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A good parent is someone who strives to make decisions in the best interest of their child. But that doesn't mean moms and dads have to be perfect. Nobody is. Not even their children. Mistakes are bound to happen, the important part is to learn from them... and have a good chuckle!

Realizing the benefit of being able to laugh at ourselves, we at Bored Panda have dedicated an entire series to funny parents. Each month, we compile a list of their honest, humorous tweets, and let me tell you—March has been exceptionally generous. Continue scrolling to check out the entries and after you're done, fire up our February and January lists for more giggles.

However, what if you do make a parenting mistake and can't stop thinking about it even after venting on Twitter? Well, Vicki Broadbent, a writer, director, broadcaster, and founder of the parenting blog Honest Mum, believes the fact that you are even worrying about being a good parent is testimony to the fact that you are a good parent.

"Please remember you're a human too and will have good and bad days. Be kind to yourself so you can be kind to others and that means forgiving yourself when you mess up," the author of The Working Mom: Your Guide to Surviving and Thriving at Work and at Home told Bored Panda.

#3

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HenpeckedHal Report

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Catherine Hankinson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once gave a load of stuff to a charity shop and then went in with my little girl and she was like "look mummy we have those!" Nope. Not anymore kid.

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According to the Honest Mum whose also on Instagram, you are a composite of your own life experiences and upbringing, those formative childhood years and beyond, and a lot of parenting can feel triggering. "Your child is left out at school for example, and it reminds you of being bullied." So question your reactions.

Speaking from her own experience, Vicki said therapy has helped her own parenting style hugely. She was able to work through issues, allowing herself to recognize if she's projecting or feeling triggered when it comes to her own parenting/children's behavior. And that allows her to change her responses.

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"It has also helped me to be a more sympathetic, calmer parent," Broadbent said. "Children require unconditional love and direction. They thrive on boundaries and routine and they require honesty. You want your children to trust and respect you. They need to know where they stand so they can feel emotionally safe at all times."

"When you mess up, be honest, explain your behavior. For example, 'Sorry, I didn't mean to shout but I didn't sleep well last night and I had a stressful situation at work today.' And if you lost your temper due to your child misbehaving, take some deep breaths and explain in an age-appropriate way how what they are doing makes you feel. Focus on your own emotions so they can empathize with you and also see you as a human being, just like them."

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Illustrate what you mean, Vicki advised, use examples to back up your feelings so your child can understand your position. 'Remember the time you cried when your brother wouldn't listen to your story and you kept telling it to him over and over again, and felt ignored and cried. Well, that's how I feel when you ignore me when I'm calling you for dinner'.

"Warn your child when they are behaving badly then choose an appropriate punishment: stopping tech time for a period or making them take a time-out. Giving them the opportunity to remedy their behavior is fair and allows them to feel they have a chance to do better."

Vicki Broadbent thinks you shouldn't label your kid as 'a bad child'. Instead, you can label their behaviour as bad, unkind, or even thoughtless. Also, have realistic expectations from your child too: toddlers and teens are constantly going through great developmental changes, physically and emotionally so acting up is natural.

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"Often it's about having the patience and understanding to tolerate the tougher times, and also seeing the behaviour as a call for help: for love, time, space or all three sometimes," Broadbent said. "My eldest behaved stroppily over tech time recently and it was only when I stopped reacting to his behaviour and started responding more gently that he opened up and said he wasn't actually upset over gaming but something that happened at school (which we later tackled together). Look behind the behaviour. Yours and theirs and don't forget that parenting requires a lot of detective work!"

#15

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Ryan Deschanel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The other options are : a parasite, a cambion, an alien, a chili.

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Philly Bob Squires
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"We're expecting!" What? It makes it sound like there's more than one outcome: "Yeah, we're expecting a baby but it's possible it could be a polar bear cub or a flat screen TV."

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Mary Ross
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A whole lot of rubber duckies--don't do situps or you'll "quack up"!

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Chicago Dog Lover
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The second definition is "full of meaning." I've heard "pregnant with anticipation."

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Lucy Skinner
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2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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Laura Markham, who has earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University and has worked as a parenting coach with thousands of parents, said you don't have to make up for not being a perfect parent. Perfect just gets in the way of love, she said. Try to remember that joy comes from appreciating the wonder in all those miraculous moments that are disguised as everyday life.

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"The key is letting go of your need to be perfect and offering emotional generosity every chance you get, to everyone around you—including yourself," Markham wrote.

#17

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Sk8_boy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now Tell him he is banned from having a birthday for a year :)

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River Webb
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this child may have just created the cure to every disease that ever existed

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YoChicken
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ok honestly, your kid has their priorities straight. queso over pants any day.

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#36

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Meko
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

FABULOUS! *glitter noise* *sparkle noise* *glitter glitter, sparkle sparkle*

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Jo Johannsen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some of my fondest memories is of my mother and I going into the kitchen after everyone else left for the weekend (visitation) to make a "kitchen sink" salad and share it, along with hot tea and buttered saltines. It was a ritual for us - none of my siblings cared for salad.

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#50

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Note: this post originally had 151 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

Remember, it's OK even if you need to vent online—Vicki Broadbent of Honest Mum said the fact you are even worrying about being a good parent is testimony to the fact that you are a good parent

Image credits: honestmum