Parents who are improvising their way through life

Some days, being a parent can feel like you’re on top of the world and don’t need any help. Other days can feel like complete chaos and you find yourself counting down the hours until bedtime.

All of these parents decided to go with the flow or improvise a solution to get through the day, but sometimes all you can do is laugh it off.

This Kiddie Cop Car Got A Makeover

Do you remember the classic Fisher-Price children’s police cars with mini squeak horns, radios, and tiny siren lights?

These parents repurposed the Tikes car from their childhood and gave it a DIY ice cream truck makeover so that their own children can play with it.

“Excuse Me, I Have To Go To The Bathroom” —Every Kid Ever

Arguably, there is no lesson more important for a child to learn than “pee before we get in the car and go.”

Still, parents everywhere know the universal sign, when the kid’s boot starts kicking the back of their seat, there’s a pit stop in the near future.

Dad Needs Some Alone Time In The Playpen

This picture shows what happens when dad’s off duty.

He’s using his child’s playpen to take a protected nap, free of the dog’s lick attacks and the baby’s swinging hands and/or toys.

These Clown Kitties

Sometimes you have to get creative as a pet parent.

When these fast (and lethal) cats were doing numbers on the neighborhood bird population, their humans got clever with bells and collars.

Children Are A Risk To Your Health

There are so many subtle joys of being a parent, the sound of laughter in the house, the sight of toys in the yard, the ear-piercing screech of young girls “playing” indoors.

This family’s neighbors probably debate about calling the police regularly. Was that a fear scream or a play scream?

The Perfect Hiding Spot For High-Value Snacks

When you have hungry kids in the house, sometimes you have to get clever to ensure you get a literal and metaphorical piece of the pie.

This parent hid their stash of ice cream in an empty bag of fish filets.

Great Parents Shop Alike

If there’s a good deal at the local Costco, you don’t have to look further than the kids’ playground to find out.

The only kid who wasn’t wearing a matching jacket left his at home that day, according to his parent who shared the photo.

Playdate Business Cards To Skip The Small Talk

One mom decided to avoid all the tedious work that comes with exchanging names, numbers, addresses, and information with another parent to set up a play date.

Instead, she equipped her child with these professional playdate cards containing the necessary information to get in contact.

This Mom Always Has A Stylish Helping Hand

When you have a sick baby at home, it can feel like you never have enough hands to take care of them.

You could always try what this innovative mom did and use a fake cosmetology hand with a full set of acrylics to trick your baby.

Welcome To Our Home…Not

When your mom is into needlepoint, it’s not uncommon to see little pieces of delicate artwork around the house.

However, this witty mother decided to put her own twist on a traditional saying and it’s so much better this way.

Dad Jokes Are Not Landing Yet

The baby hadn’t been home from the hospital for two days before this dad decided to try out some of his best-worst material.

The little dude was a harsh critic but someone had to slow his dad’s roll.

The Clever Way To Limit Screen Time

This diabolical parent found a way to limit their children’s screen time as punishment without actually taking away their phones.

Instead, he removes the SIM cards from their smartphones and inserts them into a cheap Blackberry from the early 2000s. They still have the ability to use their phone but “social media is almost non-existent.”

Sleeping In The Superstore Is A Rite Of Passage

When you have to take your sleepy toddler grocery shopping, sometimes it’s best to just let them sleep in the cart among the frozen dinners and toiletries you are going to buy.

It’s almost like a stroller, in a way.

Snorlax The Stair Master Baby Blocker

When in doubt, it’s time to bust out the gigantic Snorlax beanbag chair.

This family used the life-sized Pokémon stuffy to block the stairs during a family gathering. Regular baby gates are so boring.

Dad’s Action Man Toys Now Make Great Tea Party Guests

This father gifted his young girls the same action toys he played with as a child.

Except this time, Action Man takes on his latest role as a doting parent figure for little dolls and babies.

Waiting For Homework To Finish Feels Like Dying

Most parents grudgingly join their child for homework to try to get it done together.

This parent instead decided to use the Halloween decor to stage what it really feels like to wait for their daughter to be done homework.

26 Going On 25

You’re never too old to celebrate your birthday with your parents, even if you are turning 26-1 (aka 25).

This funny family managed to come up with a last-minute cake topper to celebrate.

The Only Headphones Dad Could Find For An Important Interview

This father was ill-prepared for his big virtual interview and ended up having to rely on his daughter’s ridiculous unicorn headset as a last resort.

Hopefully, the hiring person had a sense of humor because those are adorable and hilarious.

This Mom Who Loves To Stir Up Drama

This parent knows that her daughter can’t stand it when her sandwich doesn’t get cut straight down the middle.

So her mom always makes sure to make the cut as silly as possible, just to prank her little girl.

Librarian Parents Are All About Recycling (Even Furniture)

Growing up in a home with two librarian parents probably meant a lot of great stories and memories of books.

It also meant they used old library furniture like this recycled card catalog to store their wine collection.