’t do it. Simple as that. Also apologise and learn from your mistakes. Breastmilk is a bodily fluid. What if I ran out of water, should I piss in the brownies instead.
*stares In Cps*
However, the mod pointed out that far from every single mom group is bad. "Our birth month group, for example, has been the saving grace of my journey into parenthood. I have a cohort of parents who all have a child at the same age as mine. It’s a great way to get a quick pulse on typical development and also just feel generally supported, validated, challenged to be a better parent or find different and better ways to parent in a shame-free environment. I have a virtual village and that is just really incredible."
They continued: "To be really honest, it was how supportive I found my birth month group to be that sent me out in search of additional groups. My infant won’t eat baby food—oh, maybe I should check out this baby-led weaning group for ideas! (It was great, by the way.) But then when we started stumbling onto other groups that were just cesspools of negativity, abuse, bullying, etc, we learned about the subculture of 'mommy drama groups' and decided to bring it out into the public eye."
Guilt Tripping Your 3 Yo Child Into Nursing Is Gross
From A Mom Group On Instagram. I Guess People Without Children Are Not Allowed To Be Tired
This Seems Like A Healthy Relationship
We’ve written extensively about how to be a great parent and how to help your kids become independent. And, considering that there still are (and always will be) plenty of parents out there who either stifle their kids or who constantly exhaust themselves, the advice bodes repeating.
Anita Cleare, a parenting expert and the author of ‘The Work/Parent Switch,’ explained to Bored Panda in a previous interview all about how to overcome the desire to be a ‘perfect’ parent and how to stay positive when we’re all way, way too exhausted.
According to parenting expert Cleare, aiming to be a ‘perfect’ parent is the wrong way to go about things. This does more harm than good because it puts lots of unreachable expectations and undue pressure on both parents and children alike.
That’s Not How Any Of This Works
Given To My Daughter Through A Mom Group
My Child's Future Means Nothing To Me
“Trying to be a perfect parent is bad for children and bad for parents because it sets everybody up to fail. Research shows that ‘good enough’ parenting is best for children,” Cleare explained.
Instead, the expert suggests that all parents aim for ‘good enough’ parenting that actually helps improve our kids’ independence instead of them being overly-reliant on us.
In Cleare’s words, this involves “getting it right most of the time but also failing your children in ways they can handle—so that they gradually increase their independence.”
Vaccinations Made My Daughter Gay
Do Babies Give Hickies?
When my daughter was only a few weeks old I bent down to give her a kiss and she latched onto my chin. She had such a powerful suck that I had to break the suction by inserting my little finger in between my chin and her mouth. I had a red mark on my chin for quite a few weeks. So, yes my little human vacuum cleaner gave me a hickie.
This Extreme Fear-Mongering Pisses Me Off So Much
According to parenting expert Cleare, “Great parents make mistakes but they try to learn from them (and not to repeat them too often!).”
No matter your parenting style, you can’t do much if you’re overworked and exhausted. That means that looking after yourself is priority number one. If you put yourself last, you’re not doing your kids any favors, Cleare told Bored Panda.
F Your Privacy. I’m Gonna Show 53,000 People Your Picture And Tell Them You Got Your Period Today!
From An Unschooling Facebook Page. Poor Kid
I Literally Don't Even Know What To Say
“Even when you are really busy, try to find regular 5-20 minute breaks in your day when you can relax, practice some mindfulness, or do something joyful,” she said.
“Looking for the positives really does increase positivity,” the parenting expert added, suggesting that we try to maintain positive mindsets by being grateful and thinking about, for example, the 3 things that we’re glad to have in our lives.
Uhhhh Would This Be A Major Red Flag To Anyone Else?
They're Not Vaxxing Their Dogs Either
My Kid's Dentist Told Me Skipping Antibiotics Will Be Really Painful For Her, So I'd Like To Go Ahead And Do That
I actually have never heard of someone taking antibiotics BEFORE tooth extraction. Is this really a thing coz I have had 4 teeth extracted and not once did I need to do that. Afterwards yes, but not before.
Meanwhile, Lenore Skenazy, the president of the Let Grow nonprofit that aims to promote kids’ independence and fights overprotection, explained to us that children’s confidence grows when they know that others believe in them.
“A teacher, coach, grandparent, or, of course, parent who thinks you are terrific and ready to wow the world can make all the difference in the world,” Skenazy said, pointing out that when the support’s not there, it can have negative consequences on the child. So it’s important to balance support while also letting kids develop their independence.
According to Skenazy, how a parent tells their kids something is often more important than what they tell them to do. Kids take cues from grownups, so even phrasing something differently or using a different tone can have positive effects even if the topic that’s being talked about is far from pleasant.
Thats More Than 3 Pagents A Month If They Start When She Was Born! Of Course The Poor Thing Doesn't Want To Out Her Sippy Cup Down Shes A Baby!
Egg Fast Keto Mom Group
Who Says You Can't Be Cool And Rebellious Once You're A Mom
“The best way to make sure that a child starting out in the world feels like their parents believe in them—rather than simply being fed up—is for the parent to make it explicit!” Skenazy explained that this is how parents can communicate to their kids that it’s time to be more independent.
The expert also highlighted that telling the child that you’ll always love them, even though they’re becoming more independent is a healthy, mature way of communicating with them. However, that relies heavily on the parents themselves learning to loosen their grips on their kids and setting the bar for their expectations lower (which, maybe counterintuitively, leads to healthier, happier families).
So, dear Readers, what did you think of this list? Were there any pics that made you go, “Wow, that’s enough internet for me today?” Where do you think the line between being a good and a bad parent lies? What’s the best way to avoid drama on parent groups on social media? Share your thoughts and feelings in the comment section below. And remember, stay excellent!
Please Don’t Make Me Explain Why
Yeah, That’s Just Insane
Common Core Is Definitely Part Of The Leftist Agenda
"Home schooling group" kinda defeats the purpose of it being homeschooling, doesn't it. Doing it in a group is not a "home schooling group", that's an illegally operated, small school with unqualified teachers.
If You Have To Ask...
Geez, I'll need to wash my eyes with bleach to forgot what I read on this thread.
The only weird thing here is that she doesn't gently discourage the kissing.
In fact, unless she is sitting, he has to get to her level or she bends down
Load More Replies...Why do we think this is weird. Young children, up till about five years old have a natural need to be close to their moms breasts. To a child a breast is nursing and safe. They like to either hold them, cuddle them or kiss them even. Children are not the one sexualising this, adults are. Tje behaviour will naturally pass when the child gets older.
I think an innocent kiss from a 3 year old that happens to land there is one thing but to deliberately go to it and kiss them is different. Nothing to scold or embarrass them about, hut gently tell them we don't kiss there, or say "I really like cheek kisses!" And redirect. We wouldn't let them kiss our vagina because thats where we birthed them, but if we were sitting and they came over for a hug, put their head down, and gave a kiss, and it happened to be in the area, that is nothing to correct. Or the child comes for a hug and their hands grabs momma's butt, they don't mean anything. But if they came by to specifically grab your butt and squeeze it and talk about it, that is not appropriate. Edit: But I do agree it is natural until about 5. They are curious, and have no idea of anything sexual. My kids were not breast fed and were|are obsessed. They try to grab and squeeze them. But it doesn't mean it is encouraged. I just say that is not what they're for.
Load More Replies...Nope, for a year or so after ending breast feeding my son used to pat my boobs and comment on how much he liked them. These are tiny children. They appreciated the comfort and closeness. Breasts are not sex organs. Children are not sexual beings. Anyone reading that who can only see it as a sexual act needs to step back and think.
This whole thread is hating on a really well established lifestyle for 75% of the world
Load More Replies...The boy is 3. He's not a pervert, and you don't need to make a big deal about it, just gently dissuade him from doing it, like you would any other behaviour you want them to stop. If you freak out you actually risk making it a 'thing'.
Actually, extended breastfeeding is most popular in California, where mothers have been known to breastfeed children almost to their teens.
Load More Replies...Kids don't have any idea what they're doing but it doesn't give the green light. My kid is 4 this week and he wants to kiss my boobs -he was never breast fed -and I say no, it is not appropriate. My kids love giving kisses and test boundaries. 7 year old thought she was hilarious the other day. We put our eyes (one each) super close together-not touching- because it is funny. I did that when I was 7. She has to be reminded we do not literally touch eyes. Well, a few days ago she held onto my head and I see at the edge of my view something resembling a tongue. I am talking to her, half realize this, and couldn't back away as easily. I had to pull a little more and saw her tongue go back into her mouth. It never actually touched me but ir was probably like a millimeter away. I told her it was not ok, not appropriate, and gross germ-wise. Kids do things like that, it was not sexual on her end, she hasnt seen it or been abused. Parents be parents.
Ran out of space but adding: It is about the situation. This seems like it was intentional, allowed, and could appear sexual to anyone observing who is able to have those thoughts. Children hug and kiss and touch body parts all the time without thinking about it or realizing Ignore that. But when my kids-when my oldest was 3- they ask of they can kiss my forehead, ear, eyelid, etc. Yes, yes yes..But then they ask to kiss my boob. No. We talk how they are for breastfeeding, all women have them, etc. My kids see me change and go to the bathroom. Some don't have that comfort and think they need privacy. That is comfort level. But if the story was about making someone watch or you get the idea an older child or adult is getting sexual gratification, then changing and toileting isn't an option.
Load More Replies...sounds like a future perv. plus why would you let your kid in the room when your changing your bra?
Um, yes - the fact that you ALLOW your 3 year old to kiss your nipples is EXTREMELY weird.
When to teach appropriate behaviour. When to discourage inappropriate behaviour.
You change your bra in front of your child? (Weird depending their age) and he doesn’t have an bright feature in the world of women
plot twist: the person she thought was the baby was actually her husband
who is wrong here? the mother or the kid? please reply, l don't fully understand
More that the mom doesn't stop it and it is construed as sexual to adults. The kid is 3, he isn't in the wrong. The mom isn't wrong per say, either. But the image we have allowing kisses to a naked body deliberately seems sexual, so many perceive it as wrong.
Load More Replies...No. I want to drink all the unsee juice just no no no that's nasty
"Is that weird" YES ITS WEIRD. I swear to god some of these kids are either gonna grow up to be idiots, murderers, sex offenders or not grow up at all and all because of their weird clingy parents.
Some girls breastfeed 8 year olds....... I always wonderr why they do this?
The child is innocent, but why is she changing her bra in front of the kid and getting her boobs down to his mouth so he can kiss them in the first place? She's the weird one here, not the kid.
My 3yo asks to nurse, usually when I'm nursing my baby. That isn't weird. Kissing your nipples is a bit weird.
Most likely not. He is 3. What are your 3 year old memories?
Load More Replies...If Only It Fixed Everything (Found In My Breastfeeding Group)
I Guess You’re Out Of Luck Then
Can’t Find Science To Back Up Your Claim? Must Be God
God Forbid, A Bald Baby!
Bruh this child is going to have self-esteem issues if the parents continue to do this all the way up to adult stage.
Prayer Isn’t Billable To Insurance, Karen
I think they're called shamans, but I don't think they believe in Jesus :/
Who Knew I Wasn’t A Real Mom?
Note: this post originally had 48 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
I try so hard not to be judgemental. But seeing so much stupidity and dangerous ideas has me judging a whole bloody lot.
Before Facebook I could at least have some hope in humanity...not anymore.
Load More Replies...These people are dangerous. So, so, so dangerous. None of them should be allowed to interact with the public, much less breed.
Can somebody please get child services on most of these people? And they wonder why American kids take guns to school, have depression issues and are out of touch with reality....it starts at home....
I'm 100% with you on this. Some of the people featured here not be allowed anywhere near children. Who's running these groups? The social media companies hosting this stuff need to get their acts together before children get killed.
Load More Replies...I dont understand why we dont need to pass a test to be allowed to have kids. The wellbeing of the kids is more important than their wish to reproduce.
Every day I become more and more thankful to God for the parents I was given.
Some of these are so ridiculously stupid that they have to be fake, right?!
On this post we shouldn´t upvote but downvote. All of these... many many times.
And of COURSE Obimom is a self proclaimed, self righteous anti vaxxer. Ignorant selfish c***s the lot of them.
Load More Replies...HERE IS SOME UNSEE JUICE FOR EVERYONE WHO WANTS SOME unseejuice...7aa6c9.jpg
i refused to believe those kind of people excist, untill i saw people on my knitting FB group post prayers and ask the lord for forgiveness for the person who posted a picture of something with the pattern of Biden and Harris on it :-D
I think God has bigger issues that Biden & Harris on a knitting pattern...
Load More Replies...The more i read,the angrier i get. Angry but also sad. Also the way they always bring God is infuriating. God gave us brain for a reason. Tch,what a waste.
There were several of these that reminded me of my 74yo mother. Today (2/15/21), the temp in Huston TX is 10°. Records have been broken all over the US for cold temps. My mother straight looked at me and said, "Now you see what a hoax global warming is". I just walked away.
Well, Trump made a similar comment about the snow in New York... And the Spanish president Mariano Rajoy declared some years ago that global warming was a lie because his cousin, who is a biologist, said so.
Load More Replies...I just find it very interesting that the subreddit only bashes moms when there are just as many dad's with the same exact mindset and beliefs as those moms.
Start a subreddit, collect the examples and post them. Honestly, there's one thing some women are very good at: feeling a victim of the whole universe. And they are usually the ones who have the least reasons to complain.
Load More Replies...I see some potential future Darwin Award winners in those posts..ye gods 🥶
Oh dear oh dear. I will admit, I got scared more than once. And where did the whole "bReAsT mILK wILL cUrE eVeRyThInG" come from?
I'm not sure if these are supposed to be funny but I am seeing a LOT of future mentally ill children here. I have no problem being "all judgey" about these idiots. Truly, stupid people shouldn't breed.
This is why I believe basic psychology, interpersonal skills, and child-rearing 101 should be taught in schools.
I love posts like this ... makes me feel better about the job I'm doing parenting :)
If your kids are loved and cared for, you're doing just fine. Like adults, children are individuals and what works for other people's may not work for yours... ... ... Jist remember that goes for when you give other parents "advice" as well.
Load More Replies...I know this is old, like 10 months old but, i see everything postet here still on a daily basis. Like, we had no learning progress at all over the past 10 months. O.o On the holidays i had to disturb a customer, because he had to clean his nose in front of other customers. He did that because he wanted to clean his nose and did not understand why i whas angry at him. O.o
Nononoonnoo. Just no. I have seen pictures of war zones, car crashes, children starving in Africa, effects of diseases on people including small children so on and so forth and you go through it to learn something about how it happened and why it happened and how one can help and I never looked away. This is the first time I felt physically ill because it was so horrific. I couldn't even get through the whole thing I just stopped when I reached that one where the mom was saying a little poop isn't toxic and I just noped the f out.
No. It has always been there. The Internet only showed these people's stupidity to the whole world.
Load More Replies...To all of these mothers, Have you tried adoption? I'm sure your kids will get a better life with another family
Posts like these are just decisive. Yes, many of these people are concerning. However, in the end this post is about shaming moms and people who think differently than you. Rather than opening a conversation or (and some times this is an option) ignoring it, you shame people, driving them further away.
As an American, I take a slight offense with this. It isn't ALL Americans. You have seen what we have had to deal with for the past four years. The idiots and the ones that do the s****y things get all the attention. I am sorry to be an American because of what happened. Don't judge an entire country based on Trump and his lackeys.
Load More Replies...I try so hard not to be judgemental. But seeing so much stupidity and dangerous ideas has me judging a whole bloody lot.
Before Facebook I could at least have some hope in humanity...not anymore.
Load More Replies...These people are dangerous. So, so, so dangerous. None of them should be allowed to interact with the public, much less breed.
Can somebody please get child services on most of these people? And they wonder why American kids take guns to school, have depression issues and are out of touch with reality....it starts at home....
I'm 100% with you on this. Some of the people featured here not be allowed anywhere near children. Who's running these groups? The social media companies hosting this stuff need to get their acts together before children get killed.
Load More Replies...I dont understand why we dont need to pass a test to be allowed to have kids. The wellbeing of the kids is more important than their wish to reproduce.
Every day I become more and more thankful to God for the parents I was given.
Some of these are so ridiculously stupid that they have to be fake, right?!
On this post we shouldn´t upvote but downvote. All of these... many many times.
And of COURSE Obimom is a self proclaimed, self righteous anti vaxxer. Ignorant selfish c***s the lot of them.
Load More Replies...HERE IS SOME UNSEE JUICE FOR EVERYONE WHO WANTS SOME unseejuice...7aa6c9.jpg
i refused to believe those kind of people excist, untill i saw people on my knitting FB group post prayers and ask the lord for forgiveness for the person who posted a picture of something with the pattern of Biden and Harris on it :-D
I think God has bigger issues that Biden & Harris on a knitting pattern...
Load More Replies...The more i read,the angrier i get. Angry but also sad. Also the way they always bring God is infuriating. God gave us brain for a reason. Tch,what a waste.
There were several of these that reminded me of my 74yo mother. Today (2/15/21), the temp in Huston TX is 10°. Records have been broken all over the US for cold temps. My mother straight looked at me and said, "Now you see what a hoax global warming is". I just walked away.
Well, Trump made a similar comment about the snow in New York... And the Spanish president Mariano Rajoy declared some years ago that global warming was a lie because his cousin, who is a biologist, said so.
Load More Replies...I just find it very interesting that the subreddit only bashes moms when there are just as many dad's with the same exact mindset and beliefs as those moms.
Start a subreddit, collect the examples and post them. Honestly, there's one thing some women are very good at: feeling a victim of the whole universe. And they are usually the ones who have the least reasons to complain.
Load More Replies...I see some potential future Darwin Award winners in those posts..ye gods 🥶
Oh dear oh dear. I will admit, I got scared more than once. And where did the whole "bReAsT mILK wILL cUrE eVeRyThInG" come from?
I'm not sure if these are supposed to be funny but I am seeing a LOT of future mentally ill children here. I have no problem being "all judgey" about these idiots. Truly, stupid people shouldn't breed.
This is why I believe basic psychology, interpersonal skills, and child-rearing 101 should be taught in schools.
I love posts like this ... makes me feel better about the job I'm doing parenting :)
If your kids are loved and cared for, you're doing just fine. Like adults, children are individuals and what works for other people's may not work for yours... ... ... Jist remember that goes for when you give other parents "advice" as well.
Load More Replies...I know this is old, like 10 months old but, i see everything postet here still on a daily basis. Like, we had no learning progress at all over the past 10 months. O.o On the holidays i had to disturb a customer, because he had to clean his nose in front of other customers. He did that because he wanted to clean his nose and did not understand why i whas angry at him. O.o
Nononoonnoo. Just no. I have seen pictures of war zones, car crashes, children starving in Africa, effects of diseases on people including small children so on and so forth and you go through it to learn something about how it happened and why it happened and how one can help and I never looked away. This is the first time I felt physically ill because it was so horrific. I couldn't even get through the whole thing I just stopped when I reached that one where the mom was saying a little poop isn't toxic and I just noped the f out.
No. It has always been there. The Internet only showed these people's stupidity to the whole world.
Load More Replies...To all of these mothers, Have you tried adoption? I'm sure your kids will get a better life with another family
Posts like these are just decisive. Yes, many of these people are concerning. However, in the end this post is about shaming moms and people who think differently than you. Rather than opening a conversation or (and some times this is an option) ignoring it, you shame people, driving them further away.
As an American, I take a slight offense with this. It isn't ALL Americans. You have seen what we have had to deal with for the past four years. The idiots and the ones that do the s****y things get all the attention. I am sorry to be an American because of what happened. Don't judge an entire country based on Trump and his lackeys.
Load More Replies...