Mom Creates 30 Hilariously Honest Comics About What It’s Like Raising A Child
Interview With ArtistRaising children is far from a simple task—it might as well be the hardest job in the world. It has its challenges, but lots of love and laughter along the way. An architect and artist from Moldova, Inna Sacali, puts both sides of motherhood into comics in a brutally honest and entertaining way. She illustrates her everyday life with her husband and their little son and it's never boring—from pregnancy and relationship struggles, exhaustion, a kid's cute and sometimes frustrating shenanigans, and mental health battles to precious family moments, a toddler's first words, and hilarious situations that make it all worth it.
If you have experienced the gift of being a parent, you will definitely relate to these quirky illustrations, and if not—here's a glimpse of what it's really like to be a mom. No sugar-coating. Are these comics hitting too close to home? Tell us in the comments and don't forget to upvote your favorites! Sacali also took a moment out of her busy mom routine to share her own experiences in the interview below, so don't miss it!
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That's not a dragon, that's Voldemort. Dragons have CLASS.
Load More Replies...I had this conversation with my husband a few weeks ago! I was looking through old photos of our girls and I found some of our youngest when she and I were still in the hospital. She legit looks like a squished old man, in every photo. She was not a cute baby her first week, but of course I was a mother in love, and she was the most beautiful thing in the entire world.
At the hospital, every nurse and doc told us how cute out babies were, even during ultrasounds! I was like... Looks like a wrinkly alien but alright.
I will never understand, how mothers everywhere spam pictures of slimy aliens and say "How cute it is awww"...
Mine looked like red, peeling old men until they were about a week old. Lol
So true! My four siblings and I all came along back in the days when fathers spent their time in the waiting rooms of the hospital while the mothers were in labor. So our Dad's first glimpse of us was in Mom's hospital room, after whichever one of us had been cleaned up and made reasonably presentable. I know he was always thrilled that we had arrived, he just didn't see the "cuteness" of his infant children right away. He was always struck by how red and wrinkly we were. Mom, who loved babies, would just gush about how beautiful this new arrival was, and being a good husband/Daddy, of course he agreed. But Dad told me once he always walked out of the hospital room thinking, "Well, we just had another lizard!" LOL.
Sacali told Bored Panda that she has loved to draw since she can remember. She put her job as an architect on hold and started drawing comics about what it means to be a parent on her maternity leave.
"My baby inspires me every day for new comics. All the ideas I take from real life. They’re honest because they actually reflect my emotions and feelings, or describe some funny situations that happened to me," said the artist.
He had it coming, he had it coming, he only had himself to blame! 🎶
I am that lady. "Are you pregnant? So huge!" "Just had a baby" "oh, you look so great!" Grandparents to a childcare kid, couldn't punch her.
My mother said this to me in front of some people I didn't know. I was so embarrassed.
Mothers with their baby: I wish someone could take car of them for me Also mothers as soon as someone offers to hold them: HIssssssssss
"Being a mom isn't an easy job, but it's definitely worth it. I am willing to show it in my art."
Sacali has built a following of 18k people on Instagram and regularly shares snippets of her daily life with a dose of humor. It's not only a great means to take our minds off our everyday routine, but a perfect support and encouragement tool for parents who are going through similar struggles and joyful moments.
"I think it is very important to share the real and honest side of motherhood so moms can understand that they are not alone in this. Even on rough days—you are still a good mother."
I had an app which warned me of the upcoming developmental milestones, I think it saved my sanity knowing it wasn't just me being a crap mum!!!!!
This is because babies are not all the same shape. All the more reason to put all babies in dresses (regardless of gender) like they used to in the old days.
Dresses and feetless for sure! My daughter had a lot of those and she is tall and skinny. My son has my daughters habd me downs and the gowns were the best. We wore the 0-6 mo until he was 2...just out pants under to keep his legs warm when he got bigger.
Load More Replies...My first was so long that we had to return all the cute little 0/3 for 6month sizes. Outgrew those by two months. By age 16 he was 6'3" by full grown 6'7". Fun times!
Sacali is strongly motivated by the warm feedback she gets from parents around the world who can relate to her comics.
"I am very happy to get feedback from other parents that like my art and recognize themselves in it. This keeps me motivated. Your reactions to my comics make me draw more even when I feel tired or upset. A sense of humor helps me to survive."
She calls her Instagram feed a "good mood zone" and to make her comics even more accessible, Sacali posts her artwork in two languages—Russian and English.
So many judgmental people. I nannied a 3 mo old and was told of the frazy old lady neighbor. Well, neighbor saw me and said "Glad I know you're nannying because I almost thought you were murdering him. Gotta admit-I judge my brother and SIL because they're very hoidy toidy-must get the expensive version of toys, must be pink, latest model. Nothing is good enough for them-they requested to stop gift giving and my guess is that our gifts were never good enough
So, I did childcare and a 4 year old wanted attention and he licked the side of the garbage can. I told him once to stop, then ignored him so it wouldn't be a power struggle. He then ate a bite of cupcake out of the trash. After like 3 licks he stopped. Not sure if my staff sanitized the trash daily as licensing required-I had bigger fish to fry than to ensure that- but he didn't get sick. and yes, kid was not easy and had a difficult home life.
Load More Replies...Am I the only one who read that as Don’t let him eeat the trash can?
With my second, it is currently "Mommy got up to pee" causing hysterical crying
Sacali's comics are colorful and vivid, yet simplistic. Because she is short of time to put more details into illustrations, she chose a style that takes up less time but conveys the ideas perfectly. As you can see in the comics, raising a child can get very busy. Even this interview was interrupted by a crying child who called his mother to play, which the artist called a "mom's reality."
"I hope my art will make you smile and show maternity from a different angle," said Sacali before returning to her main job at the moment, which is being a mom. And you can see what it looks like from up close and unfiltered in this post and on the artist's social media!
In fact, the baby pointing to his mouth as a sign for being hungry is just like Simon’s Cat :-)
Load More Replies...Came here to say the same: not much different from a cat
Load More Replies...Mo Willems, in his first KnuffleBunny book, describes it perfectly: they go boneless. And as my youngest brother, father of three once said, they are HEAVY when they do that!
My husband wonders why I don't exercise. Dude, I barely get 3 showers a week!
this reminded me of the time I asked my sister what was so bad about having periods, it's just a blood leak. She then preceeded to kick me in the nuts as hard as she could and told me that's how it felt
In order to pass muster I need to: shower (need clean towels, used them all for a pee, poo, barf combo- need clean clothes - see previous, do I even own panties anymore or do I just have granny bloomers and a mattress pad) wash hair (all I have is oatmeal hypoallergenic baby body wash) wash body (see previous), See towels... Style hair... How do I do this again, Wait, What is this stuck in my hair? Make up- sweats it off from postpartum hot flashes, jewelry - baby rips earring out of the hole and you now have a sliced ear lobe. Necklace lasts 0.000002 seconds before it's ripped off. Rings cut and scratch the baby and or your fingers are still so swollen. Shoes- heels lolololololololololol Feet went up one full size. give me Crocs. Tight jeans....uh, no, just no! swanky cashmere sweater... Baby projectile vomits from the thirty yard line as soon as he knows the sweater cost 2,000$ The vomit is green, the sweater is now green and smells like malted milk balls.
My son used to pinch me. The backs of my arms and tops of my boobs were covered in tiny bruises
I don't think my son ever did that. Out the wet wipe over their penis. But my daughter, who was maybe 2 months then, peed all over the bed in the time it took me to reach for her diaper-which was on the bed like a foot. I blinked, too. It was all over the bed. And I had a towel under her but it went past it. No more bed changes after that!
LOL After helping with my nephew's I knew what to expect, but He got me in the hospital LOL one and only time! It was even funnier when he got my dad at a week old.
Put a cold wet wipe wait a minute and they'll pee. Not a mom but mine is.
Yep, yep, yep! Learned to put that diaper over the front first REAL quick!
Well.... they CAN sleep really really deep.... sometimes lol
Load More Replies...You never sleep like a baby again. Even when they are grown and on their own!
This is just called solisicited vs unsolicited advice.
Most of the time I sympathize with the parent and try not to let my annoyance show because yes, I'm quite sensitive to noise but then again, the little kreacher's got to live too. Sometimes when I think the parents might hear then I'll say something like "oh no, somebody's having a bad day" in a gentle tone so the parents don't think everyone is mad at them. :D
It's true on the bus people judge, but your baby doesn't have to make a peep for people to complain. I had a bus driver question my reasons to bring my baby on the bus. I've seen a bus driver ask a mom when she was getting off the bus when her baby started crying. Can't please everyone.
To be honest, whenever I see a crying baby in public (BTW Im 14, almost 15), I think and that's my Im never having kids. And then I feels sorry for the mom/ dad and my mom/ dad cuz they also had to go through this
Both of my boys did this, but only when Daddy was watching them. Hubby still teases the boys that he knew real quick that they loved me best LOL
Each kid has done it once but I remember my daughter specificly thought it was hilarious and even grabbed some and put her hand on her head mid change
I'm 11 years old than my only brother. I remember when he was learning to stand every night he would smear poop on the walls. Like every night for a week. Then my parents moved his crib to the middle of the room. I remember being absolutely horrified over it.
Load More Replies...My neighbor put on a gas mask to change his baby’s diaper. That was 35 years ago. Think hubby was still a cpl
My neighbor put on a gas mask to change is baby’s diaper. That. Was 35 years ago
Are the blackout bars in the comics or did BP find them necessary? Inquiring minds want to know.
i checked Instagram, and they're not in the comics on there. BP seems to think that's not appropriate.
Load More Replies...LMAO. I didn’t breast feed and one morning I couldn’t get out of bed. Hubby thought it was funny as hell. I told him if he touched them again I would do u know what to his thingy!
Hello my baby, hello my honey Hello my rag time gal!
Load More Replies...Couldnt get in and out of truck with those heels on...sneakers went on and step went on the truck!
I was the opposite. After my 2nd kid I felt decent about myself and my mom told me how fat I was and I looked at pics and she was right. I did gain 67 lbs and baby was only 7 of those, and I have since gained 27 lbs and still look pregnant most 4 years later. TBF I had some childbirth injuries that contribute to my lack of weight loss. And I am lazy.
Anyone who has pushed a 6 to 9 pound human out of a small opening in the groin has earned the right to be lazy.
Load More Replies...Hubby better be out back warming up grill...I’m starving! And, it’s beer thirty so bye for now!
Second baby is 8 months old, I eat like it is a contest. Hubs tells me to slow down but when baby ONLY likes mommy and can grab things...
Also, as a mom, you've got to eat fast. If you take too long, you won't be able to finish eating before you are needed again. Hard to enjoy a meal when you have to change a poopy diaper in between bites!
First meal after 5 MONTHS of 24/7 "morning" sickness. 5 heaping plates of spaghetti and meatballs, 3 huge bowls of salad with every topping at the salad bar... It may or may not have been 5 loaves of Italian bread, and entire cheesecake. God but food tasted soooooooooooo gooooooooood!!!!!! I'd existed on plain white rice (no butter or salt) and iceberg lettuce for 5 months! Lost 75 pounds...had hydramnios, gained all 75 pounds back. Had a 9 pound 12 oz kid,
Yes! When my boys were around 6 and 7 (they are 18 months and 1 day apart) they could do some serious wearing out of the pants and shoes. Thrift stores are great for that age!
Load More Replies...Had a thought last night...pillow cases would make for great dresses like they did way back when for kids! Cut three holes in da* thing and use removable arm thingies Velcro at bottom depending on time of year,season, u could ev3n reuse as a pillow case after the little 💩s grow up! He**, they could have a diff dress every day while they’re that small! Well, guess it’d depend on baby too...might need potato sac for some babies. Mine was only 5 and 1/2 so she would’ve.been swimming in a pillow case. Food for thought
Load More Replies...I ended up getting cortisone shots in both elbows, shoulders & one wrist! Still plagued by tendinitis! But LOTS of LOVE!!!!!
And they are attracted to all things off limits like outlets and cords and don't touch their toys....
I'll never forget, it was something like 1 in the morning and I was in the living room watching TV. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I spy a gremlin walking down the hall and into the living room. I felt my adrenaline shoot up and the hair on the back of the neck stood up. Then I realized it was my toddler daughter. She'd never gotten up and come out by herself before. I nearly crapped myself.
My first memory, I was probably 2. My brother previously taught me to take the crib rail off (80s crib) and I did. Walked myself down the hall to my parents, so proud of myself.
That's just for the first kid. 2nd kid-nothing. Our diaper bag was so filled for our first, contemplated a bigger bag for the next time, but 2nd we barely brought spare clothes. Stopped bringing anything except just wipes and diapers in the car. If we were out long I put some in my purse. Don't think we ever regretted not.
My mother seriously complicated using sleep darts bought from a secret group
OMG pregnancy forums....we were all so horrible to each other.
I know... I'm not a fan of the heat but it's better than trying to dress an alligator in fifteen pairs of clothing.
It's some kind of evolutionary trick your brain plays on you so that you'll have more than one
Luckily I had my kids right before social media became a big thing. People on the internet are judgy and mean
I honestly have no idea why someone would want a child... and these comics keep reminding me of that
Well it's not for everyone .... You have to be very strong inside and out . I believe that only when we are 100% sure , we have to do it ..why we make a child ? To give and take the love that no-one else can give you ....i don't regret for my daughter
You poor deluded people! Nobody WANTS a child. They just somehow happen to you!(like life).
I honestly have no idea why someone would want a child... and these comics keep reminding me of that
Well it's not for everyone .... You have to be very strong inside and out . I believe that only when we are 100% sure , we have to do it ..why we make a child ? To give and take the love that no-one else can give you ....i don't regret for my daughter
You poor deluded people! Nobody WANTS a child. They just somehow happen to you!(like life).
