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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.
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.
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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.
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Lene 3 months ago
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.
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.
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Fire Singer 3 months ago
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
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Anne Roberts 3 months ago (edited)
The fastest land mammal is a toddler who's been asked "what's in your mouth?".
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Fire Singer 3 months ago
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!
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Geoffrey Scott 3 months ago
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".
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OneHappyPuppy 3 months ago
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
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Geoffrey Scott 3 months ago
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.
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April Pickett 3 months ago
She shouldn't get her way most of the time. Parents need to parent and not give in to the pint people.
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