Spread the love

It certainly seems like most people have an opinion about being a good parent. However, no matter how many folks you listen to for advice and books you read, nothing quite prepares you for the reality of raising kids. It’s both a blessing and a challenge… with a ton of unintentional comedy thrown in.

Today, we’re featuring some of the funniest, most relatable memes about parenting from the incredibly popular ‘How To Be A Dad’ social media project. We’ve picked out the best of the best, and you can check them out below.

More info: Instagram | Facebook | X | Book | HowToBeADad.com

#1

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

#2

Image credits: HenpeckedHal

#3

Image credits: mirielmargaret

‘How To Be A Dad’ is a phenomenally long-lived social media project. Its Facebook account, created back in July 2010, currently boasts a jaw-dropping 509k followers. It has 165.7k followers on X (formerly Twitter), created the same month as the Facebook account. And 265k social media users follow the project’s Instagram account, which was started up back in September 2011.

Furthermore, ‘How To Be A Dad’ also has a dedicated website and has even published a book, ‘Dad Jokes: Hall of Shame.’ On Facebook, the team behind the project describes it as “an entertainment experience for parents, soon-to-be parents, or anyone who’s had parents.” Which includes everyone who’s ever lived. And, to be fair, it’s true. You don’t necessarily need to be a parent to enjoy quality comedy. Who doesn’t love a good meme or ten?

#4

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

#5

Image credits: mattwalshblog

#6

Image credits: Kids_kubed

No matter if you’re a brand new parent or a parenting veteran, it’s essential that you remember: you aren’t alone. Not only are your family, friends, and acquaintances there to support you emotionally (and sometimes physically) when you need it, but the internet is also chock-full of groups, communities, and friendly folks who are there to hear you out.

People who are there to offer advice or simply listen to you vent are invaluable. Especially if they actively listen to you and don’t judge you for your mistakes—something that we all make.

#7

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

#8

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

#9

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

When it comes to parenting, ideally, you want to find a balance between clear rules and expectations on the one hand and a nurturing environment full of unconditional love on the other. That way, your children can thrive and grow into more independent and confident adults than if they only have just tough rules or unlimited support at home.

#10

Image credits: bessbell

#11

Image credits: HenpeckedHal

#12

Image credits: HenpeckedHal

Authoritative parenting is one of four main styles of raising children (alongside authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved parenting), and it’s this particular approach that embodies the idea of balance.

Authoritative parents essentially establish very clear guidelines for what kind of behavior is acceptable and not. They’re calmly assertive and provide their kids with a sense of predictability and stability.

#13

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

#14

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

#15

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

What’s more, authoritative parents are also incredibly big on proper communication. They’re super transparent. They take their children’s thoughts and feelings into account.

And they put in the time and effort to talk to their kids about expectations, the consequences of their actions, and anything else that’s important. On top of that, they are incredibly supportive, loving, and warm.

#16

Image credits: HenpeckedHal

#17

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

#18

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

Typically, children who grow up in authoritative households end up thriving immensely as they grow into adults. They have good emotional well-being, their self-esteem is healthy, and they have a proper understanding of who they are as individuals, beyond their achievements.

What’s more, they are more emotionally resilient, confident, mentally healthy, and excel academically.

#19

Image credits: michimama75

#20

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

#21

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

While authoritative parenting is the metaphorical holy grail of raising kids well, other styles don’t fare as well. For example, authoritarian parenting cuts out a lot of the warmth and communication at home while focusing almost exclusively on strict rules and regulations.

There’s an expectation for kids to follow their parents’ demands without question. This can lead to disciplined kids, but the downside includes potential self-esteem issues, anger problems, or a propensity towards lying.

#22

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

#23

Image credits: pastoralcomical

#24

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

Permissive parenting is the opposite of the authoritarian approach: these parents see their children more as their friends. They can be incredibly supportive and loving, but this comes at the expense of most (if not all) rules and expectations at home.

These parents are super forgiving and extremely lenient, and their children tend to have issues with authority figures in the future. Furthermore, they might also develop health issues, as permissive parents rarely interfere in their lives to offer guidance.

#25

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

#26

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

#27

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

The worst of the four styles is uninvolved parenting, which essentially means parents not acting like parents in any shape or form. There are no rules at home. There’s barely any love or warmth to be found. And the adults at home are simply not present, whether due to personal issues or work. Kids who grow up in these households tend to be hyper independent, but they’re also often unhappy, have behavior problems, do poorly academically, and have trouble maintaining relationships.

#28

Image credits: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeadad/

#29

Image credits: Average_Dad1

#30

Image credits: dadmann_walking

Which of these parenting memes made you chuckle the most, dear Pandas? Which ones did you find to be the most reliable? What, for you personally, have been the biggest upsides and challenges of becoming a parent?

What advice would you give anyone who’s completely new to all of this and feeling a tad overwhelmed? We’d love to hear your thoughts!