ADVERTISEMENT

A good parent is someone who strives to make decisions in the best interest of their child. But that doesn't mean moms and dads have to be perfect. Nobody is. Not even their children. Mistakes are bound to happen, the important part is to learn from them... and have a good chuckle!

Realizing the benefit of being able to laugh at ourselves, we at Bored Panda have dedicated an entire series to funny parents. Each month, we compile a list of their honest, humorous tweets, and let me tell you—March has been exceptionally generous. Continue scrolling to check out the entries and after you're done, fire up our February and January lists for more giggles.

However, what if you do make a parenting mistake and can't stop thinking about it even after venting on Twitter? Well, Vicki Broadbent, a writer, director, broadcaster, and founder of the parenting blog Honest Mum, believes the fact that you are even worrying about being a good parent is testimony to the fact that you are a good parent.

"Please remember you're a human too and will have good and bad days. Be kind to yourself so you can be kind to others and that means forgiving yourself when you mess up," the author of The Working Mom: Your Guide to Surviving and Thriving at Work and at Home told Bored Panda.

#3

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

HenpeckedHal Report

According to the Honest Mum whose also on Instagram, you are a composite of your own life experiences and upbringing, those formative childhood years and beyond, and a lot of parenting can feel triggering. "Your child is left out at school for example, and it reminds you of being bullied." So question your reactions.

ADVERTISEMENT

Speaking from her own experience, Vicki said therapy has helped her own parenting style hugely. She was able to work through issues, allowing herself to recognize if she's projecting or feeling triggered when it comes to her own parenting/children's behavior. And that allows her to change her responses.

#5

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

LizerReal Report

"It has also helped me to be a more sympathetic, calmer parent," Broadbent said. "Children require unconditional love and direction. They thrive on boundaries and routine and they require honesty. You want your children to trust and respect you. They need to know where they stand so they can feel emotionally safe at all times."

"When you mess up, be honest, explain your behavior. For example, 'Sorry, I didn't mean to shout but I didn't sleep well last night and I had a stressful situation at work today.' And if you lost your temper due to your child misbehaving, take some deep breaths and explain in an age-appropriate way how what they are doing makes you feel. Focus on your own emotions so they can empathize with you and also see you as a human being, just like them."

ADVERTISEMENT
#8

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

MumInBits Report

ADVERTISEMENT

Illustrate what you mean, Vicki advised, use examples to back up your feelings so your child can understand your position. 'Remember the time you cried when your brother wouldn't listen to your story and you kept telling it to him over and over again, and felt ignored and cried. Well, that's how I feel when you ignore me when I'm calling you for dinner'.

"Warn your child when they are behaving badly then choose an appropriate punishment: stopping tech time for a period or making them take a time-out. Giving them the opportunity to remedy their behavior is fair and allows them to feel they have a chance to do better."

#9

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

jaime_berry3 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#10

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

sarcasticmommy4 Report

#11

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

lmegordon Report

#12

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

StoneAgeRadio13 Report

Vicki Broadbent thinks you shouldn't label your kid as 'a bad child'. Instead, you can label their behaviour as bad, unkind, or even thoughtless. Also, have realistic expectations from your child too: toddlers and teens are constantly going through great developmental changes, physically and emotionally so acting up is natural.

"Often it's about having the patience and understanding to tolerate the tougher times, and also seeing the behaviour as a call for help: for love, time, space or all three sometimes," Broadbent said. "My eldest behaved stroppily over tech time recently and it was only when I stopped reacting to his behaviour and started responding more gently that he opened up and said he wasn't actually upset over gaming but something that happened at school (which we later tackled together). Look behind the behaviour. Yours and theirs and don't forget that parenting requires a lot of detective work!"

ADVERTISEMENT
#13

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

thearibradford Report

#14

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

thedad Report

#15

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

CrockettForReal Report

#16

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

Laura Markham, who has earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University and has worked as a parenting coach with thousands of parents, said you don't have to make up for not being a perfect parent. Perfect just gets in the way of love, she said. Try to remember that joy comes from appreciating the wonder in all those miraculous moments that are disguised as everyday life.

"The key is letting go of your need to be perfect and offering emotional generosity every chance you get, to everyone around you—including yourself," Markham wrote.

ADVERTISEMENT
#17

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

mommajessiec Report

#18

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

momsense_ensues Report

#19

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

brofromanother Report

#20

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

HenpeckedHal Report

#21

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

thedad Report

#22

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

mom_ontherocks Report

#23

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

dtmooreeditor Report

#24

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

Chhapiness Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#25

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

BunAndLeggings Report

#26

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#27

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#28

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

pro_worrier_ Report

#29

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

HenpeckedHal Report

#30

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

MumInBits Report

#31

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

Dad_At_Law Report

#32

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

MumInBits Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#33

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

toddedillard Report

#34

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

mommajessiec Report

#35

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#36

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#37

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#38

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

threetimedaddy Report

#39

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

simoncholland Report

#40

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#41

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#42

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#43

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

MommySatirical Report

#44

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

LizerReal Report

#45

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#46

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

ElyKreimendahl Report

#47

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

HenpeckedHal Report

#48

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#49

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

Kehlani Report

Add photo comments
POST
Jo Johannsen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some of my fondest memories is of my mother and I going into the kitchen after everyone else left for the weekend (visitation) to make a "kitchen sink" salad and share it, along with hot tea and buttered saltines. It was a ritual for us - none of my siblings cared for salad.

View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#53

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

Average_Dad1 Report

#56

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

Daisyldoo Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#60

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

thedad Report

Add photo comments
POST
#61

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

simoncholland Report

#63

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

mom_tho Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#67

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

Dad_At_Law Report

#68

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

ThisOneSayz Report

#71

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

thedad Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#76

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

pro_worrier_ Report

#80

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

alicelowe Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#81

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

bessbell Report

#83

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

mom_tho Report

Add photo comments
POST
#84

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

thedad Report

#86

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

Lhlodder Report

#88

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

sarabellab123 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#91

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

HenpeckedHal Report

#95

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

ksujulie Report

#96

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

RodLacroix Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#97

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

Tired_Dad_of_2 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#98

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

HenpeckedHal Report

#99

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

treydayway Report

#100

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

MotherPlaylist Report

#101

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

Mom_Overboard Report

#102

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

HenpeckedHal Report

#103

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#104

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#105

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#106

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

pro_worrier_ Report

#107

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

LizerReal Report

#108

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

BunAndLeggings Report

#109

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#110

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#111

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

TheCatWhisprer Report

#112

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

HomeWithPeanut Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#113

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

TheCatWhisprer Report

#114

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

HenpeckedHal Report

Add photo comments
POST
#115

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

Add photo comments
POST
#116

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#117

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#118

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

LetMeStart Report

#119

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

mom_tho Report

#120

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#121

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

copymama Report

#122

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

copymama Report

#123

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

LifeThrewLemons Report

Add photo comments
POST
#124

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

thearibradford Report

#125

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

Add photo comments
POST
#126

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

pro_worrier_ Report

#127

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

Go0nerette Report

#128

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

HenpeckedHal Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#129

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

Chhapiness Report

Add photo comments
POST
#130

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

Add photo comments
POST
#131

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

MotherPlaylist Report

#132

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

Add photo comments
POST
#133

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

simoncholland Report

Add photo comments
POST
#134

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

RodLacroix Report

#135

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

reallifemommy3 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#136

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

Average_Dad1 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#137

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

sarcasticmommy4 Report

#138

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

MumInBits Report

#139

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

StoneAgeRadio13 Report

#140

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

thedad Report

Add photo comments
POST
#141

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

Chhapiness Report

#142

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

RodLacroix Report

Add photo comments
POST
#143

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

MumInBits Report

#144

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

HenpeckedHal Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#145

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

XplodingUnicorn Report

#146

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

notmythirdrodeo Report

Add photo comments
POST
#147

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

MotherPlaylist Report

Add photo comments
POST
#148

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

mom_tho Report

#149

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

meenaharris Report

#151

Parenting-Tweets-Of-The-Month-March

HenpeckedHal Report

ADVERTISEMENT

Remember, it's OK even if you need to vent online—Vicki Broadbent of Honest Mum said the fact you are even worrying about being a good parent is testimony to the fact that you are a good parent

Image credits: honestmum