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Motherhood is full of ups and downs that you don’t get to see if you’re not a parent yourself. That’s one of the things that artist Paula Kuka shows in her witty and truthful illustrations about the reality of raising children.

The Australian artist’s drawings demonstrate that what society sees in public is just the tip of the iceberg. For example, we might spot a mom scrolling her phone while pushing a pram and we’re quick to judge her. But we don’t see all the hundreds of small things she did for her children that day. Much like with professional athletes and skilled musicians, we see the end results, not the hundreds of hours of effort, pain, sweat, and tears that happened offstage.

We bring you some of Paula’s best and insightful illustrations, so be sure to scroll down to the very bottom, and upvote the drawings that you enjoyed. And be sure to let us know in the comments which of Paula’s work you thought was the most illuminating and why.

In an in-depth interview with Bored Panda, Paula revealed how she became an artist, what the challenges of motherhood are, and what her future plans are. Scroll down for the full interview. Especially if you’re artistically inclined because Paula has some great advice for you if you’ve lost your motivation or creativity.

More info: CommonWild.com.au | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

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Bob Beltcher
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God yes. Our daughter is 7 and it still takes 30 minutes just to leave. Long gone are the days of just putting shoes on and grabbing my keys.

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“I never had plans to be an artist. When I finished school, I studied landscape architecture at university and went on to work in that profession for about 10 years,” Paula recounted her journey towards becoming an artist. “When I went on maternity leave with my first child, I started drawing as a way to keep creative.”

She explained that she draws digitally and uses the very same technical skills that she used as a landscape architecture. “After I had my second baby a few years later, I started drawing cartoons as a way of documenting our daily lives (because I was useless at writing in their baby books).

“I posted them on Instagram and they very quickly gathered attention from other parents who loved seeing such a relatable view of parenting. I like to talk about some of the challenges of motherhood — the guilt, the frustration, the boredom, as well as the hilarious and heart-warming aspects. It’s important to me to talk openly about these things as I know it can help other parents feel less isolated in what they are going through.”

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OCD Mom
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so real. My daughter kicks like a pro every time I try to change her diaper.

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Bob Beltcher
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always remind her that the sun never really sets, we're just moving around it. When it's dark here it's morning in other parts of the world and we're just sharing the sun until it's our turn again.

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Paula revealed to Bored Panda that a few months ago she started doing a weekly cartoon and writing a column in ‘The West’ newspaper in Western Australia. “I am also putting together a book which I hope to have out early next year. And as long as people are enjoying what I am creating, I’ll keep posting and see what opportunities arise,” the artist said about her future plans.

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Juririn
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my case, this is why potty training ended at two. Lead by example.

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Herb Eaversmells
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate this as a father, like we are incapable of caring for our children. And no, I'm not babysitting, I'm parenting

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Gemma Lees
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The worst one of these is "is Dad babysitting today?" It drives my husband nuts as it incinuates that Dads can't be trusted to properly parent, just keep the kids occupied on the rare occasion that Mums are busy. It's also super dismissive of kids with a single Dad or two Dads.

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Jamie S. Martindale
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Amen! I got this all the time when I took the kids grocery shopping with me. "What a good father" or "Are you babysitting to give her a break?" No, I'm just being a dad - it's what we all should do. Don't make me seem heroic for doing what should be normal.

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Jane W.
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Men do get such accolades for doing the things women are expected to do all day long.

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Cindy Snow
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate when people ask if the man is " babysitting". HE IS RAISING HIS OWN SPAWN.

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Patti Renwick Parrish
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really dislike the fact that when a dad is being a dad he's wonderful but when a mom is being a mom she is imperfect in so many ways. Can you say 'double standard'?

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Michał Jastrzębski
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

meh. "good dad"? We dont get to hear that, usually. Usually its, "oooh, so you are a babysitter today?".

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Sterling Malory Archer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When people see me with my two boys they remark on how well I handle two toddlers.. because, you know, as a man I'm completely incapable of handling children by myself 🙄

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Matt Kough
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Saying that she has her hands full is a frigging compliment. Dumb.

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Cindy Shipley
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"She's got her hands full", is not criticism, it's acknowledgement that this stage is hard. I've said this to young moms, never thinking that they would take this as a put down. I have six kids. I know this is tough.

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Paul Kahl
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Both of those are not mutually exclusive... She does have her hands full (so does he), and he looks to be a good dad (like she looks to be a good mom).

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Andrew Duffy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I usually found that I would be asked if I was “babysitting” my kids. No, I was mum and dad to two toddlers after my wife died.

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Cheryl Nicholson
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see no difference here. Dad is doing the same thing as Mom. They are BOTH equal!

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Lu
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4 years ago

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Honestly I don’t think either one is accurate, simply most people are on their phones and will never notice lol

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Hugo Raible
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4 years ago

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So out of all these great and funny comics, BP chose the only controversial BS one?

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She also had sound advice for artists who are struggling, have lost their motivation or creative sparks: “Opportunities can come in the most unlikely places. Be generous with your time and skills.

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“All my greatest opportunities came when I went out on a limb and did something for someone and didn’t expect anything in return.

“Just keep going and stay true to yourself. People resonate the most with authenticity.”

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SirPatTheCat
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is kinda like something I heard about dogs that they are only a small part of your life but you are their whole life, so like be the best person you can be to them or something like that — albeit slightly different with a person since you will not be their whole life forever but at baby stage you kind of are

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Bob Beltcher
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ours was like a timer. Every night around 10, 1, and 4 I would change her, feed her and then put her back to sleep while my wife pumped.

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Mimi
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then the belt gets stuck. And baby scratches your face. And someone honks because your open door blocks them.

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Paula’s Common Wild art page has a strong fan base: 92,400 followers on Instagram and another 34,300 fans on Facebook. Meanwhile, the Common Wild Pinterest account gets more than 17,100 views each month. Be sure to follow Paula’s accounts if you enjoy her illustrations.

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Gemma Lees
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Dad spoils my son in a different way. He's an amazing Romany Gypsy elder and has a traditional vardo bow wagon in the back garden and owns a 16 acre woodland which my son refers to as his "big garden". He lets my son make wooden sculptures with various tools, (supervised), and has loads of cool props and puppets and stuff he uses for work. He also writes kids stories and my son appears in a tonne of them and gets to go to events and such with him.

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Juririn
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey, you hungry? - NO! Sleepy? - NO! Want the broom (favorite ...toy)? - NO! What can mommy do? - NO! (He's heading towards a Ph.D in homotopy now... 😐)

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Carol Emory
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No..that's why you tell everyone you're going to yoga when you're actually going out to have coffee with friends.

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Annabell
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still love wearing my cozy pants from pregnancy 😌 I can pull them up to my bra and always have a warm belly 🥰

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Note: this post originally had 90 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.