Some say being president is the hardest job in the world, but Nathalie Jomard disagrees. According to this French artist, there is nothing tougher than raising a child, and she has created playful and honest illustrations to prove it.
From huge body changes to not being able to peacefully go to the bathroom, Nathalie included a lot of the struggles women go through during different stages of maternity, and it's a real eye-opener for anyone who takes their mom for granted. Scroll down for the images, vote for your favorite ones and let us know in the comments if you agree that motherhood is the most responsible 'position.'
More info: nathaliejomard.com | Instagram
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I had to reassure my son that the toilet was not a portal to another land and that I wasn't going anywhere when I walked into the bathroom.
Yes I can relate my daughter pulled my whole sundress off me all the way to the floor while we were waiting in the front of a huge church!
Meh. Kids should sleep into their own rooms. They can come sleep with their parents if they have nightmares once in a while, but not make it a a habit.
If I'm being honest I would not have worn one before having children lol
Close relative of the 'carry the vomiting kid and run to toilet/bucket/sink' activity.
I always wondered why human children are the only animal offspring who simultaneously try to starve themselves/commitsuicidebyeatingeverydamnedthing.
I actually have an interesting tidbit on that. You know how many kids despise eating some vegetables? Oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is something that your body doesn't like in high quantities, it actually makes things more bitter. A kid's body still reacts instinctively to this, and says "No, this is bad for me!" Check out the list, and have it sorted by amount of oxalic acid per 100 gram of the vegetable, and you'll see a correlation between oxalic acid and dislike by kids, which might imply that the oxalic acid does play a big part in it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalic_acid (Note that while herbs like parsley and chives do have the most of the stuff, you rarely feed them to your kid directly in large quantities. If anything it is as an added bit, because they are spices.) As for trying to eat everything...that's a way of learning what a thing is. A releveant part of "what" is also "Is it edible?". You see that in other animals too. Some more successful than others.
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heh my son used to love his carrots, it was the only veggy he'd eat without "complaint" we accidentally turned him orange once (yes it happens) we took him to the doctor and the doctor just said cut back on the carrots and he'll be fine.
This is one of the reasons I don't use a high chair. I put my baby on my lap, put one arm under my left arm while holding the other hand. If I dare put her on a high chair I ask for food on my face, clothes, floor. And it's not that she doesn't like it or she is full. No, she thinks it's funny as she laughs while smacking my hand
changing the dress of baby n me after every meal is so frustrating as he mess everywhere
Still to this day..there is something different that all 5 sons wouldn't eat. Dinner time was a nightmare!
This is a picture I drew for my mom back in the 1970s. mommultita...e15c7f.jpg 
"How do you shave your legs 9 months pregnant?" First kid: Feel and pray Second kid: Shaved legs? What's that?
And YES. I'm still very, very happy that I didn't have kids.
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So hell. This is pure hell? Yep, confirmation I'll never have a kid.
I can relate to most of these. Motherhood will never be easy, especially when you become one at an earlier age... But still I wouldn't trade it for anything, I have no regrets. It actually made me a better person. And a more beautiful one xD
I don't regret having mine either. Somehow, he makes it all worth it at the end of the day. He's 10 now and I still check up on him when he sleeps and smile to myself. Every little horror of those described here are totally true and incredibly worth it.
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Yet again another series that confirms childfree people to remain childfree and is a fun summary for actual parents. I think I saw one concerning that topic yesterday or day before. I get it's funny and a bit sarcastic and you have to have distance blah blah. But it also describes real situations, that people without children will not take as "YEAH I WANT TO BE THAT LADY TOO NOW"! SO CUTE!". It's not cute, it's ugly, depressing and flags a really big red sign for becoming a parent. Seeing that we often get content like that, it starts to ring a bell in the back of mind. Like this one time when I found out on BP that after childbirth I will most likely wear diaper-panties and pee myself uncontrollably. Something I definately would be better off not knowing until the time came ;)
I am 25 and I cannot see myself as being mum and after this post even more! Working and being mum is too much. Maybe you can share pics where having a baby is joy?
That's the problem - we get bombarded with "funny" content concerning parenting in this style shown here. And then we start to re-think the whole concept of having a baby, whether we like it, or not to be honest... I must admit that after a few years of seeing the "truth behind parenting" having a child isn;t so appealing anymore :P One would say: you can;t base your future experience on some articles and internet content! Sure I can, it's repetitive, is opinion-making and forging attitude... So all child-free people who agree again that they don;t want kids after seeing this can thank the people showing that ;)
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Between working, household chores and taking care of my daughter I feel this woman's pain!! Haha but that's what mommies are for :)
This is why I hate daddys who acted like kings and needed to be served after coming home from work. These task is. 24/7. You don't have break time, no fun chatting, no Friday night out, and who knows the rest of enjoyable opportunities at work. God bless Mommies :)
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I have full sympathy for moms. This is the reason why i made sure i earn enough to feed my wife and babies and she takes care of the home and built our future.
Good for you and for your family, that you are a responsible father! :) the love and work you invest will grow like seeds.
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People don't ask to be born on this overcrowded world just to die a few decades later and be forgotten about 70 years after that. Disease, war, famine, hate, f****d up religious stories, old age...who are you doing a favor by forcing that onto non existing beings for your own personal reproductive glory? Show some real sympathy with humanity and stop breeding humans. All our 'problems' will be over in 100 years. But most of us aren't that selfless now are we? All those 'moms' (and dads) deserve nothing better than an uncomfortable life after doing the worst possible thing...needlessly extending human suffering beyond themselves.
Agreed, and yet I've heard people tell me self-righteously that my decision not to breed is 'selfish'.
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Ugh. This is a nightmare and the only thing you get in the end is a miserable baby. I would never do this to myself.
Well there is something incredibly fufilling and wonderfully glorious about the chaos of raising children! Giving yourself like that to another human being, "your life is no longer meaningless" parents say a lot. Just a thought...
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I simply love the humour, kids are great but a sense of humour is essential!
Father here. But I can say and speak for my wife, if we had it to do over again, honestly, we wouldn't.
Please treasure every moment with your child, even if they are like these moments in the photos. When my daughter was only 20 months old, she was struck by a mysterious illness that started off olike a stomach flu (throwing up, very dehydrated, lethargic, clingy to me, lack of appetite, etc). She got worse and the doctors couldn't figure out why even after tests so she was put on a several antibiotics and kept in the hospital in quarantine for 3 days and was on iv to get fluids up. I was in there with her the entire time for 3 . Well on the last morning, one of the antibiotics must have been the right one because suddenly I woke up to a completely unraveled roll of toilet paper and her climbing things, even with her iv buddy attached. She was everywhere. I knew she felt better and was herself and was so relieved and happy. When we got home, she continued to make messes. I got my healthy girl back. So next time you see messed up toilet paper, remember this true story.
Pregnancy is absolute proof that god is a man. What woman would wish this on another woman.
Pregnancy is long and difficult due to the brain capacity we evolved, it's not proof of existence or absence of any god or of its characteristics. Ancient civilisations tended to revere depictions of goddesses related to fertility, like the Venus of Willendorf, Freyja/Frigg, Isis, Hera, Allat, Anahit, Akna, Kostroma, etc though there are male symbols of fertility as well, such as the Fascinus which is rather hilarious looking.
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Having children is incredibly hard if you do it right, but totally worth it. My 3 kids are all in their early 30s now (I'm 60) and looking back I realize that the hard part was only a relatively short period of time and now I have 3 beautiful adults in my life who I enjoy so much. I'm hoping for grand children soon
Having a child is overrated. Yeah, your mother has told me.. Huehuehue
This sounds miserable.... why would anybody choose to put themselves through this??
They also eat their babies, whereas humans, bonobos and elephants do not. The difference is in how much a female of each species has to invest in the offspring. A female elephant may have only about 4 offspring in her lifetime of 70 years. A female human has to invest 9 months of being slowed down, childbirth that implies risk of death, plus many years of childrearing, so those fetuses are very costly. In order to want to make them anyway, we had to evolve very strong, very long-lasting emotional bonds that make us want to take care of them as much as they need. A female rat, cat or dog can have LOTS of babies per lifetime. If they have a baby that is injured, disabled or ill they will generally eat that baby to improve the probability of the rest of the litter's survival to reproductive age whereas for elephants babies are precious, and they even hold funerals. Humans have to go through truly extreme starvation to be capable of eating their own baby.
Load More Replies... Angie Hamilton, on paper it looks horrible but when you are going through it it's actually quite joyful, even though challenging
There's a lot of happiness as well. It's not only frustrating moments, they are very tender, they are a gift from God. Baby and kids are a blessing. When you don't have a child you are empty because who will you give the love to. To a cat, dog. Animals are cute but they don't hug or kiss you and say I love you mom. Dad
No it is not, that is not life with a baby, a baby is not a creature from hell. it is our blood and our behaviour depends on how we model his character.
It sums it up a bit,,I think it's worse..cause after they grow up they will get very disrespectful and demanding! P.S and they wont be near their 18 in some cases.
Raising a child is very challenging. Im happy having with 3kids they inspired me . Stress reliever ,after my work is done.
These r true i have 3 but they arent that bad but then again i never just let them get into whatever Ages 6 5 and 6 months
A wolf, in the wilderness. There's no way he was raised by civilized people.
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Well, that is certainly encouraging! :D I think I will go and have three kids right now, just to totally f**k up my life, hahahaha.
I really feel sorry for those who get scared of having kids, just because a genius cartoonist has made a bit of fun about it. All of the above is true, but the pictures do not say ANYTHING about what parenthood really is about. The whole experience of having children is the greatest you can ever have - winning an Oscar or rowing across the Atlantic Ocean will NEVER reach this level of greatness!
If you feel that way, good for you. I for one don't intend to put MY life in the backburner for another person.
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I'm a mother of 3 and grandmother of 5 and can totally relate to this blog, I love it! :) Parenting is hard work; it's relentless, exhausting, frustrating, demoralizing, unending!!!!, exhilarating, hilarious, grounding, funny , awe inspiring, joyful, rewarding, satisfying and above all unique! - Mere words or illustrations can't sum it up and to all you out there who are turned off by the thought of how difficult it will be, believe me , it is! But, when you hold your baby in your arms for the first time, settle an upset child then watch them sleep, watch them take their first step then watch them take on the world, it's easy to illustrate the difficult and funny times but that feeling of love is intangible.
Voici une magnifique série de dessins animés qui résument VRAIMENT tout. Avoir ce petit bébé et profiter de la vie.
Great illustrations! Number 4 was my hardest as a parent. I had my baby boy at 40yrs old. He was such an early riser when he was a baby/toddler...but that’s ok it’s all temporary, nothing stays the same. He is 7yrs now (great sleeper) and it’s kinda funny...but I miss those sleep deprived days. So glad I became a mom!
come one draw the happiness as well, make it balance cz it is actually there too! I have my first baby when I was 22, second baby when I was 25. I never have the thought to give up my life because they make me grow stronger and stronger. Now I'm 31 and doing my PhD in US leaving them back home in Indonesia, they are my strength to survive my days despite their absence, I'm taking them here soon next term :)
I laughed so much, I nearly woke up the kids hahaha. I love being a mother and pouring myself out for our little ones. Parenthood is not for the faint-hearted though. Our oldest is nearly four and it has been four wonderful and enriching years!
I laughed so much now. Nearly woke up the kids haha! I love being a mother and pouring myself out for my children and just being with them. Our oldest is nearly four, and it has been four wonderful and enriching years.
Brings me right back in time. Always makes me wonder how we survive as parents. Excellent drawing style combined with ditto observation skills!
Oh these are amazing!!! And so very true! :D But the little devils are adorable, aren't they lol. Most of the time I fluctuate between wanting to chortle or hug mine :P
Yes, it's hard to be responsible for that little creature, carry for every part of their life, but still, there is no such thing as giving a birth...and such feel like becoming a mother...there is no money you can't pay the smile, first step, hugging in the morning..and innocent love of your own child.
Who told you that moms stop being sexy once we become moms? Really? How chauvinistic.
Load More Replies... I think that these (very precise and realistic) ilustrations are - never the less- are sexist. Were are the dads? And even though these ilustrations represent the truth of the painter, they are not my truth and Support a very old-fashioned role model.
Then draw your own. The artist is a woman and as you said, she is portraying her own experience, how could she portray anything else? as for the "very old-fashioned role model", sweetie, THIS is what a mom's life looks like today in 2018, whatever do you mean by old-fashioned?
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I am sad to see so many state with certainty they are glad they are not parents or they will never have a child. As a woman in her 40's with a 6 and 8 year-old, I will admit, there have been definite challenges. I run 3 businesses from home, am involved with my church, and volunteer at my children's school. Add in parenting, keeping house, and taking care of the tasks at home, and it's a rather full plate. However, just like your heart has capacity to love in abundance, your life can accommodate a loving child in addition to work, relationships, and other parts of your life. These funny sketches do show the challenging struggles, but they don't tell the WHOLE truth...like when your son says to you: Mommy, I want to hold your hand forever! Or when your daughter gives you a hand-made card that says: I love you mom, you are the best mom ever! When you gaze upon them sleeping like little angels, or enjoy snuggle time. It might be the most challenging, but it's also the most rewarding!
because she didn't want to draw any?
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What the heck is wrong with you?? I really hope you’re joking...
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For goodness sake, put down your cross and enjoy something for 10 minutes. The strip is meant to be about motherhood. It's not excluding dads, it's just focused on moms. Go find something else to get offended about.
Load More Replies... And YES. I'm still very, very happy that I didn't have kids.
Load More Replies... So hell. This is pure hell? Yep, confirmation I'll never have a kid.
I can relate to most of these. Motherhood will never be easy, especially when you become one at an earlier age... But still I wouldn't trade it for anything, I have no regrets. It actually made me a better person. And a more beautiful one xD
I don't regret having mine either. Somehow, he makes it all worth it at the end of the day. He's 10 now and I still check up on him when he sleeps and smile to myself. Every little horror of those described here are totally true and incredibly worth it.
Load More Replies... Yet again another series that confirms childfree people to remain childfree and is a fun summary for actual parents. I think I saw one concerning that topic yesterday or day before. I get it's funny and a bit sarcastic and you have to have distance blah blah. But it also describes real situations, that people without children will not take as "YEAH I WANT TO BE THAT LADY TOO NOW"! SO CUTE!". It's not cute, it's ugly, depressing and flags a really big red sign for becoming a parent. Seeing that we often get content like that, it starts to ring a bell in the back of mind. Like this one time when I found out on BP that after childbirth I will most likely wear diaper-panties and pee myself uncontrollably. Something I definately would be better off not knowing until the time came ;)
I am 25 and I cannot see myself as being mum and after this post even more! Working and being mum is too much. Maybe you can share pics where having a baby is joy?
That's the problem - we get bombarded with "funny" content concerning parenting in this style shown here. And then we start to re-think the whole concept of having a baby, whether we like it, or not to be honest... I must admit that after a few years of seeing the "truth behind parenting" having a child isn;t so appealing anymore :P One would say: you can;t base your future experience on some articles and internet content! Sure I can, it's repetitive, is opinion-making and forging attitude... So all child-free people who agree again that they don;t want kids after seeing this can thank the people showing that ;)
Load More Replies... Between working, household chores and taking care of my daughter I feel this woman's pain!! Haha but that's what mommies are for :)
This is why I hate daddys who acted like kings and needed to be served after coming home from work. These task is. 24/7. You don't have break time, no fun chatting, no Friday night out, and who knows the rest of enjoyable opportunities at work. God bless Mommies :)
Load More Replies... I have full sympathy for moms. This is the reason why i made sure i earn enough to feed my wife and babies and she takes care of the home and built our future.
Good for you and for your family, that you are a responsible father! :) the love and work you invest will grow like seeds.
Load More Replies... People don't ask to be born on this overcrowded world just to die a few decades later and be forgotten about 70 years after that. Disease, war, famine, hate, f****d up religious stories, old age...who are you doing a favor by forcing that onto non existing beings for your own personal reproductive glory? Show some real sympathy with humanity and stop breeding humans. All our 'problems' will be over in 100 years. But most of us aren't that selfless now are we? All those 'moms' (and dads) deserve nothing better than an uncomfortable life after doing the worst possible thing...needlessly extending human suffering beyond themselves.
Agreed, and yet I've heard people tell me self-righteously that my decision not to breed is 'selfish'.
Load More Replies... Ugh. This is a nightmare and the only thing you get in the end is a miserable baby. I would never do this to myself.
Well there is something incredibly fufilling and wonderfully glorious about the chaos of raising children! Giving yourself like that to another human being, "your life is no longer meaningless" parents say a lot. Just a thought...
Load More Replies... I simply love the humour, kids are great but a sense of humour is essential!
Father here. But I can say and speak for my wife, if we had it to do over again, honestly, we wouldn't.
Please treasure every moment with your child, even if they are like these moments in the photos. When my daughter was only 20 months old, she was struck by a mysterious illness that started off olike a stomach flu (throwing up, very dehydrated, lethargic, clingy to me, lack of appetite, etc). She got worse and the doctors couldn't figure out why even after tests so she was put on a several antibiotics and kept in the hospital in quarantine for 3 days and was on iv to get fluids up. I was in there with her the entire time for 3 . Well on the last morning, one of the antibiotics must have been the right one because suddenly I woke up to a completely unraveled roll of toilet paper and her climbing things, even with her iv buddy attached. She was everywhere. I knew she felt better and was herself and was so relieved and happy. When we got home, she continued to make messes. I got my healthy girl back. So next time you see messed up toilet paper, remember this true story.
Pregnancy is absolute proof that god is a man. What woman would wish this on another woman.
Pregnancy is long and difficult due to the brain capacity we evolved, it's not proof of existence or absence of any god or of its characteristics. Ancient civilisations tended to revere depictions of goddesses related to fertility, like the Venus of Willendorf, Freyja/Frigg, Isis, Hera, Allat, Anahit, Akna, Kostroma, etc though there are male symbols of fertility as well, such as the Fascinus which is rather hilarious looking.
Load More Replies... Having children is incredibly hard if you do it right, but totally worth it. My 3 kids are all in their early 30s now (I'm 60) and looking back I realize that the hard part was only a relatively short period of time and now I have 3 beautiful adults in my life who I enjoy so much. I'm hoping for grand children soon
Having a child is overrated. Yeah, your mother has told me.. Huehuehue
This sounds miserable.... why would anybody choose to put themselves through this??
They also eat their babies, whereas humans, bonobos and elephants do not. The difference is in how much a female of each species has to invest in the offspring. A female elephant may have only about 4 offspring in her lifetime of 70 years. A female human has to invest 9 months of being slowed down, childbirth that implies risk of death, plus many years of childrearing, so those fetuses are very costly. In order to want to make them anyway, we had to evolve very strong, very long-lasting emotional bonds that make us want to take care of them as much as they need. A female rat, cat or dog can have LOTS of babies per lifetime. If they have a baby that is injured, disabled or ill they will generally eat that baby to improve the probability of the rest of the litter's survival to reproductive age whereas for elephants babies are precious, and they even hold funerals. Humans have to go through truly extreme starvation to be capable of eating their own baby.
Load More Replies... Angie Hamilton, on paper it looks horrible but when you are going through it it's actually quite joyful, even though challenging
There's a lot of happiness as well. It's not only frustrating moments, they are very tender, they are a gift from God. Baby and kids are a blessing. When you don't have a child you are empty because who will you give the love to. To a cat, dog. Animals are cute but they don't hug or kiss you and say I love you mom. Dad
No it is not, that is not life with a baby, a baby is not a creature from hell. it is our blood and our behaviour depends on how we model his character.
It sums it up a bit,,I think it's worse..cause after they grow up they will get very disrespectful and demanding! P.S and they wont be near their 18 in some cases.
Raising a child is very challenging. Im happy having with 3kids they inspired me . Stress reliever ,after my work is done.
These r true i have 3 but they arent that bad but then again i never just let them get into whatever Ages 6 5 and 6 months
A wolf, in the wilderness. There's no way he was raised by civilized people.
Load More Replies... Well, that is certainly encouraging! :D I think I will go and have three kids right now, just to totally f**k up my life, hahahaha.
I really feel sorry for those who get scared of having kids, just because a genius cartoonist has made a bit of fun about it. All of the above is true, but the pictures do not say ANYTHING about what parenthood really is about. The whole experience of having children is the greatest you can ever have - winning an Oscar or rowing across the Atlantic Ocean will NEVER reach this level of greatness!
If you feel that way, good for you. I for one don't intend to put MY life in the backburner for another person.
Load More Replies... I'm a mother of 3 and grandmother of 5 and can totally relate to this blog, I love it! :) Parenting is hard work; it's relentless, exhausting, frustrating, demoralizing, unending!!!!, exhilarating, hilarious, grounding, funny , awe inspiring, joyful, rewarding, satisfying and above all unique! - Mere words or illustrations can't sum it up and to all you out there who are turned off by the thought of how difficult it will be, believe me , it is! But, when you hold your baby in your arms for the first time, settle an upset child then watch them sleep, watch them take their first step then watch them take on the world, it's easy to illustrate the difficult and funny times but that feeling of love is intangible.
Voici une magnifique série de dessins animés qui résument VRAIMENT tout. Avoir ce petit bébé et profiter de la vie.
Great illustrations! Number 4 was my hardest as a parent. I had my baby boy at 40yrs old. He was such an early riser when he was a baby/toddler...but that’s ok it’s all temporary, nothing stays the same. He is 7yrs now (great sleeper) and it’s kinda funny...but I miss those sleep deprived days. So glad I became a mom!
come one draw the happiness as well, make it balance cz it is actually there too! I have my first baby when I was 22, second baby when I was 25. I never have the thought to give up my life because they make me grow stronger and stronger. Now I'm 31 and doing my PhD in US leaving them back home in Indonesia, they are my strength to survive my days despite their absence, I'm taking them here soon next term :)
I laughed so much, I nearly woke up the kids hahaha. I love being a mother and pouring myself out for our little ones. Parenthood is not for the faint-hearted though. Our oldest is nearly four and it has been four wonderful and enriching years!
I laughed so much now. Nearly woke up the kids haha! I love being a mother and pouring myself out for my children and just being with them. Our oldest is nearly four, and it has been four wonderful and enriching years.
Brings me right back in time. Always makes me wonder how we survive as parents. Excellent drawing style combined with ditto observation skills!
Oh these are amazing!!! And so very true! :D But the little devils are adorable, aren't they lol. Most of the time I fluctuate between wanting to chortle or hug mine :P
Yes, it's hard to be responsible for that little creature, carry for every part of their life, but still, there is no such thing as giving a birth...and such feel like becoming a mother...there is no money you can't pay the smile, first step, hugging in the morning..and innocent love of your own child.
Who told you that moms stop being sexy once we become moms? Really? How chauvinistic.
Load More Replies... I think that these (very precise and realistic) ilustrations are - never the less- are sexist. Were are the dads? And even though these ilustrations represent the truth of the painter, they are not my truth and Support a very old-fashioned role model.
Then draw your own. The artist is a woman and as you said, she is portraying her own experience, how could she portray anything else? as for the "very old-fashioned role model", sweetie, THIS is what a mom's life looks like today in 2018, whatever do you mean by old-fashioned?
Load More Replies... I am sad to see so many state with certainty they are glad they are not parents or they will never have a child. As a woman in her 40's with a 6 and 8 year-old, I will admit, there have been definite challenges. I run 3 businesses from home, am involved with my church, and volunteer at my children's school. Add in parenting, keeping house, and taking care of the tasks at home, and it's a rather full plate. However, just like your heart has capacity to love in abundance, your life can accommodate a loving child in addition to work, relationships, and other parts of your life. These funny sketches do show the challenging struggles, but they don't tell the WHOLE truth...like when your son says to you: Mommy, I want to hold your hand forever! Or when your daughter gives you a hand-made card that says: I love you mom, you are the best mom ever! When you gaze upon them sleeping like little angels, or enjoy snuggle time. It might be the most challenging, but it's also the most rewarding!
because she didn't want to draw any?
Load More Replies... What the heck is wrong with you?? I really hope you’re joking...
Load More Replies... For goodness sake, put down your cross and enjoy something for 10 minutes. The strip is meant to be about motherhood. It's not excluding dads, it's just focused on moms. Go find something else to get offended about.
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