Moms and dads making fun of their struggles on Twitter isn't necessarily a bad thing, too. With school, housework, and the kids' after-school activities taking over their time, parents got a lot on their plate. It's easy to become socially isolated from the outside world when your everyday life is so hectic and make a mistake or two. Accepting and laughing at them allows them to move on.
Vicki Broadbent, for example, successfully juggles a thriving business with raising a family, and she said owning your hiccups is just a part of the journey. "When I mess up, I hold my hands up, admit it, and explain to my children what happened ('Mummy shouted because she was tired'). I also always apologize," the founder of Honest Mum and author of Mumboss, told Bored Panda."It's a strength, not a weakness to say sorry. Being honest about my failures with my children humanizes me as a parent and, most importantly, it normalizes making mistakes. They're a natural part of life and we're all learning and growing. I want my kids to know that while I'm teaching them the difference between right and wrong and the importance of empathy and forgiveness."
Vicki said that her family genuinely has a lot of fun. They sing, dance, watch comedies, and always strive to seek the positives in life. "We as parents don't take ourselves too seriously and laugh at ourselves so our children follow suit." Keeping a family together is a lot of work. But offers so much opportunity to have a good time, too, so why not use it?
"Having children is truly a gift," Vicki said. "It gives you as a parent a second chance at childhood. You can live vicariously through your kids; you can see the world anew through their young eyes, and best of all, you get to eat more candy (!) and lose your inhibitions more (I've been known to dance around the supermarket)! It's a maternal right to embarrass your kids, right!"
The mother is fully aware that having kids is a huge responsibility but like everything in life, she always questions herself, 'Am I having fun?'
"Childhood is a short and precious window to be enjoyed so we as parents must protect this time for our children and harness happiness where possible."
