Raising children has simultaneously been deeply common throughout human history and, at the same time, the sort of activity one can’t really be prepared for until they actually do it. So it probably shouldn’t surprise anyone that humans have already spent a lot of time making memes about it.
The “Life with Jess” Instagram page is dedicated to sharing hilarious and, possibly, painfully relatable memes about parenting. So get comfortable, make sure the baby is sleeping, upvote your favorites and be sure to add your own thoughts to the comments section down below.
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It always feels like there isn't one corner of human life that hasn't been distilled into a meme. From the most mundane everyday chores to the deepest struggles we face, everything will eventually be made into grist for online comedy. Parenting, above all else, has been the wellspring of a flood of memes, funny, over-the-top, sometimes cringe-worthy-but-can-you-relate pictures of what it's like to have children. It can't be happenstance.
Parenting is nearly universal, emotional, and often overwhelming, which makes it the perfect material for humor and shared internet culture. One of the reasons why memes about parenting are so popular is that they are exploiting the simple universality of the experience.
Other way round in our house - he has ASD so makes sure he listens to every word, and asks questions to clarify anything he didn't get. I have ADH oh look a squirrel.
Thank you for debunking this as a stereotype.
Load More Replies...Considering the timeline we’re living in….do you blame them?
Load More Replies...Parenting includes sleepless nights, picky eaters, tantrums, and seemingly endless messes children create regardless of culture. While no two families are identical, these struggles are instantly recognizable to anyone who has ever assisted in raising a child. A meme of a parent "hiding in the bathroom just to get five minutes of peace" works because it takes something nearly every parent has ever gone through and places it into a snappy, funny image.
Just like my wife, "its in the copcoard, she won't say which one,but she already knows where it is.
The humor doesn't eradicate the exhaustion, it merely makes it bearable by proving that no one is truly alone in it. Another reason memes hold on to parenting so tightly is that parenting is isolating. Working late nights, childcare's constant demands, and the pressure of always needing to "do it right" can leave mothers and fathers feeling disconnected from their friends.
Social media offers an outlet, and memes, in particular, provide a way to reconnect. Sharing or laughing at a parenting meme isn’t just entertainment, it’s a signal to others: “I’m in the trenches too.” That simple recognition builds community and normalizes struggles that many parents might otherwise feel ashamed to admit.
I did this for about 6 years. Resulted in a LOT of late night snacking and me gaining weight like you wouldn't believe. Now I brush my teeth when the kids do and I go to bed as soon as the kids are asleep (most days). I think it's helped on my mental health quite a bit. Also, I can read in bed when the kids are sleeping and reading makes me happy.
Memes thrive on these contradictions because they boil down complex feelings into punchlines. A tired parent browsing through their phone can come across a meme that perfectly captures the ridiculousness of their day, and the chaos becomes a little less overwhelming.
Don't worry she'll be up soon to work and take care of home and its inhabitants as well.
There is a cultural shift too. Earlier generations might have held their tongues over the tribulations of childcare, putting on a shiny face for neighbors and relatives. Today, the public is more open to sharing the gritty truth of parenting. Memes are the channel for that honesty, bringing into view what parents used to discuss in whispers. Instead of exhibiting all is well, parents now laugh together at just how not-well it really is.
Finally, the reason why nearly all human experience is boiled down to memes is because they are a shorthand for connection. They make your personal frustrations or joys something public and easy to share and easy to laugh about. Parenting, with all its craziness, affection, exhaustion, and strangeness, is an endless supply of material. And when parents see their daily struggle etched in a joke shared by others and found amusing by them, it assures them that they are not the only ones surrounded by chaos, that alone is as reassuring as it is funny.
I love these photos where parents take pics of why their kids are crying and they are the most ridiculous reasons like this one. Makes me laugh every time. :P
The fastest land mammal is a toddler who's been asked "what's in your mouth?".
As a Dutch person, dinner is a 18:00 (6Pm). Unless I eat alone and work was a pest. Then dinner is at 16:00 (4Pm) and then off to bed.
Me working 8 to 16 hours a day,to provide for my family because I fell in love
Not gonna lie, as a childless person when I was younger I used to judge the parents of kids having meltdowns in public places. I still have no kids but have learned that, go figure, kids have meltdowns over the smallest things and parents don't always have control. So, to all the parents I unfairly judged in life...sorry!
My son had a meltdown in a store because a tiny piece broke off from his cookie...he proceeded to throw the rest of the cookie and throw himself in the middle of the floor. I mean I get it, it's a vibe, but like come the f**k on lol
Load More Replies...ad uncaffeinated and this is my fiance from Monday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.
Resorting to violence because you can't convince someone with your words, is classic domestic violence. OP should get therapy. Seriously. Why is domestic violence being normalized and glorified?
Are you being sarcastic or serious? I'd assume it's not hitting but rather slapping like a slap/pat on the back or a poke or jab. Not every forceful touch is violence.
Load More Replies...Or as we did in K-Mart (80's/90's), walk around the end cap and wait for the realization she's performing to no one. Cue the frantic running. "We SAID no".
I literally drank hose water and ate yard weeds as a kid. I think your kid will be ok.
And breathed in countless cc's of sparkler smoke.
Load More Replies...It’s funny but maybe curb it on the kids - I will buy lollies only to eat the red ones and discard the rest, I only eat red lollies - I was strictly not allowed these as a kid 😂 also cows milk - I drink 1-2 litres a day.
Just last week I saw a toddler at the beach licking his little shovel full of sand, next to an oblivious mom who was ordering some coffee
"Are you done soon?"... almost makes me homicidal.
Load More Replies...I always say "bowling" even if i am very obviously not bowling. If I was bowling, id probably say "sleeping"
My Dad would sit in the drive honking, me in the back seat.."GD it Martha..Cmon!" My Mom would go into snail mode,classic.
She shouldn't get her way most of the time. Parents need to parent and not give in to the pint people.
