Dad Of 4 Girls Tweets Conversations With His Daughters, And It’s Impossible Not To Laugh At Them (50 New Tweets)
InterviewJames Breakwell, a dad of 4 girls, is the creator of the Exploding Unicorn project and one of the best-known parents on the internet. He’s witty. He’s insightful. And odds are that you’ve seen some of his hilariously relatable posts floating by on your social media feeds. If you’re anything like us, he got a good chuckle out of you.
The professional comedy writer shows how much fun parenting really is, no matter the challenges and emotional rollercoaster rides, by sharing the very best conversations he has with his daughters. Daily talks about your favorite dinosaurs? Yes, please! We’ve collected some of James’ top recent tweets to share with you, Pandas. Get ready to have your mood boosted, scroll down, and don’t forget to upvote your fave posts!
Bored Panda got in touch with James for a quick chat about what helps his tweets stand out from the crowd, how he balances parenting and writing, and what new projects he's currently working on. Read on to check out our interview with him.
More info: ExplodingUnicorn.com | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Books | Substack
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Kind of like when my kid says: I can't wait to be an adult and get to do whatever I want. I always say: Oh, my sweet summer child...
okay, any time my kids tell me something absurd or ask a crazy question I do the Jim from the office thing too... like is this being filmed, are they messing with me????
James told Bored Panda that what helps him stand out the most is how relatable and to-the-point his posts are. People really enjoy short-form content because they're so busy all the time.
"I convey my parenting disasters in a way that's relatable and, more importantly, short," he said.
"Parents are pressed for time. I condense big stories into small tweets. That's why readers keep coming back," the writer explained how he stands out from other creators.
this is something that both introverts and extroverts can understand =)
Load More Replies...I'm twelve and I this hits too close to home... oof. too true
I highly recommend following his Twitter if you don't already and his whole body of work is funny and relatable indeed!
Dad wants too much. Just be glad 12 year old is even talking to you, let alone about their day.
Most important information for collage, beer comes out of nose if chugged to hard.
James seems to find a great balance between being a parent and managing one of the most well-known comedy brands on the internet. However, he's a parent like everyone else. The reality is that he's just as pressed for time as everyone else is! He does his best to juggle parenting and writing, and sometimes even sacrifices sleep. We were curious how he approaches this and what advice he'd give other parents.
"You'll never feel like there's enough time because there's not enough time. You can't do it all," he explained.
Sad Quokka ur amazing 🤩 frfr yo get a heart
Load More Replies...With the Kohinoor still in the Royal premises, I can confirm that its indeed a bad idea. Yes I'm Indian. Unfortunate incidents have happened to every Indian King who possessed that Diamond.
RIP, Your Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. God save the King and may he have an equally impactful reign that simply makes the world a better place in the end.
I used to do this to both parents trying to get at least one of them to admit they like my sister better.
Probably to the door when the pizza person arrives.
Load More Replies...I loved being 12 it was so awesome still not a teenager yet but mature enough to face 13
"The secret is that no one else can, either, no matter what they claim on their posts about their 'perfect' life on Facebook and Instagram. I make time by writing on my phone while hanging out with my kids and also by staying up later than them," the writer said.
"But ultimately, I sacrifice sleep to be productive. Something always has to give."
Meanwhile, the founder of Exploding Unicorn gave us a peek into what he's currently working on. "The best place to follow me is on Substack, where I flesh out my short stories into epic tales that will definitely make you glad you're not me," he said that this is where you can find some more long-form content.
"I'm also working on a sequel to my sci-fi debut, 'The Chosen Twelve.' Finally, my first children's picture book, 'You Can't Be a Pterodactyl,' comes out in July."
"this one says I'm an otter... With a dark side" this immediately made me think of that quote🤣
How does hair get this bad?? No, I never had a daughter but I do have hair lol.
It totally possible. My daughter 100%. She rolls around all night in bed. Every morning this is what it looks like.
Load More Replies...I have seen kids arrive at school with neat hair but leave like this. Seems more common with fine hair.
I felt this in my soul, my kid *somehow* always manages to create a full-blown rat's nest in her hair in the course of a few unsupervised hours... there isn't enough conditioner in the world to sort it out sometimes.
Yeah, it’s been more than one day since that kid’s hair has been brushed.
Reminds me of one of my grand daughters. She hated her hair being brushed but it looked terrible every morning. If she slept over I insisted on brushing it before school and she acted as if I was stabbing her with pins under her fingernails. I mixed up a diluted conditioner in a spray bottle, problem solved. Neither of her sisters had the same issue thank goodness because they all had and still have long hair. I did too when young so I knew all the hair tricks.😊
It’s safe to say that the Exploding Unicorn project has been a massive success. James has nearly a million followers on Twitter, almost 300k fans on Facebook, and over 156k devoted internet users follow him on Instagram.
Good humor, consistent posting, and relatable stories are what help James’ posts stand out from the crowd online. James started up his Twitter account in 2012. In 2016, it went viral and he became of the most popular dads on the planet.
This would definitely be something my youngest granddaughter would say.😊
i eat popcorn with chopsticks. i started doing it as a child though i dont know exactly when.
I eat Cheetos with chopsticks... got an entire office to do the same once they realized they could eat Cheetos and still touch paper at the same time without leaving smudges.
More of a menace than my 5 y/o brother who I saw putting my clarinet together without permission (hundreds of dollars, he could've broken it) and frequently breaks my makeup (has put tide pods in it before) and steals stuff out of my room all the time
Load More Replies...I eat every single salad with chopsticks. I love chopsticks! It’s so much better than having stuff squash or break apart if you try to spear it with a fork. I also love feeding babies with chopsticks; it is so cute.
Was supposed to be a reply & agreement to rats inc oopsers.
Load More Replies...Oh man, so I have a story. I was eating Hot Cheeto Puffs with some silicone campers to not get my freshly painted nails dirty. The next day, my husband serves himself Puffs along with the clamps so I questioned him and he tells me he hadn't realized I was specifically doing it to protect my nails but that he genuinely thought it was a great idea. Hahaha... Gotta love 'em
But licking the butter off your fingers at the end is the best part! That and swiping the bag for excess butter.
Yeah just like eating what is left in the bag of chips :p totally my style :D
Load More Replies...LOL!! Amazon sells fingertip protectors for when you eat Cheetos/other snacks and don't want to get messy: https://www.amazon.com/Non-Stick-Fingers-Finger-Protectors-Protection/dp/B08M5G86CD/ref=sr_1_1?crid=YXXSI80D7JQO&keywords=fingertip+covers+for+eating+chips&qid=1679594714&sprefix=fingertip+covers+for+eating+chips%2Caps%2C71&sr=8-1
Um... his kid might just be a genius... definitely going to try that next time I have popcorn.
Ouch! That's what I said to my dad over 45 years ago in the same situation.
like most children, I once asked my mum what dinosaurs were like
My daughter once loudly asked me at Six Flags if I remembered when the train we were riding was made, then promptly said, oh you were born in 1877, not 1867.
I was asked what I was doing when God separated heaven and Earth.... I was 40!
Recently, Bored Panda got in touch with writer James, the founder of Exploding Unicorn, for a chat about his family and parenting style.
“I would describe my parenting style as one of loving neglect," he quipped during an earlier interview with us.
"I’m the opposite of a helicopter parent. I’m more of an observe-from-a-safe-distance parent. That way, my kids develop a sense of independence and learn from their mistakes, all while I’m outside the blast zone,” he opened up.
"My own parents were very laid back. They never pressured me in any way, yet I excelled at many things. I also failed—hard—at an exhaustive list of activities," James told Bored Panda earlier.
"My mom and dad gave me the freedom to figure out who I was and what I wanted to do. That’s a large part of the reason I’m a comedy writer today. So basically they ruined my life,” he joked.
I'll bring the aloe and also two fire departments
Load More Replies...I feel like all the 10-year-old comments are just the child roasting the father... and I'm all for it =)
Oooooooooh! Heh. Some of my students are surprised when they find out I'm in my thirties for this reason exactly- being an adult means being old!!
We read books together daily, but when TV is on we keep closed-captioning on for an added bonus!
Helicopter parenting is what happens when grownups become overly involved in their children’s lives and try to protect them from even minor inconveniences and failures.
Unfortunately, this leads to kids growing up shy, timid, and poorly equipped to handle things on their own. It makes for a more difficult life when they have to leave home for college or when they have to find a job.
Damn, these are relatable with an 11-year-old and a 9-year old at home ;-)
I sent my dad the Shia LeBouf live music video and he didn't turn the sound on... (Go watch it now and imagine watching it with no sound) 😭
Same. It's also why I know a few flowers lol
Load More Replies...There's too many times in life I will relate real life to a video game. Not aloud of course. But definitely in my head.
Look zombies.... *points to school bus*
Load More Replies...Moms really think the guests will think we are savages for not making our beds
My husband will clean the house for the maintenance workers/bug sprayers/etc. Even if they're only coming in for a minute, he will get everything cleaned and put away.
One way to tackle this issue is to consciously give them more independence. Parents can let go of their need for control by taking a step back, one area at a time, and seeing how they handle themselves. You’re always there to support your kids if things go wrong.
But you shouldn’t rush to solve every tiny little problem for them before they’ve had a chance to take a go at it. Kids are capable of far more than some parents give them credit for.
I don't find running even remotely fun. Unless someone's chasing me with a butcher knife I'm going to stick with walking. :)
Load More Replies...When my wife and I see someone jogging, we look at each other and say, “ They’re not having any fun.”
Marathon-running friend: You wanna run? Me: Why? Is there a bear behind us?
Load More Replies...During another interview, James told Bored Panda about the success that the Exploding Unicorn family comedy project has enjoyed. According to the founder, relatability is what makes so many enjoy his content.
"Everybody’s kids are weird. No matter what strange, hilarious thing your kid did, somebody else’s kid probably did something just like it," he said.
They don’t have to last a year, just to the end of the year…..maybe a month depending how far from Christmas you are making the cookies
my mom would always send me a tin of homemade Russian teacakes at Christmas. always ate the whole batch in a day or two. very tasty with some Twillings
Each daughter and parent would eat 60.833333 cookies if they shared them equally and had made enough to have one cookie a day for a year.
Adolescent females are very tender. Enter with caution. You could be setting her up for life
I /was/ the dishwasher. And a lot of cooking for my siblings (which...they /hated/ when I made scrambled eggs because I was young and didn't know you had to use all the spices)... I actually did do a lot... If a kiddo tells me that they do everything, I'll pop up and lead them on a tour. They do the dishes. Take out the trash. Walk the dog. Fill your gran'ma's pills. Pay bills. Drive everywhere. Work. Etc.
As an Only, I am sometimes bewildered by sibling dynamics in families!
The eternal old old story. Just be glad you didn't have Cain and Abel.
I had to wear an eyepatch for two weeks after my brother whipped me in the eye with a belt buckle. So I turned and threw a LEGO at his face as hard as I could at about point blank range. He now has a permanent scar on his forehead. Later, he kicked me right in the a**e. I turned around after the pain subsided and tore apart his G.I. Joes. It's just vengeance all the way down. ...he was only ten months younger than me. We were either comrades helping each other over baby gates to commit a sweet mischief...or laying down oaths against each other.
"That’s why so many people relate to my tweets. They’re living the same experience every day, if not with their own kids, then through some other kids they know or maybe even through memories of their own childhoods,” James shared with Bored Panda.
How did she even sneak the dang apple all the way to the bathroom?
Oh good luck! One of mine did that but didn't tell me until my bathtub backed up with raw sewage.
Oh this happens at other peoples houses? No one would fess up to why all of sudden the toilet overflowed.
Minecraft messes can take over a year to clean up! Like, if you flood a village, or just dump out five buckets of water in a village, or dump out a bucket of water in a house in a village, it is near impossible to clean up that water. So, depending on how he made a mess of the Minecraft house, it could be impossible to clean up (sorry, I just love making minecraft houses so it upset me. Like, I cannot tell you how many times my sister has ruined a thing I made in minecraft and it was impossible to clean up)
Load More Replies...All you need to do is tell her you built her a house, but make it out of dirt
Now....wait til they set it right and do it again while pissing and whingeing
Oh, boy......I understand that one should never mess with one's video games, including Mario anything, Minecraft, and Roblox, as my students tell me....!!
"There’s a fine line between complaining about parenting and celebrating the struggle. Even in the most frustrating moments, I try to put a positive spin on it. Laughing is better than having a nervous breakdown."
There's also the Animal Crossing Thanksgiving event. That's a thing to do
I haven't played that for a while, what happens in the Thanksgiving event?
Load More Replies...We have to clean every holiday so I despise holidays. And weekends. I wish I could relax on weekends but we're always cleaning and I'm sick of it.
And you grow up and get into a committed partnership and same thing.
I got one when I was 12, kids I know had iPads a laptop and phone at age 3 some kids are a bit spoiled in my opinion
Yeah. Kids shouldn't be getting electronics before they're at least ten
Load More Replies...It's a difficult topic with no easy answer and I wished schools would do media training with kids so there wouldn't be so many ramifications when they get confronted with all of this at a very young age. I also waited until my kid was 12 and got them one because they were bullied in school for not having one. But still it had ramifications. Because at that age being confronted with all the lies, hate and other bs on social media how can that not mess with the kids? I'm definitely not one speaking against technology but I feel we as a society should do a better job at training our kids to deal with that. Because compared to young people today we grew up sheltered. They getting bombed every day and I think most of us aren't aware of that.
I wasn't allowed to get a cell phone until I was 45. And by "wasn't allowed" I mean "couldn't afford" plus most of those 45 years they didn't exist.
I got my own phone when I was 12! Everyone had phones before me but I honestly think it's ridiculous to give kids phones unless their getting old enough to actually need them. Up until I got a phone, i shared an iPad with my siblings
My first cell was in 2001 when I was 18 because I was away at college and that first dorm phone bill was not pleasant. Mind you I was in New York and just calling different areas of New York and it was still crazy high.
We’re big fans of Exploding Unicorn here at Bored Panda. If you’d like to see some more of James’ fun posts, check out our earlier articles about his tweets here, here, and here, as well as here and here.
Meanwhile, tell us what you think of his latest tweets. Which of his posts did you enjoy the most? Which parenting struggles do you relate to the most? Share your thoughts in the comments, Pandas!
Haha :D my 4yo recently told me "Mom I'm going to do something which will make you think I'll break my neck so please don't look" xD
Relatable. My younger sister (6) once ran up with an empty box and said "I'm gonna trick you! Here's a present."
Load More Replies...i drove for the first time at 6. well steered mostly. blue Triumph tr6 dad had.. super fun car.
When my son was young, I convinced him he had to learn how to tie shoelaces because Velcro/straps were for baby shoes. Well guess what. The entire shoe industry then underwent a revamp, and most kids' shoes (for all ages) now feature Velcro or straps. It was a verbal struggle for years!
Load More Replies...I'd let her play in the snow. How often do kids even want to play real things anymore? It's all video.
Saying that to play video games is the same crazy argument as saying playing sports is not real playing. Let them play things they have fun with. Thats what playing is about
Load More Replies...I'm bad at math 😔 but I keep getting put in the advanced classes and can't switch out
Load More Replies...Probably letting them know that the more invisible they are the sooner they might get their stuff back
When my siblings are grounded, it is the best and worst week of the month. Best because no waiting for the switch and worst because they will bug the absolute c**p out of me.
I just realized im probably gonna have to share my switch w my brother when he's older fml
Load More Replies...Backfire. But also... Just ignore them. Not to detriment to their health...but just... Pointedly hum. Play your music. Dinnertime comes, you just make what you want and if they don't like it...boo.
I use YT to learn about Gravity Falls fan theories. Gravity Falls is my favorite show, I just finished watching it for the eighth time lol
Load More Replies...Pokemon is best!!! I was so obsessed with pokemon I wound up accidentally memorizing the Pokedex🤣🤣
My daughter loved learning her ABCs on youtube. Later, Hank Green's Crash Course Chemistry, and Phil Plait's Crash Course Astronomy.
...this is a squarely and squirrely sound logic that I have to look in the eyes of a seven year old girl with a will of steel--my guy's nephew--and I calmly...but firmly...explain...in a low octave... 'It's /because/ I love you every day that I do not /give/ you candy every day. Go see your gran'ma. She'll tell you all about diabetus. Now...run along. No. No. Nooo--do not start playing on my Switch--' *sigh.* Now I have to rationalize how to get her to stop playing my games. Solution? I made her own savegame slot.
All I wanna know is where are these kids getting so much SASS from? It's hilarious! Dad must be fun
Tho ther is nothing as despicable, ruthless and depraved as the things scheeming teenage girls do. Boys can be a******s, but they will be straight on a******s. You dont have to fear your best friend for the last few years just played being your friend in an elaborate scheme to destroy your entire being.
Load More Replies...They seem to wildly oscillate between worst and best. My ex ruined my life...my creativity...my ability to be myself. My guy now is highly encouraging. He wants me to get back to who I was before the last guy... And I'm gonna do it.
Human beings suck. Animals are the best and books are the most faithful friends. Cherish the good true friends you make in life because they are rare.
As far as music goes, anything 201x or lower is old…and my first concert was NKOTB.
Listen, in 2023, If something came out in 1999, it's at least 23 by now. Old, but not REALLY old.
I stay up till 4am at sleepovers, and I also went 24hrs without sleep at one!
I sometimes forget that there are a lot of children on this site. Then I wonder about all the things I said having forgotten that there are children on this site. Then I remember my 7 year old told me to "f**k right off" when I said she had to get up to get ready for school and I'm content in the knowledge that I'm a terrible person raising horrific people, and spreading that awfulness to all of you. It's the little things. PS: I asked "what did you say to me?" She giggled and said "I didn't say f**k". Clever little wretch.
Load More Replies...I stay up til 2 am at sleepovers and then I wake up at 8 full of energy
Oh my god this is so true! I’m exhausted normal days when I sleep at 9 and wake up at 8, but somehow at sleepovers I wake up sharp at 8, completely not tired after like 4 hours of sleep
Load More Replies...Went 48hrs without sleep during labor and delivery of 1st child in 2015
This age is my favorite. The stuff 6 year olds come up with is just bonkers. My six year old describing a cross "you know it's that wooden thing you put people on". We're not Christians, so I was surprised she had any context for it at all.
after the 1967 post singularity short story: my shoes are untied and i must kick
Lol I'm 13 and I once wore my mom's Adidas because mine are the exact same and didn't even notice til about an hour later
You can repair it. There is such an item to fix a shrunken sweater. Because you might do it again anyway
Yep, soak it in water with a bit of fabric softener, stretch it back carefully. She'll soon grow out of it anyway
Load More Replies...Soak it in water with hair conditioner - you'll be able to stretch it back out.
In Swedish "ankle" is actually "vrist" so she could be a doctor here :)
If you directly translate it from Japanese, ankles are foot necks
In germany ankles & wrists are just called as what they are... "Gelenk" = "joint". We also include the location of said joint: "Fußgelenk"="foot joint" & "Handgelenk"="hand joint"
True story here: Once we took a field trip and 80% of the time we were on the bus... the other 20% we were eating lunch. Edit: The field trip (bus and lunch) was 8 hours long.
Well, the bus ride CAN be fun, as long as you sing We Don't Talk About Bruno and Never Gonna Give You Up the whole time
Load More Replies...I'm close to 80 and still remember a horrific school trip aged 12 in freezing weather in a deluge, where we tramped up on the Moors to visit a world famous Roman ruin that we'd all seen before, and where I ruined a pair of leather shoes, we all got sick, and sat for hours soaking wet in an unheated bus going back to civilization. Ugh.
This is my 8 year old. Wanna go to grandmas? No it's so far!!! Ready to go home? No it's so far!!
When I was a kid, the bus rides were the most fun part of a field trip. Of course, we didn't have seat belts back then. Seriously: they figured no-one could fly through a windshield from several rows back. Of course the OLD busses had seats that consisted of a bare steal pipe across the back of the seat, so THAT would've killed you. Which is why we never stayed in our seat.
We still don't have seatbelts on school buses. Source: I'm 13 and ride the school bus to and from school every day and on field trips
Load More Replies...Is that a reference to the book Sisters, or am i just thinking that because I was reading that book a few minutes ago?
Load More Replies...Or like my youngest son who always asks existential questions like: "would you rather be eaten by rats or by lions?"
I've found its easier when they have a friend over. They keep to themselves.
Lol im picturing the dance scene from despicible me 2
Load More Replies...My son thought his shoes, that light up on the bottom, made him run faster (he was 4-5 y/o at the time)
Shhhh ice creams fine *slowly exits with ice cream*
Load More Replies...why wait to write books? I'm writing one right now, and I'm TWELVE!!!
oh have fun I would recommend using some online sites to help I find them super useful
Load More Replies...Well my parents actually never let me watch the news so I never know what is going on. I rely on you pandas to tell me
Are you American? If so try finding an international news site, they're usually more objective and less politically influenced so you're more likely to get the facts. Plus it's good to know what's going on in other countries besides your own :)
Load More Replies...Why is this any different from take your daughter to work day?
Load More Replies...Sorry to hear about your emergency. Glad you seem to be getting better.
Daughter and wife were arguing about the state of her room. I asked why she was arguing with a 15yr old. She told me to handle it. I took all clothes on the floor and put them in a bag and put them in the garage in the rafters. Daughter asked where they were. "I threw them away, you abandoned them". Ohhh the drama. Kept them there about a week. All my wife needed to do after that is tell her that her Dad would clean the room
How dare you! By any chance, was the meat bacon? I'd pay you for that sandwich.
I have no friends either but my cats like throwing litter around like it's confetti, no empathy I swear 🙄
Load More Replies...But... but... You can't wear a sweater to bed! You won't be able to sleep!...
I can relate all too much to the twelve-year-old. Heck, I can relate to all those kids!
even as a 17 year old i do about 80 percent of the things that the 8 year old does
Load More Replies...When I was like 10 I read a parenting book by this guy it was great *i am not actually a parent just a very weird kid*
At this point I don’t even care if the dudes kids really said all of this; it’s too glorious for that to matter.
I can relate all too much to the twelve-year-old. Heck, I can relate to all those kids!
even as a 17 year old i do about 80 percent of the things that the 8 year old does
Load More Replies...When I was like 10 I read a parenting book by this guy it was great *i am not actually a parent just a very weird kid*
At this point I don’t even care if the dudes kids really said all of this; it’s too glorious for that to matter.
