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James Breakwell, a dad of 4 girls, is the creator of the Exploding Unicorn project and one of the best-known parents on the internet. He’s witty. He’s insightful. And odds are that you’ve seen some of his hilariously relatable posts floating by on your social media feeds. If you’re anything like us, he got a good chuckle out of you.

The professional comedy writer shows how much fun parenting really is, no matter the challenges and emotional rollercoaster rides, by sharing the very best conversations he has with his daughters. Daily talks about your favorite dinosaurs? Yes, please! We’ve collected some of James’ top recent tweets to share with you, Pandas. Get ready to have your mood boosted, scroll down, and don’t forget to upvote your fave posts!

Bored Panda got in touch with James for a quick chat about what helps his tweets stand out from the crowd, how he balances parenting and writing, and what new projects he's currently working on. Read on to check out our interview with him.

More info: ExplodingUnicorn.com | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Books | Substack

James told Bored Panda that what helps him stand out the most is how relatable and to-the-point his posts are. People really enjoy short-form content because they're so busy all the time.

"I convey my parenting disasters in a way that's relatable and, more importantly, short," he said.

"Parents are pressed for time. I condense big stories into small tweets. That's why readers keep coming back," the writer explained how he stands out from other creators.

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    James seems to find a great balance between being a parent and managing one of the most well-known comedy brands on the internet. However, he's a parent like everyone else. The reality is that he's just as pressed for time as everyone else is! He does his best to juggle parenting and writing, and sometimes even sacrifices sleep. We were curious how he approaches this and what advice he'd give other parents.

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    "You'll never feel like there's enough time because there's not enough time. You can't do it all," he explained.

    "The secret is that no one else can, either, no matter what they claim on their posts about their 'perfect' life on Facebook and Instagram. I make time by writing on my phone while hanging out with my kids and also by staying up later than them," the writer said.

    "But ultimately, I sacrifice sleep to be productive. Something always has to give."

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    Meanwhile, the founder of Exploding Unicorn gave us a peek into what he's currently working on. "The best place to follow me is on Substack, where I flesh out my short stories into epic tales that will definitely make you glad you're not me," he said that this is where you can find some more long-form content.

    "I'm also working on a sequel to my sci-fi debut, 'The Chosen Twelve.' Finally, my first children's picture book, 'You Can't Be a Pterodactyl,' comes out in July."

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    #9

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    Alison Hell
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How does hair get this bad?? No, I never had a daughter but I do have hair lol.

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    It’s safe to say that the Exploding Unicorn project has been a massive success. James has nearly a million followers on Twitter, almost 300k fans on Facebook, and over 156k devoted internet users follow him on Instagram.

    Good humor, consistent posting, and relatable stories are what help James’ posts stand out from the crowd online. James started up his Twitter account in 2012. In 2016, it went viral and he became of the most popular dads on the planet.

    #11

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    Rats Inc
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i eat popcorn with chopsticks. i started doing it as a child though i dont know exactly when.

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    #12

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    Shyla Bouche
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ouch! That's what I said to my dad over 45 years ago in the same situation.

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    Recently, Bored Panda got in touch with writer James, the founder of Exploding Unicorn, for a chat about his family and parenting style.

    “I would describe my parenting style as one of loving neglect," he quipped during an earlier interview with us.

    "I’m the opposite of a helicopter parent. I’m more of an observe-from-a-safe-distance parent. That way, my kids develop a sense of independence and learn from their mistakes, all while I’m outside the blast zone,” he opened up.

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    "My own parents were very laid back. They never pressured me in any way, yet I excelled at many things. I also failed—hard—at an exhaustive list of activities," James told Bored Panda earlier.

    "My mom and dad gave me the freedom to figure out who I was and what I wanted to do. That’s a large part of the reason I’m a comedy writer today. So basically they ruined my life,” he joked.

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    Helicopter parenting is what happens when grownups become overly involved in their children’s lives and try to protect them from even minor inconveniences and failures.

    Unfortunately, this leads to kids growing up shy, timid, and poorly equipped to handle things on their own. It makes for a more difficult life when they have to leave home for college or when they have to find a job.

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    MellonCollie
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Damn, these are relatable with an 11-year-old and a 9-year old at home ;-)

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    One way to tackle this issue is to consciously give them more independence. Parents can let go of their need for control by taking a step back, one area at a time, and seeing how they handle themselves. You’re always there to support your kids if things go wrong.

    But you shouldn’t rush to solve every tiny little problem for them before they’ve had a chance to take a go at it. Kids are capable of far more than some parents give them credit for.

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    During another interview, James told Bored Panda about the success that the Exploding Unicorn family comedy project has enjoyed. According to the founder, relatability is what makes so many enjoy his content.

    "Everybody’s kids are weird. No matter what strange, hilarious thing your kid did, somebody else’s kid probably did something just like it," he said.

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    #23

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    ohjojo (you/your's)
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Adolescent females are very tender. Enter with caution. You could be setting her up for life

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    "That’s why so many people relate to my tweets. They’re living the same experience every day, if not with their own kids, then through some other kids they know or maybe even through memories of their own childhoods,” James shared with Bored Panda.

    "There’s a fine line between complaining about parenting and celebrating the struggle. Even in the most frustrating moments, I try to put a positive spin on it. Laughing is better than having a nervous breakdown."

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    #30

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    Stary_cat
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I got one when I was 12, kids I know had iPads a laptop and phone at age 3 some kids are a bit spoiled in my opinion

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    We’re big fans of Exploding Unicorn here at Bored Panda. If you’d like to see some more of James’ fun posts, check out our earlier articles about his tweets here, here, and here, as well as here and here.

    Meanwhile, tell us what you think of his latest tweets. Which of his posts did you enjoy the most? Which parenting struggles do you relate to the most? Share your thoughts in the comments, Pandas!

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    #31

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    Bols
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Haha :D my 4yo recently told me "Mom I'm going to do something which will make you think I'll break my neck so please don't look" xD

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    #34

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    Shyla Bouche
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd let her play in the snow. How often do kids even want to play real things anymore? It's all video.

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    #36

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    ohjojo (you/your's)
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Probably letting them know that the more invisible they are the sooner they might get their stuff back

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    #47

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    ohjojo (you/your's)
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can repair it. There is such an item to fix a shrunken sweater. Because you might do it again anyway

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    #49

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    FoxThatHasFennecaphobia
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    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    True story here: Once we took a field trip and 80% of the time we were on the bus... the other 20% we were eating lunch. Edit: The field trip (bus and lunch) was 8 hours long.

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    #61

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    that weird wallflower
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well my parents actually never let me watch the news so I never know what is going on. I rely on you pandas to tell me

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    #65

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    #69

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    Shyla Bouche
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How dare you! By any chance, was the meat bacon? I'd pay you for that sandwich.

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    #74

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    that weird wallflower
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But... but... You can't wear a sweater to bed! You won't be able to sleep!...