Some parents have been working non-stop from the start of December. Elf on the Shelf, writing letters to Santa, making costumes for whatever program the school came up with this year. It's like a marathon, and I didn't even mention getting presents for everybody. So it's understandable they vent their frustrations online.
That's why we decided to bring you the funniest posts on X (Twitter) from parents about Santa. Children have a unique perspective on that whole ordeal about a man who supposedly "watches you when you sleep" and somehow knows if you've been good this year. And parents sometimes have the funniest reactions to their children's hot takes. So check out these Holly Jolly posts from parents about Santa that we picked out for you, pandas!
Bored Panda reached out to two moms whose posts you will see in this list: Jillian Kalbaugh, aka Mommeh Dearest, and the woman behind the Stories Of A Mediocre Mom page Amanda Marcotte. They were kind enough to tell us more about what it's like creating funny parenting content on social media.
More info: Mommeh Dearest | Stories Of A Mediocre Mom
#1
Image credits: PaigeKellerman
Funny parenting content from X (Twitter) is a staple here at Bored Panda. But since it's a few days until Christmas, we've decided to hit you with some Santa-related content. We have to admit that Santa Claus is a strange and funny concept for children to conceptualize. So it's no surprise many funny posts can come out of parent-child interactions about it.
We reached out to two moms who regularly post funny things on X (Twitter), Instagram and other social platforms. Jillian and Amanda told us more about how they started posting funny interactions with their kids on social media and how it has helped them through tough times.
#2
Image credits: RodLacroix
#3
Image credits: simoncholland
The ladies have quite different origin stories of becoming 'a funny parent on X (Twitter)'. Jillian says seeing other parents post funny things inspired her. "I started Twitter as a release to get these silly thoughts out of my head," she told Bored Panda. "I had seen articles online about funny parenting tweets and thought, ‘I could do that’. And that turned my account into a parenting humor account."
Amanda's journey is a bit different. "Writing on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook all came from a weird time for me postpartum," she tells us. "I'd be up all night and thinking 'There is no way I'm the only one going through this nonsense.' It started from trying to laugh my way through motherhood when I'd otherwise be a mess."
#4
Image credits: maryfairybobrry
#5
Image credits: moderately_mom
#6
Image credits: Tired_Dad_of_2
Since the Internet is never predictable, both moms get all kinds of reactions to their posts. "With every joke I tweet, there is always someone who refuses to be fun and takes everything seriously which leads to judgment and harsh words," Jillian admits. "I usually brush the hate off or I like to come back with a sassy reply that kills them with kindness."
#7
Image credits: storiesofamom
#8
Image credits: BunAndLeggings
#9
Image credits: parrspective
Amanda's opinion is similar. "I've certainly encountered challenges. There are always comments from people saying, 'If you hate parenting so much, why'd you have kids?’ There are people who take things so dang seriously – we're all here to laugh so we don't cry," the mom quips. "But for the most part, I've met like-minded parents who are also navigating this tricky life and it's been amazing."
#10
Image credits: XplodingUnicorn
#11
Image credits: maryfairybobrry
#12
Image credits: XplodingUnicorn
Approaching the struggles of parenting with humor helps both Jillian and Amanda keep their sanity. The Mommeh Dearest believes that it also helps parents feel like they are not alone. "I think we can all connect through humor," she says. "So when I see other parents make jokes about their kids, I know those parents love their kids but they need that slight release which is humor."
#13
Image credits: XplodingUnicorn
#14
Image credits: storiesofamom
#15
Image credits: Mommy__Owl
Amanda says that being funny about parenting helps parents take the edge off. "Humor helps us to remember not to take everything so seriously," she tells us. "There's so much stress in trying to raise good humans.
Whether it's making sure we're feeding them the right food, not giving too much screen time, reading to them the proper amount, helping them with coping skills – there's just a lot of pressure."
#16
Image credits: Cheeseboy22
#17
Image credits: clhubes
#18
Image credits: thedad
"So humor really lets us forget about that for a while," Amanda says. "And reminds us that we're all learning – and it's a process, and sometimes that process is joyful and funny and sometimes it's a mess and funny."
Amanda also says that X (Twitter) and Instagram can be a place to say things she wouldn't otherwise say out loud. "I say the stuff I say on Twitter and Instagram so it doesn't come out at my kids," she says and laughs. "It's like group therapy with 46,000 of my closest friends."
#19
Image credits: XplodingUnicorn
#20
Image credits: Dad_At_Law
#21
Image credits: Cheeseboy22
Many of the posts in this list tackle quite a serious task the parents face: how and if at all to tell their kids Santa is not real. Luckily, psychology professors Candice Mills and Thalia R. Goldstein did two studies about debunking the Santa myth.
In the first study, Mills and Goldstein spoke to children aged 6-15. They asked them how they felt about recently learning that Santa is, in fact, not real. The second study involved conversations with adults ages 18-76. They had to reflect on their childhood experiences upon learning the Santa myth.
#22
Image credits: House_Feminist
#23
Image credits: bekindofwitty
#24
Image credits: stayathomies
The major finding in both studies pertained to both children and adults. They expressed sadness and disappointment upon learning Santa isn't real, but the feeling was short-lived. "Children often shifted their focus to other aspects of the holiday season that they enjoyed, like gift-giving and family traditions," Mills and Goldstein write.
#25
Image credits: gfishandnuggets
#26
Image credits: maryfairybobrry
#27
Image credits: mommy_cusses
Mills and Goldstein have some advice for parents on how to tell their kids the truth about Santa. First, be mindful of their age. 7 or 8 is the usual age when they might stop believing it. Keep in mind that the older the child gets, the more negatively they might feel upon finding out the truth.
#28
Image credits: Clanopath
#29
Image credits: saltymermaident
#30
Image credits: RodLacroix
They might be angry at the hypocrisy that their parents lied for so long while telling them that lying is bad. The psychologists recommend telling children why they have included Santa in their holiday traditions.
"Blurring the line between fantasy and reality is a normal part of being a young kid," the psychologists write. So as long as the children know their parents just wanted to inject some magic into their lives, there shouldn't be much bitterness.
#31
Image credits: elamin88
#32
Image credits: lgfeech
#33
Image credits: SeHablaRob
#34
Image credits: ScaryMommy
#35
Image credits: mommeh_dearest
#36
Image credits: Chhapiness
#37
Image credits: dadmann_walking
#38
Image credits: rcromwell4
#39
Image credits: daddydoubts
#40
Image credits: HenpeckedHal
#41
Image credits: NewDadNotes
#42
Image credits: Manda_like_wine
#43
Image credits: DaddysinCharge
#44
Image credits: XplodingUnicorn
#45
Image credits: thedadvocate01
#46
Image credits: XplodingUnicorn
#47
Image credits: PadmaLakshmi
#48
Image credits: mommajessiec
#49
Image credits: SpacePlankton
#50
Image credits: JasonIsbell
#51
Image credits: momtransparent1
#52
Image credits: momtransparent1
#53
Image credits: gfishandnuggets
#54
Image credits: BunAndLeggings
#55
Image credits: TheMomHack
#56
Image credits: thedad
#57
Image credits: UnfilteredMama
#58
Image credits: mom_tho
#59
Image credits: TheAlexNevil
#60
Image credits: Manda_like_wine
#61
Image credits: deloisivete
#62
Image credits: PaigeKellerman
#63
Image credits: PetrickSara
#64
Image credits: jiffywild
#65
Image credits: GetDianeFarr
#66
Image credits: yenniwhite
#67
Image credits: david8hughes
#68
Image credits: thedad
#69
Image credits: thedadvocate01
#70
Image credits: Dad_At_Law
#71
Image credits: wildrainbow2
#72
Image credits: OneFunnyMummy
#73
Image credits: RodLacroix
#74
Image credits: UnfilteredMama
#75
Image credits: WalkingOutside
#76
Image credits: SardonicTart
#77
Image credits: JimGaffigan
#78
Image credits: adult_mom
#79
Image credits: XplodingUnicorn
#80
Image credits: Cheeseboy22
#81
Image credits: TheCatWhisprer
#82
Image credits: AndyRichter
#83
Image credits: Mommy__Owl
#84
Image credits: UnrealZachWard
#85
Image credits: Cheeseboy22
#86
Image credits: dooce
#87
Image credits: Brianhopecomedy
#88
Image credits: TheMandiEm
#89
Image credits: copymama
#90
Image credits: 2questionable
#91
Image credits: mommy_cusses
#92
Image credits: Cheeseboy22
#93
Image credits: simoncholland
#94
Image credits: UnfilteredMama
#95
Image credits: Smethanie
#96
Image credits: GayAtHomeDad
