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Parenting isn’t always a walk in the park, it’s more like a marathon with snack breaks and sudden costume changes. But if there’s one thing that helps lighten the load, it’s knowing others are right there with you in the chaos. And sometimes, that support comes in the form of laugh-out-loud memes.
From trying to get your kid to sleep before midnight to explaining why socks don’t go in the fridge, the Instagram page Real Tough Dad absolutely nails the ups and downs of raising little ones. These posts are hilariously relatable and remind us that behind every stressed-out parent is a sense of humor just waiting to be triggered. Keep scrolling, you’ve earned it.
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Becoming a parent is truly a blessing but let’s not pretend it’s all lullabies and sunshine. While some moms and dads make it look effortless, the truth is, it takes a whole lot of patience, emotional stamina, and a sense of humor to raise a child. From sleepless nights to temper tantrums, it’s anything but a cakewalk.
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Ali Sherlock 1 month ago (edited)
When I was around 10, my parents were fighting and mum was crying (dad always made it personal except about the thing they were fighting about) and I went and gave mum a hug. I had no idea why she made such a big thing about it (took me to the movies and I got all the lollies I wanted without my siblings). I do now :)
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Ariadne Toms 4 weeks ago
I’m usually screamed at or hit before the kettle has even boiled. I think sh might have adhd
To get an honest take on this chaos, we spoke with Pankaj Kothari, owner of PKIN, a one-stop luxury destination for men's clothing, shoes, and accessories. When he’s not helping clients look sharp, he’s a full-time dad navigating the parenting roller coaster. And he didn’t sugarcoat it one bit. “It’s not easy,” he said, laughing. “I read all the parenting books, but they don’t really prepare you. Not for the curveballs kids throw at you daily.”
A father of two, Pankaj chuckles at the idea of being ‘ready’ for the second child. “You’d think having one kid would prepare you for the next but nope!” he said. “They’re totally different. My daughter was calm and gentle, but my son is mischievous and keeps me on my toes.” It’s the kind of dynamic that keeps parents guessing, and sometimes hiding in the bathroom for peace. You adjust, you learn, and you embrace the unpredictability. Because what else can you do?
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The Majestic Opossum 1 month ago
"Grab a banana and a yogurt too!" I say, feeling like not a good mom, but a good enough mom 😂
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“As a dad, I find my bond with each child is different,” he adds. “With my daughter, I feel this protective instinct, but with my son, I can afford to be a little tougher.” That balance isn’t always easy to strike, but it’s essential. He believes in being involved and present, rather than passive. “Discipline is important, but so is play,” he says. “They need to see both sides.” And if that means joining a game of tag in a suit, so be it.
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Digital Fantasy 1 month ago
When I pee: Toddler sitting in the doorway screaming for me to be done, one bird on my head, another bird cuddling my feet, and a husband calling me from the living room cause he needs something from me again. The dog is the only one behaving.
Pankaj believes in teaching by example. “I’m an active person, so I introduced my kids to sports early on,” he shares. “It’s not just about physical health, it’s about learning discipline, teamwork, and bouncing back from failure.” Whether it’s cricket or skating, it’s less about the game and more about the experience. “Kids learn so much when they see their parents doing things with them.” It's not always picture-perfect, but the effort counts more than perfection.
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The Majestic Opossum 4 weeks ago (edited)
You forgot the 4 stuffies and blanket they brought with too
And while discipline matters, Pankaj is a big advocate for communication. “Understand your kids, talk to them,” he says. “Don’t just assume you know what they’re going through.” He encourages parents to create a space where kids feel safe expressing themselves. And when mistakes happen, as they will, handle it with compassion. “Don’t be too harsh,” he says. “Let them have their own experiences and learn from them.” After all, growth doesn’t happen in fear, it happens in trust.
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The Majestic Opossum 4 weeks ago
I call her "Mean Mommy" and she's making more frequent appearances now that they're both teens
He’s also refreshingly honest about losing a sense of identity in the whirlwind of parenting. “You’re not just a dad or a mom, you’re still you,” he reminds us. “Balancing work and home is one thing, but it’s also about balancing ‘parent you’ with ‘real you.’” Too often, parents get lost in the title and forget their passions. “You’ve got to make time for the things that light you up,” he insists. “Because when you’re fulfilled, you’re a better parent.”
For Pankaj, that means not feeling guilty about carving out time for himself. “It’s okay to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee or go for a solo walk,” he says. “A happy parent makes for a happy kid.” And we couldn’t agree more. In a world where parents are expected to be superheroes, sometimes stepping back is the most powerful move. It’s not selfish, it’s self-care. And it sets a great example for the kids too.
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Child of the Stars 1 month ago
I remember a post on here a while back about how the OP's mom was angry they did something really stupid (OP was a teenager and it involved a train, that's all I remember). One person commented that the mom should've just been grateful their kid wasn't hurt. Nope, it's absolutely possible to be extremely grateful your kid's alive and also pissed they did something supremely stupid.
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The Majestic Opossum 1 month ago
And this is why we rarely ate out and never vacationed until my youngest was 6. To this day I still carry a deck of cards and only a couple years back took the crayons and coloring books out of my purse 😂
If there’s one takeaway from Pankaj’s parenting journey, it’s that intention matters more than perfection. You don’t need to have it all figured out. What counts is showing up, listening, adjusting, and laughing through the madness. “You’ll mess up, and that’s fine,” he says. “But if your kid knows they’re loved and supported, you’re doing just fine.” And when in doubt, there’s always a parenting meme to make you feel a little less alone.
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Geoffrey Scott 1 month ago
Long ago, our oldest did a melt down in K-Mart, we hurried around the corner until it dawned on her the performance lost its audience. She FREAKED!
Speaking of which, these hilarious, too-real parenting memes might lighten the load. Whether you’re mid-tantrum negotiation or hiding snacks from your kids, these are for you. Parenting is tough, but at least we can laugh about it together. So scroll on, giggle freely, and maybe tag a fellow exhausted parent who needs the pick-me-up. Because honestly, laughter is the second-best therapy, right after naptime.
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Michael Largey 1 month ago (edited)
Offer me liver and lima beans, and I'll make that d**n hot dog and Kool-aid myself.
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Doug Moyer 1 month ago
I remember my son doing this, but he was 21 and tripping on shrooms. Climbed in bed with us asking if everything was real...
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Laura Lawson 4 weeks ago
When my kids were growing up, they knew they had 2 dinner options: take it or leave it. If they didn't like it, they were welcome to make a sandwich of their choice but don't leave a mess. It helped them get involved in the dinner choosing process as well. My then husband's mother used to make 3 different meals every night to satisfy the family. Screw that noise!!
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April Pickett 1 month ago
At the beginning of every school year, definitely when they start at a new school with bonus sneezes and drippy noses about every 6 -8 weeks in between.
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Cydney Golden 4 weeks ago
why would you wait in the room?? That's to a good precedence to set.
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April Pickett 1 month ago
I stopped that. I'm no homework attendant. I told them to do it themselves, or if necessary I'd get them a tutor (high school kid).
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Child of the Stars 1 month ago
When a toddler has an irrational tantrum, it's almost never the thing that triggered it. They're usually hungry, tired, or need a diaper change. Once I figured out the underlying problem and addressed that, the trigger was no longer a problem.
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Lily bloom 1 month ago
I got the text, voicemail, email, singing telegram, met the carrier pigeon, saw the smoke signal, and read the sky writing but know not the password I created forever and a day ago to even begin to try to comprehend any of that
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Geoffrey Scott 1 month ago
Pro tip, my daughter and wife HATED one another during the teen years. My wife made the decision to include me in their feud. Told daughter "Pick up your clothes when your Mom asks you"..She didn't, everything on the floor was transferred into a trash bag and stored in the rafters of the garage. After a couple days she was: "Where is my----?" "Oh that, remember when I asked you to clean up your clothes?.well you didn't so I treated them as abandoned...tossed 'em". OH!!! the drama.
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Geoffrey Scott 1 month ago (edited)
Youngest had a melt down because she couldn't start kindergarten with older sis on the first day. My wife, attempting to put the screaming toddler into her car seat as she's grabbing the rain gutter to resist, one of the local cops drives by and hits the brakes assuming his day is about to become eventful. Wife grabs the kid and holds her out kicking and screaming.."YOU want her?" Boy did THAT cop find something more important to do.
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Brooke Kenner 4 weeks ago
every single day at work. . . I think how tough and busy evenings are and how i need a break, and as soon as I get that time away, I miss my boy so much. Can't say how much I wish I could be independently wealthy so I could homeschool and we could just travel and go to museums and read and play.
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Geobugi🇰🇷🇰🇭 1 month ago
Not everybody does. I hated it as a child because it is boring and i did not want to sleep and until today i feel like napping in the daytime is a criminal waste of daylight and time in general
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David Paterson 1 month ago
Do you encourage tantrums in order to get some "me" timeout time? Asking for a friend.
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Hassel Davidhoff 1 month ago (edited)
And then, due to that "full heart", cardiac arrest at 52.
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Child of the Stars 1 month ago
I despise this kind of thinking. It doesn't matter who it comes from (I've seen similar memes about disabilities or having a physically demanding job) or who it's directed at. Exhaustion is exhaustion, it doesn't matter the cause.
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Geoffrey Scott 1 month ago
After the Mom told their kid to sit down in the cart and they tumbled out, me, a random dude in the Dollar store, was like "what did she say!" Kid just glared, it made my day.
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SchadenFreudian Psychology 4 weeks ago
My parents used to call the hour or so before dinner was ready “hell hour.”
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SchadenFreudian Psychology 4 weeks ago
I’d be cranky too, if I had to be confined to a straitjacket every time I had to go somewhere.
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Corbmi 4 weeks ago
My wife keeps buying the kids things with a load of pieces. And also slime. And is then confused when the pieces are either A) spread out all over the floor, covered in slime or B) lost immediately, never to be seen again (although the slime is still splattered all over the carpet).
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