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“Toddlerama”: 18 Comics About Parenthood That I’ve Created To Share My Frustrations In A Funny Way
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
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#1
Working From Home
Final score:
106points
Charlotte Anderson [STUDENT] 5 years ago
Cats are needy when they don’t need anything
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Bent. O. Jensen 2 years ago
It is where you look. Cats demand you to look at them!
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Bent. O. Jensen 2 years ago
Where is the lego to step on? Litter box? Empty toilet roll? Phone ringing? Crashing pc?
Newsies forever!! 3 years ago
My teacher's cat almost knocked down his(teacher's) Hogwarts castle Lego set
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
Final score:
104points
BluEyedSeoulite 5 years ago
I feel this so much these days... I feel like "Parenting" is the only jenga tile I have left in my stack, everything else is gone...
#3
So Close, Yet So Far
Final score:
93points
averageperson 5 years ago
This has happened to me so many times when I had a baby sibling on my lap. Tough times, I can tell you.
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.
#4
Final score:
85points
Ian Bartels 3 years ago
This is my life right now! Yesterday for breakfast I ate yogurt, cereal, bagel, and cereal again trying to get my toddler to eat (all of which she asked for) and then didn't want it when I gave it to her.
#5
When The Real Panic Sets In
Final score:
73points
Laura Valantine (Submission author) 5 years ago
The primal fears of 24/7 parenting were triggered 😁
Load More Replies... 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.
#6
Memo For All The Future Parents
Final score:
69points
Laura Valantine (Submission author) 5 years ago
This is one of the first baby drawings in colour that I did, so the shading got a bit out of hand, hehe..
yslasoli 5 years ago
I hope that you gave the cat to a loving home or a trustworthy shelter, not just "gotten rid of"
Laura Valantine (Submission author) 5 years ago
This is one of the demands I chose to ignore 🙂 Now my kid and the cat learned to accept each others existence.
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Demon Girl 3 years ago
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA *gasp* hahaha ha... Child, you really think I love you more than this adorable ball of fluff who I only need to buy food for, spend time with, and pay the ocasional vet bill? HAH no I will not have children.
#7
Mealtime Logics
Final score:
67points
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.
#8
Sleeping Is For The Weak
Final score:
61points
Vicky 5 years ago
Why do people whose kids sleep the night always like to tell you about it though?!
Bent. O. Jensen 2 years ago (edited)
Because they are so happy that all the months without sleep are over (or rather they believe so).
Load More Replies... Mishte Tine 5 years ago
I guess I got lucky. Both my kids slept well, long and on time. Wear them out when they’re awake. Don’t hit me.
MarWol 3 years ago
No hitting intended, l'm just interested. My son is almost 9 mth and I read somewhere (when I still had hopes to have some level of control) that you can't really do anything about a baby's sleep cycle. Like keeping them awake during the day will only make them cranky in the evening and prevent them from calming down. Did it work for your kid(s) though?
Load More Replies... #9
Baby Brain Is Not A Myth. Getting Your Brain Back To Normal Is A Myth
Final score:
61points
Laura Valantine (Submission author) 5 years ago
I haven't thought about that, but that would have been such a cool way of showing it!!!
Load More Replies... Elaine Mattingly 5 years ago
When my co worker almost touched something hot I said in a scared voiice,"BURN BABY BURN!
#10
Final score:
58points
Phunny Philosopher 5 years ago
All you "no" people: don't judge. You don't know my life. Or hers, for that matter.
#11
Final score:
57points
Blackheart 5 years ago
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!
Elaine Mattingly 5 years ago
YES! And then the baby says, Mama for the first time and you know you are perfect!
Phunny Philosopher 5 years ago
I am right there with you, cartoonist. Postpartum depression is a special kind of torture. Get help if you can!
Jessica 5 years ago
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 5 years ago
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..
Load More Replies... #12
Bedtime Exorcism—you Never Know Where It Takes You
Final score:
47points
#13
Support Group
Final score:
44points
#14
Final score:
42points
Eva the Ravenclaw Bookworm📚💖 5 years ago
You clearly know your priorities.
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#16
Final score:
17points
#17
Final score:
13points
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What do you think ?
Fanice Angatia 5 years ago
This is scary, but real. Most art I see use cute colored paintings that somewhat help to hide the true picture of life with kids.
Laura Valantine (Post author) 5 years ago
It's ups and downs and as always - humour is the best way to cope with things 🙂
Load More Replies... averageperson 5 years ago
No kids of my own... but I have six younger siblings, and growing up was a real struggle.
Hazel Waring 5 years ago
Parent advice appreciated! :) I've always wanted a large family, struggled physically with a bad miscarriage and came to terms that I couldn't have kids so didn't want them after all. Now I have a real chance at a treatment to have that family again and I just don't know if it's worth it. It's so hard to make the choice - any parents can reassure? Is it misery and disruption to life?
NamiKoa 5 years ago
It's really hard to know in advance how it will be from person to person. For me (so far) it's definitely been worth it. It's like Jessica said, it's wonderful and yet you are awfully tired and stressed but it's the best time in my life but I don't have time for myself still I wouldn't change it for the world. For me personally, I am very, very happy we took the step and I have no regrets whatsoever. For someone else the sacrifices and changes could maybe outweigh the positive aspects - but I'm afraid there's no way to really know for certain. If you've always wanted a family, I think you might regret not having done it, but that's such a complex, personal decision that only you can make. I hope things work out for you either way. :-)
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Jessica 5 years ago
I loved these...sooooooo relatable. Keep it up, because you made this tired mom laugh
Laura Valantine (Post author) 5 years ago
Thank you 😉 this tired mom just inspired me to draw more.
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Bonebag Comics 3 years ago
I have three kids. I know they put my wife through hell sometimes, and I was there ready with a glass of wine at the end of the day.
Fanice Angatia 5 years ago
This is scary, but real. Most art I see use cute colored paintings that somewhat help to hide the true picture of life with kids.
Laura Valantine (Post author) 5 years ago
It's ups and downs and as always - humour is the best way to cope with things 🙂
Load More Replies... averageperson 5 years ago
No kids of my own... but I have six younger siblings, and growing up was a real struggle.
Hazel Waring 5 years ago
Parent advice appreciated! :) I've always wanted a large family, struggled physically with a bad miscarriage and came to terms that I couldn't have kids so didn't want them after all. Now I have a real chance at a treatment to have that family again and I just don't know if it's worth it. It's so hard to make the choice - any parents can reassure? Is it misery and disruption to life?
NamiKoa 5 years ago
It's really hard to know in advance how it will be from person to person. For me (so far) it's definitely been worth it. It's like Jessica said, it's wonderful and yet you are awfully tired and stressed but it's the best time in my life but I don't have time for myself still I wouldn't change it for the world. For me personally, I am very, very happy we took the step and I have no regrets whatsoever. For someone else the sacrifices and changes could maybe outweigh the positive aspects - but I'm afraid there's no way to really know for certain. If you've always wanted a family, I think you might regret not having done it, but that's such a complex, personal decision that only you can make. I hope things work out for you either way. :-)
Load More Replies... Jessica 5 years ago
I loved these...sooooooo relatable. Keep it up, because you made this tired mom laugh
Laura Valantine (Post author) 5 years ago
Thank you 😉 this tired mom just inspired me to draw more.
Load More Replies... Bonebag Comics 3 years ago
I have three kids. I know they put my wife through hell sometimes, and I was there ready with a glass of wine at the end of the day.
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