Parenting experts are everywhere these days. They’re on social media platforms, on TV, their work is published in newspapers, and their books are becoming instant bestsellers. And they all have something to say about your parenting.
Good thing that not all the parents out there are pretending to be experts. Some just tell it like it is. One of them is the viral comic sensations Yehuda and Maya Devirs.
The couple, who got famous for creating comics about their personal experiences as partners, shifted the focus of their content when they became parents. Now they’re portraying the beautiful and miserable realities of having children. And we all love it! Scroll down to see the most recent batch of their work.
Of course, not every family’s story is equally shared between children. In some households, one child quietly takes on more than their fair share of blame and criticism, a dynamic researchers call the scapegoat child.
#1 That Time Of The Month
Parenting is quite an adventure. It has amazing highs and awful lows, and plenty of fascinating moments as well as frustrating ones. The best/worst part? All these experiences can change from one hour to the next. In other words, it’s quite a ride.
One thing many parents don’t realize is how the roles they assign their children, intentionally or not, can define those kids for life. It’s a dynamic at the heart of what’s known as the golden child syndrome.
Still, through it all, we’re all striving to be perfect. We all want to be that example parent who seems to be doing it all correctly. At least, that’s how we start off.
#2 I Got You Covered
#3 They Grow Up So Fast!
We want to be kind and understanding to our children and communicate with them without yelling. We want to feed them good food and encourage them to be curious eaters. We want them to read books and make every waking moment developmentally useful. And on top of all that, we want a clean house, a stable career, and a good social life.
There are some days you feel you’re doing okay. Maybe even pretty good. But then you come across a TikTok that tells you thatyou shouldn’t say “good job” to your kidand suddenly you feel like a failure.
#4 Tea Party
#5 Permanent
#6 A New Beginning
The truth is that we’re all bound to make mistakes when parenting. Yes, we want to make them as rarely as possible, but it’s tough to be perfect no matter what you do, and raising a human being is already not a walk in the park. The solution? Accepting thatgood enough is enough.
#7 Quiet
#8 Mine
#9 I Can Do It On My Own!
The idea of good enough parenting started in the ’50s, whenpsychoanalyst and pediatrician Donald Winnicott wanted to reassure mothers that being perfect might not be the best option. He believed that a child’s needs evolved with time and not being able to quickly adjust to them was good for their development. According toWinnicott, any slip-up that a parent makes actually allows the child to learn about the external world that it might not always respond to their needs.
#10 Home Sweet Home
#11 It’s Your Turn
#12 Happy Anniversary!
So, let go of the guilt and allow yourself to make mistakes. Maybe lower your expectations a little. You don’t always need to be there for your child. After all, they can play on their own. In fact, adult-free independent play is good for them. It allows them to find their own pace, helps with their problem-solving skills, and boosts imagination.
#13 The Mask
#14 Happy Birthday, Mommy!
#15 Handyman
Also, remember that science is on your side. Find solace in the fact that,according to research, today’s parents already spend way more time with their children than parents did in the ’60s. And when you’re in doubt about going back to work, note that children of working mothers arejust as happyas the ones raised by stay-at-home moms.
#16 The Walking Dad
#17 Potty Training
#18 Deliver Us!
If you do make a mistake, acknowledge it. Take it as an opportunity to learn a better way. Maybe yelling wasn’t the best option and you did overreact. Maybe you didn’t show enough support or attention when your kid needed it. Apologize to your child if needed and move on with grace. This will also teach them how to deal with their mistakes.
#19 I’m 4 Mother Father!!!
#20 Scissoring
#21 It’s Time
All in all, if you’re worried that your efforts aren’t perfect, you’re probably doing okay already. So, cut yourself some slack. Take it easy and maybe even laugh at your everyday realities and slip-ups, just like the creators of these comics do.
#22 Up
#23 Summer Time
#24 No…no…no…no…no
#25 Size Does Matter!
#26 Happy Ending
#27 Vacation
