Parenting
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Sometimes kids don’t even know how funny they are; at times they don’t realize how cruel they are, either. The fun part about it all is that, as a parent, you can never know which of their sides you get to deal with next; and they can reveal it at times when you expect it the least.
Take picking them up from school, for instance. You, as a mom or a dad, are there to bring your little one home, excited to see them, when they open the car door and express their great disappointment that it’s you and not the other parent here today. While that might not seem like much to others, it feels like a little—uncalled for, I might add—dagger to your heart.
This is just one of the many scenarios of what happens when it’s pick up hour. Today we have an entire list of them, as described by the parents themselves, so scroll down to find them and see for yourself what the often surprising reality of life with children looks like.
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#1
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Me Me Community Member Follow
We had this for the first two years of kindergarten- when my husband picked them up it was "where is mama????" , when I was there "where is papa????"
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#2
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Almost sunny Almost sunny Community Member
Oh my god I just found out bored panda has a night mode!! Awesome
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#3
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ILoveMySon ILoveMySon Community Member Follow
This comment has been deleted.
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It’s clear to any parent—or anyone who’s spent more than 20 minutes with a child, for that matter—that there’s never a dull moment with kids. That’s why the internet is brimming with heartwarming parenting stories, funny posts on X (formerly Twitter), and messages in family group chats, too, regarding the latest adventures of the littlest ones in the clan. And while the seemingly never-ending state of disarray typically entails the good, the bad, and the ugly, it’s a reality many parents wouldn’t change for anything.
#4
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justanotherweirdo justanotherweirdo Community Member Follow
I hate saying my name out loud. My name is unusual, and I don’t dislike my name, I just don’t like saying it out loud. Don’t ask me why, it’s one of those things that I’m uncomfortable with for absolutely no reason at all, lol 😂
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#5
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Kylie Kylie Community Member Follow
I'm a night worker/day sleeper and I feel this when I pick up my grandson.
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According to Pew Research Center, the absolute majority of parents find such a role to be rewarding. Though, moms and dads seem to view parenting differently in regards to how difficult it is, as 30% of the former say that it’s been a lot harder than they thought it would be vs. 20% of dads saying the same thing. Mothers seem to find it more tiring and stressful, too. ADVERTIsem*nT
#6
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Farah Kamal Farah Kamal Community Member Follow
ok... lol
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#7
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Jack Burton Jack Burton Community Member Follow
So freakin much
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#8
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Hmmm hmmmm Hmmm hmmmm Community Member Follow
BP reaction : We need a banana for scale
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There can be many reasons for the differences between how moms and dads see their role as a parent, which is why it’s difficult to determine why women find it all more stressful than their male counterparts. And while the reasons are unclear, the proof speaks for itself. Take the parent behind ‘On Adventure With Dad’, for instance: while his partner—the mother of their child—was worried about the little one, the dad was busy working with Photoshop, creating funny (maybe not at first sight) images of their baby (while making sure that the latter was safe and sound, of course). His works grew into quite an impressive—and adorable—collection over time, as did his family, which now has two main stars featured in pictures regularly sent to their worrying mom. (Read more about the dad, Kenny Deuss from Antwerp, Belgium, here, here, or here.)
#9
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That tiny x on the pop up add That tiny x on the pop up add Community Member Follow
"So that's why it was so peaceful!"
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#10
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A pug with bananas A pug with bananas Community Member Follow
EVIL
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#11
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justanotherweirdo justanotherweirdo Community Member Follow
At least he loves you?
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It’s clear that dads always find a way to keep themselves and others entertained. So, unsurprisingly, dad jokes have imperceptibly become a thing. But as painful or cringe as their jokes sometimes are, being exposed to dad humor at an early age can arguably have a positive effect on a child. Studies suggest that since dad jokes rarely fail to embarrass their offspring, they can actually work to the latter’s advantage, as they build up a strong immunity to judgment and embarrassment, which consequently makes the kids feel empowered to be themselves.
#12
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Headless Horseman Headless Horseman Community Member Follow
I ended up 2 hours away from home on a train that day. Turns out it was the wrong train
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#13
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Dominik Dominik Community Member Follow
what is this pick up culture in the US about? too long to go by bike and by themselves? too scared of crimes when kids are on their own? infrastructure only allows by car? what else?
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#14
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Sheila who? Sheila who? Community Member Follow
My favorite was almost getting clean away but just as they were getting out of the care,it was proportional to the busyness of my day the urgency of the next statement." oh yeah, mom, I forgot, you need to come on in and talk to my teacher / principal/guidance person/ etc and no I have no clue about what. "
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According to the aforementioned research, fathers seem to enjoy embarrassing their kids to some extent, which, in an unexpected way, makes it a win-win for both the child with a strong immunity to awkwardness and judgment and the dad who’s just made their own day a little bit more fun. ADVERTIsem*nT “Dad jokes are aimed at evoking embarrassment, but the children cringing at the joke are not its ultimate audience. The real audience of a dad joke is in fact the joke-teller, the dad, who suffers no cringe but rather delights in the embarrassment of his offspring,” the study read in part.
#15
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Rick Rick Community Member Follow
Great time for a nap.
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#16
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Panda Kicki Panda Kicki Community Member Follow
Sounds reasonable.However, I am confused why so many have to go to school for pickup. Here the kids either take school bus or school taxi depending on age and distance to school. Only time my kids dont get home in a (free) taxi is if they get sick and need a puck up early.
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#17
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My O My My O My Community Member Follow
How does the 5yo find the right car? I mean, no easier time for kidnapping
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In one of his pieces, titled ‘A Dad Defends Dad Jokes’, an author and a critic at large for the Culture section of The Times, Jason Zinoman, suggested that the reason kids tend to roll their eyes at their fathers’ jokes—especially at an older age—is because dads get somewhat stuck in time. They find something that works when their offspring is little and more or less stick to it; and while it doesn't change much over time, their kids obviously do. “Like so many lazy comics, we parents pander. If jokes work, they stay in the set,” Zinoman wrote.
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Kylie Kylie Community Member Follow
Or muttering "That's NOT a parking spot dingus".
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#19
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Idgafwyt AllDat'N'ABagOfChips Idgafwyt AllDat'N'ABagOfChips Community Member Follow
I'm like this if I'm stuck in a line of traffic. For example, I live in a very popular tourist destination and there are only 2 bridges to get here. So in the summer, especially, traffic can be backed up for miles and you think that you're special or your time is more valuable, fùck you. I will gladly let you hit my car before you think you're going to cut in, I am not the one. Then they want to sit there and be mad at me, laying on the horn because how dare I not them get their way. It would be great if they built another bridge or a tunnel or something, that can only be accessed by locals, those that live here year round. Every year I look forward to but also dread the summer time.
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#20
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Anikulapo Anikulapo Community Member Follow
Don’t you have fancy going-out pyjamas ?
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Whether it’s dad jokes or kids creating comical situations themselves, it all boils down to the fact that life with children is indeed a seemingly never ending state of disarray; however, it’s definitely not all struggles and sleepless nights. If you need more proof, check out this list of some of the most hilarious things children have ever said or browse this one featuring little ones who don’t know how funny they are.
#21
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General Anaesthesia General Anaesthesia Community Member Follow
Better than Uranus in Gatorade, no? [my abject apologies]
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#22
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Michael Largey Michael Largey Community Member Follow
This often applies to both the child and adult in question as well.
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#23
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Chumbo Chumbo Community Member Follow
Weird flex but okay
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#24
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C S C S Community Member Follow
They curse
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#25
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AtMostAFabulist AtMostAFabulist Community Member Follow
Bwahahahaha
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#26
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Headless Horseman Headless Horseman Community Member Follow
🎵
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#27
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J. Grawn J. Grawn Community Member Follow
Geez, we walked with friends or rode bikes to school. Carried our books. No backpacks. There was no pick up line. Just teenagers who got their license driving to school and home with friends from the school parking lot. Other kids walked home.
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#28
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Brian Droste Brian Droste Community Member Follow
Lol lol lol.
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#29
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#30
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Zobi123 Zobi123 Community Member Follow
I know these are meant to be funny, but (assuming all these stories are in the States), it really is sad how much time adults have to spend in cars just to get their kids to school. A symptom of our car-centric infrastructure.
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Aspiring Canuck Aspiring Canuck Community Member Follow
I don’t get driving kids to and from school. I’ve seen no statistics proving that kids walking or taking the bus (or other transit) are more likely to be harmed now than when I was a kid in the 70s. There weren’t lines of idling gas guzzlers waiting at schools back then. We walked, we explored, and we got some exercise. It was a good thing.
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nottheactualphoto nottheactualphoto Community Member Follow
Same here. Who drives their kids to school? My parents didn't have the time, or a car. I walked, and later took the subway.
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Gavin Johnson Gavin Johnson Community Member Follow
Is walking to school not a thing then? My daughter walked to Primary School, 5-10 year olds and now gets the bus to High School 11-15 year olds as her school is a lot further away. We live in a slightly rural location so there’s a few who have to get a lift into school but the vast majority walk or get the bus.
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Cat Chat Cat Chat Community Member Follow
Some (a lot?) of these might be pick up line for preschool and kindergarten which generally requires kids to be picked up. That can be anywhere from 3 or 4 to 6 years old.
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Aerial (Any pronouns/Canadian/Jewish) Aerial (Any pronouns/Canadian/Jewish) Community Member
For people who are saying 'why don't kids walk to school?' - I live an hour's walk away from my school. My dad drives everyone in in the morning, and then my brother and I take the bus back after. It's just more efficient.
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John Harrison John Harrison Community Member Follow
But we're not asking about exceptional situations like that. We're asking about the majority of situations where, were it 20-30 years ago, the kids would be walking or taking the bus, and now they're being driven both ways by their parents.
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Aspiring Canuck Aspiring Canuck Community Member Follow
I don’t get driving kids to and from school. I’ve seen no statistics proving that kids walking or taking the bus (or other transit) are more likely to be harmed now than when I was a kid in the 70s. There weren’t lines of idling gas guzzlers waiting at schools back then. We walked, we explored, and we got some exercise. It was a good thing.
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nottheactualphoto nottheactualphoto Community Member Follow
Same here. Who drives their kids to school? My parents didn't have the time, or a car. I walked, and later took the subway.
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Gavin Johnson Gavin Johnson Community Member Follow
Is walking to school not a thing then? My daughter walked to Primary School, 5-10 year olds and now gets the bus to High School 11-15 year olds as her school is a lot further away. We live in a slightly rural location so there’s a few who have to get a lift into school but the vast majority walk or get the bus.
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Cat Chat Cat Chat Community Member Follow
Some (a lot?) of these might be pick up line for preschool and kindergarten which generally requires kids to be picked up. That can be anywhere from 3 or 4 to 6 years old.
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Aerial (Any pronouns/Canadian/Jewish) Aerial (Any pronouns/Canadian/Jewish) Community Member
For people who are saying 'why don't kids walk to school?' - I live an hour's walk away from my school. My dad drives everyone in in the morning, and then my brother and I take the bus back after. It's just more efficient.
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John Harrison John Harrison Community Member Follow
But we're not asking about exceptional situations like that. We're asking about the majority of situations where, were it 20-30 years ago, the kids would be walking or taking the bus, and now they're being driven both ways by their parents.
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