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Becoming a parent to a little boy called Vincent had fundamental changes in my life and was full of challenges that every first-time parent faces. The lack of sleep, losing your old "self" as you knew it, and questioning each conflicting decision you make as a parent made me feel like I was failing at it all together.

As my son was growing and turning into a happy little boy, I realized that we push ourselves to compete with some imaginary ideals of parenthood while we are all secretly just learning to reshape our lives around our children. That’s when I decided to create these short satire comic strips documenting my experiences as a new mom, which I call "Toddlerama – parenthood uncensored."

It makes me laugh, it makes me cry, it takes away my sleep and provides me with energy sources that I didn’t think existed, but most importantly, it inspires me to draw again as I navigate through being a mom.

More info: Facebook | Instagram | li-lili.com

#1

Working From Home

Working From Home

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VANILLA
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That was my teachers cats all the way!

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I’ve been surrounded and fascinated by comics ever since I was a little girl. My first childhood book was a collection of comic strip stories by the Danish cartoonist Herluf Bidstrup, who still has a significant influence on me. The other and even more significant impact was my older brother Rokas, who used to draw alien battlefield comics as a child.

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    #2

    Life Is Like A Jenga Game Sometimes

    Life Is Like A Jenga Game Sometimes

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    #3

    So Close, Yet So Far

    So Close, Yet So Far

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    When I was six, my brother divided an A4 sheet into box frames and gave it to me to fill in. That’s how my first comics were born. That was more than 30 years ago. A lot has changed since then, but I always tended to come back to drawing whenever I felt stressed, excited, or simply bored. The themes and styles of my drawings changed over the years, as did I.

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    #5

    When The Real Panic Sets In

    When The Real Panic Sets In

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    Chantel Atwell
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    In 2018, I, together with my son, created a project "Li-Lili". It's colorful comic strip stories for kids. I wanted to create a world filled with friendly characters and introduce the little ones to the world of comics and maybe inspire them to draw stories themselves. For more information, you can visit my website.

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    #6

    Memo For All The Future Parents

    Memo For All The Future Parents

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    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is one of the first baby drawings in colour that I did, so the shading got a bit out of hand, hehe..

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    #7

    Mealtime Logics

    Mealtime Logics

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    Pauline Bennett
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This was also said at an engagement with tears.

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    I like to look at the world through the cartoonist's goggles. It helps me make sense of things, deal with stress and share my experiences.

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    #9

    Baby Brain Is Not A Myth. Getting Your Brain Back To Normal Is A Myth

    Baby Brain Is Not A Myth. Getting Your Brain Back To Normal Is A Myth

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    Flare
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thought for a second that your eyes would blue-screen!

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    #11

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    Blackheart
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You do the best you can now adays. As for the clean house, I thought I would clean and organize during quarantine. Sounds good in your head, but the reality is YOUR FAMILY IS IN THERE WITH YOU!

    Hans
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Condemning yourself for failures is just too human yet the easiest way to get depressed. I think most people try hard and eventually win in a holistic sense.

    Elaine Mattingly
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    YES! And then the baby says, Mama for the first time and you know you are perfect!

    Pauline Bennett
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fail is a four letter word! We'll have none of that!

    Phunny Philosopher
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am right there with you, cartoonist. Postpartum depression is a special kind of torture. Get help if you can!

    Jessica
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had a lot of overwhelming thoughts like this, i finally broke down and just talked to my doctor about some anxiety and anti-depressant meds.... their not for everyone but they help and i encourage everyone to take a deep breath and address issues within yourself because YOU CAN LIVE LIFE AT YOUR BEST.

    BluEyedSeoulite
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No shame in happy pills. I think I need to find a different doc. Got diagnosed with mild postpartum depression and his suggestions were leave my oldest at daycare longer everyday. Come back when I'm MORE violent or no longer breastfeeding. Yeah, because giving a toddler LESS time with mom is going to work out great after the arrival of a sibling... I need to find a female doc..

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    #12

    Bedtime Exorcism—you Never Know Where It Takes You

    Bedtime Exorcism—you Never Know Where It Takes You

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    Popcorn Colonel
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh, how true, my sister used to be similar.

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    #13

    Support Group

    Support Group

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    Hans
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Never listen to what other parents say! Even if it is true, you can never compare. It does yourself injustice, and it particuly is not just for your baby!

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    #14

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    #16

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    Suzanne Tilson
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Like dealing with a terrorists. They know what to weaponize.

    #17

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    Artsy Bookworm
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love how the expression of the kid hasn't changed at all😂