These pictures, of course, are meant as light-hearted jokes, but if we were to get serious for a moment, Jeffrey Bernstein, Ph.D., who is a nationally recognized parent coach, and psychologist, says that parents should really strive to understand their child; it's an important part of helping them become secure and healthy because it not only shows them you love them but also encourages them to love themself.

To make us see how important feeling understood has been in our own lives, Bernstein provides the following questions: Who most understood your feelings, needs, and desires as you were growing up? How did you feel about the person who understood you the most? Who least understood your feelings, needs, and desires as you were growing up? How did you feel about the person who understood you the least?

Reflecting on these questions should help us to fully appreciate the value of understanding a child. He ends the list with these questions: How did feeling understood help you to behave in an appropriate manner? Did feeling misunderstood ever influence you to make poor choices or to behave in an inappropriate manner? If you answered yes, what did you do?

"As you'll probably see by your responses to the above questions, feeling understood provides us with the emotional leverage to do our best to make good choices and do the right thing on a daily basis," Bernstein concludes. "No child or teen ever complains to me that his or her parents show too much understanding and emotional support."

Of course, parents can't be prepared for everything. Every now and then, kids will behave in a way that completely throws moms and dads off guard. Vicki Broadbent, a mom, TV Broadcaster, founder of HonestMum.com, and author of The Working Mom: Your Guide To Surviving and Thriving At Work and At Home, thinks the key in these situations is to respond, and not react to your child. "It can be hard when they're having a meltdown publicly for example but it's a learned behavior you can practice and achieve," she told Bored Panda.

"I've learned, two kids later, to take a few deep breaths, take 5, so my response is usually a calm one. In time, if you behave that way consistently, your child will mirror you so tantrums become more infrequent, and shorter when they arise," Broadbent described her course of action. "I've been teaching my children (ages 11 and 8) how to take deep breaths, encouraging them to self-soothe when they feel anxious or worried."

"Ultimately, children, like us, want to be listened to [and] vent as we do, they will experience bad, challenging days and will feel frustrated and upset by them. Your kids want to know that your love is unconditional and that they are emotionally safe with you. Your job is to prove that to them every day," Broadbent explained.

However, if you do have concerns over your child's behavior and if they are consistently doing something out of the ordinary, have speech delays, are crying for long periods of time, or appear in pain, the Honest Mum thinks you just need to speak to your doctor and investigate.

"Many behaviors that might seem odd to you are simply formative milestones (children having fun, exploring the world around them) but if you're worried, seek help as your child could be unwell, have learning difficulties, etc. Trust your parental gut instinct, it won't let you down."