These Are a Few of My Favorite Things - The Story of Bridget Elks — What Happened to the 6 Babysitters?

A Cold Goodby

Bridget embraced a nanny into her family. At first, everything was going well until one day the nanny decided to quit. She left without giving a reasonable explanation.

This didn't happen only once. Bridget had no less than six nannies leaving her and her children one after the other with no reason why. Bridget had to get to the bottom of this. To detail what she found, we have to go back to the beginning.

The Elks Family

Bridget's marriage was on the rocks. She decided to leave her husband and bring up her children alone. This was a hard decision to take and reality was about to knock on her door. She was tired and there was no way she could do everything on her own.

Bridget was no abnormal mother. She couldn't cope with the day-to-day chores and she needed help. There was no choice but to keep her full-time job as she needed the money. Also, as the kids were growing, so were their demands.

Big Happy Family

Elks found herself juggling between her career and being a mother and knew that the only thing that could save her was an extra pair of hands. She had two beautiful children — six years old Marie and one-year-old Kirk.

After looking for the perfect addition to their family, Bridget found Lisa and immediately knew that she was the one. Lisa was hired as the children's nanny and Bridget could finally go back and focus on her career. Little did she know, Lisa would not last.

A Smooth Start

Lisa became part of the family and for the first time in a very long time, Bridget was at ease. However, Elks wasn't aware that things were about to change and that finding a nanny for her children was not as effortless as she initially thought.

At first, Lisa's presence was like a gift from god. She took the children to school, accompanied them to friends, and helped with chores around the house. One day, Bridget received a text message from Lisa that shocked her and left her devastated. It was the last thing she needed and the last thing she believed could happen.

A Two Week Notice

Lisa sent Bridget a simple text message asking for the money she still owed her and explained that she was not intending on coming back. She didn't give any reasonable explanation, just quit her job there and then. Bridget had no idea what happened to Lisa and what made her flip in such a way. Were the children that demanding? Was she not being paid well?

Lisa took her last salary and left. Bridget had to get to the bottom of this but had no idea where to start. More importantly, she had to find a new nanny.

Little Demon Girl

In a conversation Bridget had later on with Lisa, Lisa explained that Marie, the six-year-old daughter was the problem. That she couldn't handle her anymore. She was an absolute handful. Bridget felt that Lisa's excuse was made up on the spot.

Lisa was a professional nanny and tantrums or misbehavior of a six-year-old could not be a good enough reason to leave. Bridget wouldn't accept Lisa's response and continued searching for the perfect nanny for her children.

They Fell One by One

Bridget finally found a second nanny but before she could put the smile back on her face, she quit too. And then the third one came along, and the fourth, and the fifth. After the sixth nanny decided to leave, Bridget knew she had to put an end to this.

It sounded like a bad joke or a science fiction movie but six nannies had abandoned her children and she had no idea why. Children can be demanding at times and hers were no exception, she knew that. But six nannies?

Candid Camera

After hiring six nannies and letting them go, Bridget had to do something before welcoming the seventh one into her home and into her children's hearts. She installed hidden cameras around the house that would finally reveal what was going on between her own walls.

She could finally know if the former nannies' allegations about her daughter being impossible were the hidden truth or not. She couldn't wait to watch what the cameras had to show.

It Wasn't Working Out

Unsurprisingly, the path the seventh nanny took was no different than the previous ones. She started to work and within two weeks gave in her resignation. No detailed explanation, just saying that it wasn't working out.

Bridget was careless as she had her camera. It documented everything and she was now able to see exactly what was going on. What was caught on camera left Bridget shocked and appalled.

The Truth Revealed

The more she watched the more amazed she became. She couldn't believe what she was seeing and repeatedly went back to the beginning of the film. Was this her Marie she was watching? Was this her daughter in disguise? What is going on here?

Bridget suddenly realized that there was more to the former nannies' allegations than she believed. She had realized that there were sides to her daughter that she had never witnessed before.

My Little Angel

During the first few days with each nanny, six-year-old Marie was a perfect angel, the same angel Bridget knew and loved. However, as the days went by, the little angel turned into a little monster. A little monster Bridget couldn't recognize.

The first vision Bridget had of Marie's behavior was when Meg, nanny number seven, asked for help and Marie replied "You can’t tell me what to do, I’m the boss of you!”

If Only She Would Have Known

This new tone of voice and vocabulary Marie had adopted was used on a regular basis with the nannies. She would turn into this little demon every time she was asked to wash her hands, get ready to go out, or turn off the T.V.

Bridget lost it. She was so furious with her little daughter and wished she would have known about this before. She could have then dealt with it and avoided this from happening with the other nannies.

It's Time for a Little Talk

The most difficult part was when she witnessed Marie throwing a tantrum and disobeying her nanny when her baby brother was asleep. This must have made the day extremely challenging for any nanny, even Marry Poppins.

Marie carried on by threatening the Nannie that she would get her fired. A self-fulfilling prophecy. Bridget knew it was time for a little talk.

The Answer She Didn't Expect

She sat her daughter down and revealed to her that she has seen her behavior on the camera roll and asked if she thought her behavior was acceptable. She asked if she felt that that was an appropriate way to treat people, let alone her nanny. The six-year-old didn't take time to answer.

She innocently explained that if we pay her we can tell her what to do. And that if we hire her she listens to us and not vice versa.

For Every Action, There Is a Reaction

Bridget was gobsmacked. Where was little Marie learning this from? Who was teaching her this twisted life logic? Bridget decided to punish Marie and try to teach her a lesson in life. A lesson that would teach her that for every action there is a reaction and everything has a consequence.

The following week, Marie was supposed to have a swimming lesson but there was no one to take her. Bridget accused Marie and balmed her for not having a nanny. She explained that if Marie would have behaved herself, the nannies wouldn't have quit and then someone could have taken her.

Bridget Was Desperate

Was this a suitable punishment for a six-year-old? Even though Bridget was frustrated and disappointed, would this really teach little Marie a lesson? Bridget shared her frustration on a social media parenting group, hoping someone would shed some light on the issue.

She wrote that little Marie has to pay for her behavior, "She is the reason that her nanny quit and until I can find someone new, she won’t get to do the fun activities that her nanny took her to." Was Bridget acting wisely? Was this the best way to teach Marie a lesson?

They Were All in It

Bridget took this another step further. As if cutting Marie's swimming lessons wasn't enough, Bridget banned her from going on playdates with the friends that were present at the time the nannies were around. She stopped Marie from seeing her friends altogether, believing that her 'little partners in crime' had to pay the price too.

Surprisingly, and in Bridget's favor, the friend's parents didn't keep quiet and had something to say about this. The parents who commented on her post made things easier for Bridget to comprehend.

The Gossiping Nanny

One mother claimed that the first nanny wasn't strong enough and had to approach Bridget with what she was experiencing with Marie. Another parent said that Lisa, the first nanny, probably gossiped so badly about the Elks family, that the new babysitter entered the house with a set mind on the children.

She also shared that once she had a nanny that was in the same situation. The nanny approached the parents and explained that it had to be dealt with. Either their way or her way.

Who's the Boss?

One babysitter also responded to Bridget's post. She said that she babysits regularly and that while some kids can throw tantrums, she has come across impeccable behavior from others. She added that the parents must be supportive of the babysitter or nanny's side so the kids understand that occasionally, the nanny IS the boss.

Kids will be kids, what works for one might not work for the other, but if both sides — the babysitters and the kids — pass the first stages, a beautiful relationship can be formed.

Say Hello to Vicki

Bridget was thrilled when she got a professional response from Vicki Broadbent. Besides being a filmmaker, Vicki is also a blogger and is the owner of "Honest Mum" which has grasped an award or two. She is the proud owner of "Mumboss", a best-seller both in the UK and USA.

Vicki was very open and front forward and explained that maybe Marie was going through a phase. That she was crying out for help in a unique way. Maybe she was feeling that she was losing her position in the household and wanted to secure her spot.

Another Side to the Story

Vicki added and wrote that Marie might have felt that no one was listening to her and that no one understood her. The kid was possibly feeling emotions she had never felt before and was finding it hard to handle. Kids, too, find things hard to handle.

Vicki pointed out that Bridget felt a disappointment in Marie's eyes. This was hard for Bridget to take in and she was about to acknowledge her own lesson in life.

Was It Worth It?

Bridget looked within and asked herself if the way she chose to respond to Marie's behavior was the right way. She wondered if the punishment she gave would really solve her problems. What would Marie learn from these actions?

What added value to life was Bridget giving Marie by not letting her go to her swimming lessons? Were these punishments even related to her behavior in any way?

Did She Even Understand?

Bridget began to acknowledge that if she would have explained to Marie why a nanny was necessary she could have avoided her bad behavior. If she would have sat down and clarified the new reality to her six-year-old, it might have been easier for her to understand and cope with.

She could have explained that she has to go out and work so she can earn money to pay for things. Bridget felt that she wasn't speaking to her daughter in a language she could understand.

A Parent's Lesson in Life

Instead of just expecting her little daughter to accept life as it's handed to her, she had to be more sensitive to Marie's needs and understand that as kids grow and mature more is required from us as parents.

Bridget didn't take the complete blame but she started to feel partly responsible for her daughter's behavior and for the nannies leaving.

A Child's Perspective

A child wants to be with his/her parents all of the time so it was only natural that Marie acted the way she did. No one explained to her why a nanny was needed and in her eyes, she wasn't getting what she thought was the most important thing — time with her mommy.

Marie wasn't feeling emotionally safe and Bridget wasn't providing that security for her. Vicki explained that Marie felt hurt and her behavior was her way of defending her emotions.

Who Was in the Wrong?

After reading Vicki's response to her post, Bridget started to ask herself if Marie's behavior was supposedly acceptable and if Bridget herself was in the wrong. Vicki's reply was something Bridget adopted for the rest of her life.

She gave such a simple yet wise answer that left Bridget amazed at how simple bringing up children can sometimes be.

The Spoken and Unspoken Words

Vicki wrote that teaching children how to behave and not be rude is crucial. However, it is equally important to learn for yourself how to listen. She emphasized the listening part and carried on by adding that listening means more than hearing the words that come out of their mouth.

Listening is understanding their body language, it's listening to the spoken words but more to the unspoken words. It's also about teaching them new ways to express their frustration and disappointment.

A Child's Salvation

Vicki gave Bridget some more advice about dealing with unwanted behavior. She added that if a child finds it difficult to explain the situation they are in, it is the parent's position to help them reach salvation. Adults alone have difficulties expressing themselves so could you imagine what children go through?

As a parent, you have to slip into your investigator's uniform and dig in deep until you find what you are looking for. You dig in until you reach your child and his/her needs.

Theory of Relativity

Was Bridget really the one misbehaving? Should Marie be cleaned from all charges? Bridget still asked herself how a little girl came to the conclusion that she was anyone's boss.

This must have been suggested somehow as there is no other explanation for a six-year-old to play the master's role. Marie was too young to understand the relativity between cost, employer, and employee.

Things to Do Before Hiring a New Nanny

The incident for sure opened Bridget's eyes. After reading through the responses she got to her post, she googled "Things to do before hiring a new nanny" and realized there were crucial things she had to do before presenting her children with the new reality.

The first step she had to take made her feel really bad. How didn't she know of this before? Sometimes the most simple things in life just slip under your nose.

Digestion Time

Rule number one is "digestion time". It's impossible to expect kids to just deal with things. They need time to understand, acknowledge and accept changes in life. Instead of preparing Marie for the new nanny, Bridget simply announced that on the following day a new nanny would be arriving.

What Bridget read is that at least one week is needed for a child before major changes occur. They need time to ask questions, time to have a debate, and most importantly they have to know why. Bridget came across some more useful advice, that any parent to any child should consider before hiring a new nanny or babysitter.

Part of the Family

Make the new nanny part of the family before they even start the job. Invite them for dinner. Meet them in the park. Do any activity you like together with the potential new nanny. This will make it easier for any child to embrace a new person into their lives.

The day the new nanny or babysitter arrives will be less tense for the parent and most importantly, the child.

Get Those Board Games Out

If you chose to invite the new nanny to dinner make a date out of it and don't end it once the table is cleared. Get out your favorite games and make it time for Pictionary, Charades, or any other enjoyable activity your children have.

Not only will this be the first step in the nanny-child relationship, but this will also give you a glimpse of how the nanny interacts with and relates to your child.

Just Another Normal Day

Give the future nanny a taste of what is expected and what the day is going to be like. Kids don't like surprises and nannies don't like surprises either. Plan the day as if it was another normal day but let the nanny take part in what would be her responsibility.

This can be preparing dinner, bathing the kids, or reading a bedtime story. Whatever comes to mind, as long as it's part of your daily routine.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Kids like it when things are left the same. They like routine, familiar places keep them calm, and familiar belongings ever calmer. Now you understand why so many kids carry around their blanket until they are forced to send it on its way? When you go out to the park take a favorite toy car. Planning an outing to the playground? Bring along a favorite book.

This will assure the child that things are not as different as they first anticipated. That there might be a new person in their lives but overall everything has remained the same.

The Grand Tour

The arrival of a new nanny can lead to insecurity when it comes to kids. One way of helping them is by making them feel important and in charge. When the new nanny or babysitter comes for the first visit or first playdate, let your child introduce the nanny to the rooms in the house. Let them show her where you keep the snacks in the kitchen and where the towels are in the bathroom.

That being said, it's important not to overdo it and define a very clear line as to where the responsibilities end for the child. The last thing you want is a little monster boss, bossing the new nanny around as Marie did.

Charles in Charge

This is one of the hardest pieces of advice we can share as it can get difficult for the child to understand that house rules are house rules regardless of whether their parents are present or not.

Your child needs to understand that the new nanny is the new person in charge. Homework has to be done, plates have to be cleared from the table, and no shoes on the sofa.

Me Time

Give your new nanny some credit. She must be trusted or else there will be no future for your relationship and your children's relationship with her. Although we don't encourage punishment every now and then some "me time" is necessary. Your babysitter is allowed to give your child "me time" and your child should be aware of this too.

Your nanny had to be able to amend unwanted situations and by giving her the power to do so, you can assure a healthy and secure upbringing.

The Nanny's Bible

This sums up the new nanny's bible. This won't promise a life free of aggravation for your child, your nanny, or yourself but it will for sure give you a good kick start to a healthy and long-term relationship. Poor Bridget had to learn the hard way and went through more than six nannies before realizing she was doing something wrong.

Bridget has since learned to explain, listen, and provide a warm, secure, and open home for her children. Remember — the unspoken words are usually the ones most important in life. Don't let them be unheard.

The story of how Bridget learned to be a better mother can teach any aspiring parent a thing or two. Keep reading to get some funny and educating information on what it's really like to be a parent.

The Craziest Photos and Tweets You Need to See Before Having Kids

Do you wonder if you have what it takes to become a parent? Sure, you've read all the recommended books and seen a few videos, but ultimately nothing can prepare you for the unpredictable whims of a grumpy toddler or having to watch "Tangled" for the fifth time this week.

We all have irrational optimism when it comes to our own lives as a parent, it's like we think that maybe if we planned everything perfectly it will go well and there will be no surprises... Here's a peek into what your life will look like if you decide to take the plunge and start a family of your own, but you have been warned...

Traveling With Kids

If ever you want an up-to-the-minute reminder of what you're doing or where you're going, just have kids with you and they'll be sure to promptly remind you of every moment, no matter how mundane.

Just kidding, this tweet sounds more like an alarm clock that you can't snooze or switch off. It just keeps alerting you whether you want it or not. Oh, and every now and then, your children will yell and demand in a tightly contained space. Have a nice flight!

According to Science

Kids are known to have incredible reasoning abilities when it comes to getting what they want. They know exactly how to justify their motives, with indubitable facts that make you question your own sanity.

Who knew arguing with a 6-year-old would be this irrational and at the same time so insightful? In this case, science says hand over the Neapolitan.

Welcome to Parenting!

Just a friendly reminder that being a parent means you'll be faced with the harshest of critics, did you expect to have your cooking critiqued by amateurs after slaving away in the kitchen? Probably only if you're an aspiring chef.

It's not all bad though, because you know those same critics think nothing of eating insects or already chewed gum they found on the pavement. So the next time they refuse to eat their veggies and pressure you for some chicken nuggets, you know not to take it personally.

You Better Hold on

We all know how much kids love ketchup, we even remember how much we loved ketchup when we were kids! Our parents still complain about how most of the exorbitant grocery bill was due to our monstrous consumption of tomato ketchup.

So what happens when your kid finds out their all-time favorite condiment contains their most loathed food? An inner conflict of the most extreme proportions that Yasmin affectionately termed as a rollercoaster ride.

Terrified But Hopeful

Having kids means you constantly worry about them. It's relentless, even when they're old enough to drive you still worry (if not more) for their safety, and everyone else on the road!

Of course, with every milestone, there come a few perks. Once they're independent, they can drive themselves around and grab you your favorite order from McDonald's.

Brutal Advice

One quality you'll always hear about kids is their unflinching commitment to honesty. They don't care about your feelings and know how to tell you the truth. It only seems fitting that they take an already difficult announcement and make it even more brutal.

Clearly this six-year-old has won this round when it comes to delivering bad news, her mom is so proud, she even hopes she becomes a doctor just so she can use her creative mind to scare her patients.

So How Was Your Day?

We know why you're here — because you'd like nothing more than to have a decent conversation with your child, or at the very least, a few niceties exchanged when you're not occupied with life and other errands.

Unfortunately, in this pie-chart we call "How to spend quality time with your children," there's only a small sliver saved for convenient times that make for pleasant conversations, and it's been crowded out by the rest of your time.

The Benefits of Having Kids

What would you do if you were unburdened by the wonder and agony of your bloodline? Probably deal with life's little problems by yourself, but if you had kids, at least you could ask them for small favors to get you out of difficult phone calls.

Oh, the joys of parenthood! Clearly, this text proves that there are benefits to having kids. Now all your hard work and thankless efforts have paid off.

Nice ID

This woman's 5-Year-Old son stole her wallet one afternoon and ran off to play with it in his room. A few days later, she got pulled over and all she had to show for ID was this!

That's a tricky one to explain to the officer on duty, "um... Sir, sorry but it seems my kid stole my ID." That would work as a valid excuse, they should just believe you and let you go without a ticket...

Let It Go

Having kids means letting of any expectations you may have before having kids. That includes a weekly outing to your favorite restaurant, an exquisite vacation, and that perfectly planned photoshoot.

Now, with your beloved angel in tow, everything is different. It might be tempting to want everything to go as planned but you'd be better off ripping off that band-aid now than letting it slowly devour your hopes and dreams.

Busted!

This curious case of the cellphone found in the toilet proved difficult to solve at first. When questioned, all three kids in this household claimed innocence and none of them would crack under pressure.

The parents were stumped and not sure how they could find the guilty party. So they looked through the evidence and luckily found photos of the incident that incriminated the culprit. Just another day in the life of a parent.

Kids Will Be Kids

Every parent has an adjustment period, and this period can fall anywhere on the spectrum from overanalyzing every single scratch and scrape their firstborn has, to not caring at all about their child's well-being.

This incident falls somewhere in between, where running into a wall isn't a cause for concern, but simply a calm remark that's stored away in case their child shows any symptoms later that day.

Vandals

Sometimes all a creative kiddo wants is a blank canvas to draw on. Almost anything can be used from the walls to their sleeping parents' faces. As tempting as it may be to take a nap while your children play, it could result in a scandalous mess.

While your kids may appear adorable and innocent, they are still little sociopaths who will blame the dog for their own villainy.

A Comedy of Errors

One of the most maddening things that will happen to you when you have kids of your own is people telling you what you need to do before your life changes forever. Stuff like "go eat out as much as possible," and "sleep in."

But the most annoying thing is probably to "go to the theater for entertainment before you have kids," when having kids presents you with so many zany and amusing situations you will have enough entertainment to last you a lifetime.

And What About Tigger?

A short answer to this question would be the Hundred Acre Woods, but instead, Zack got confused by his son's question and gave him a lengthy explanation of the human digestive system.

That's totally on Zack for assuming what his son was asking about, but having kids does mean your mind will immediately jump to conclusions, making you draw conclusions that only question your own intelligence.

Good Question

In our humble opinion, getting your daily eight hours of sleep is one of life's small luxuries, and having kids doesn't necessarily mean you have to exchange said luxury for sleepless nights. But you will need to accept that the paradigm has shifted and while you can still sleep, it's just going to be different.

Having kids means your sleep schedule will not fit neatly into an eight-hour window anymore, instead you can expect it to be spread over many hours with frequent interruptions.

Yikes!

If we've learned anything from kids, it's that peace and tranquility can easily be derailed. In this instance, this family spent their weekend away at an Airbnb to get some of that needed rest, but they didn't realize the bathroom doors had transparent glass, making their stalking toddler even more unnerving than usual.

Even a private trip to the bathroom proved to be frightful. This would be hilarious if it didn't look so scary!

All Hands on Deck!

Here's another look into the precarious life of a parent, with varying results, the dreaded diaper schedule from daycare. It looks like Maddie got the easy ones, while Brooke drew the short straw.

Brooke was not expecting this kind of explosion and seemed to faint right after filling in her report.

Urine Trouble!

Ah, who doesn't love waking up to the fresh and pungent smell of urine in the morning? The best part about this is having to sterilize and disinfect what was once your oasis to get rid of the vaporized smell of pee.

Honestly, there could be nothing worse than the smell of pee diffused through your home.

Dear Dad...

Such a thoughtful and at the same time bleak message to write on a birthday card, she even included a drawing of the grim reaper to add an extra punch.

At least he has a heart on his chest, which is a nice touch considering the rest of the card's content!

Oops!

After working from home for the past 9 months, this dad was finally asked to come back into the office so he shaved his beard, cut his hair, and put on his suit and tie, but his daughter did not approve and instantly burst into tears.

He only looks slightly worried, but that's because he knows he'll be out the door in a minute and won't have to deal with the mess he's made. He'll definitely miss his little girl at work.

Zooming in the Shower

Can you imagine how mortifying this must be?! Brian was taking what he thought was an undisturbed shower, only to have his six-year-old barge in with the laptop while the camera was on!

Never mind throwing a tantrum in the local supermarket, this is on a whole other level when it comes to embarrassing your parents. We bet this is going to lead to a seriously awkward parent-teacher meeting.

These Don't Go in Your Hair

Getting something stuck in your hair has happened to the best of us, from chewing gum to a tangled hairbrush. Both of those are problematic to remove but totally doable. But getting a whole box of 'Bunchems' stuck in your hair seems impossible!

Apparently, her brother decided it would be fun to see how they would look in her hair. The result is a complete mess and it took their mother 20 hours to get them all out! If that was our kid, we'd probably have it all shaved off by now.

'Best Farter Ever.'

This dad couldn't explain all the side-eyes and smirking glances he received from the other parents in his kid's class, but after a tour of his son's class, it all made sense. He found this photo on the wall of his classroom for photos of the year.

It sure is a sweet photo with a dad and his son while holding a mug that says "Best Farter Ever." It would be a shame if it was made public for others to see though, which is exactly what happened in this case.

Working From Home

If you're not used to working from home, you might have a bit of trouble adjusting to your new office, which is totally understandable. But throw your kids in the mix and distractions are bound to happen.

In this situation, it's important to lay down some house rules or put up a sign for when dad is in a meeting. Don't forget to list answers to possible questions!

When the Bread Runs Out

One of the best things about having kids is being privy to their imaginative worlds that show no bounds, but on the other end of the spectrum, their imagination has its limits.

Playing along with their pretend game can be tricky, you have to pretend their imagined world is real but then need to know where the confines of their imagination begin and end.

Slugs and All

Mayhem ensued as slugs escaped from this makeshift hospital and Chris Wilson was left unprepared and at a loss for words. If we were him, we would've told his kids that the slugs were healed and could go back home to their families.

But when you're in this kind of predicament it can be difficult to think on your feet and you may feel overwhelmed by the unpredictable whims of your kids.

Entertaining All Offers

Having kids means you'll occasionally have conversations like this. Ones that will make you want to return them so you can have some semblance of an adult life back. But one of the worst things about having kids is, there are no return policies!

So once you've had them, you're stuck with them for life and there's no rebates or concession. This is your life now and you'll just have to let them cry because they can't get in the oven with the lonely cornbread.

Parent Problems

Here's another example of how being a parent can leave you questioning everything you thought you knew. Now, when you assume something, you might miss the mark completely and you'll end up with a bunch of chips scattered all over the floor.

This just proves that having kids can wear you down in even the most unexpected ways imaginable.

It's a Little Too Quiet in Here

Leaving your kids to their own devices is a slippery slope on the waterslide of parental responsibilities. On the one hand, kids need to explore and learn how to keep themselves busy, on the other, they could end up burning your house down.

Luckily, in this case, only minor violations occurred that left these plants with only slight injuries on their leaves. It could have been much worse and at least they still have their house intact.

Banksy Would Be Proud

Everything is a canvas to kids and they will act accordingly, which is why it's important to only give them paint that can easily be removed or washed away.

That goes for any permanent marker or pen that could be within their reach. You know what? Just keep it all locked away in a hard-to-reach drawer that's only accessible with a 10-digit code.

I Made It Myself

It's always refreshing when you get photos showing how well your son is applying himself while at school. Other times, you get get a photo like this, which leaves you scratching your head and wondering if he's really your son.

Of course, you would've hoped for better but here’s the thing: in order to achieve those brief moments of parental paradise, you just need to let it go and laugh it off.

Pumpkid

Imagine waking up to this — either you'd be terrified or proud or a mixture of both. While we may think this is hilarious, few things are more maddening than being woken up by a painted pumpkin head, especially around six in the morning.

So maybe next time you wake up peacefully and soundly in your bed, after a good night's rest, make a mental note to remember how good you have it before you decide to have kids.

Crumbs Everywhere

When you start a family of your own, you're basically writing up a contract of sorts, one that involves changing diapers throughout the night and cleaning up after someone else's mess for the next (hopefully) 18 years of their life.

This mess can include anything from lego pieces to laundry but the worst offenders of them all are crumbs from crackers or any crumbly foods. You have been warned.

No More Privacy

Another exasperating fact of parental life means never having any privacy, and when we say never, we mean it. If, after all of these clear and obvious warnings, you still decide you want to have kids, then it's totally on you.

What's worse is once your kids are all grown-up and have left the house, you'll miss them so much you'll have the empty-nest syndrome, which is a whole other issue you should be made aware of...

Saturday Mornings Are for...

If you don't have kids, then you can expect your Saturday mornings reserved for sleeping in and eating brunch at your favorite cafe, while you wonder how the rest of the weekend will unfold.

But once you have kids, you don't have time to wonder, all you can do is juggle your toddlers as they squabble about stealing air as you try your best not to lose your temper.

Passive Aggressive Notes

Someone once said, "it's the little things that make parenting so rewarding," but they forgot to mention that little things also come in passive-aggressive notes written in soap.

Obviously, this was meant to be found, but all we want to know is, what did dad do that was so horrible?

We Can Relate

Sometimes imaginary bullies are way worse than the real ones, not only are they always around, but they know just how to make your kiddo cry. If parenting wasn't hard enough already, now you're also responsible for more complex issues, like their self-esteem.

This might just be one of those cases that we would recommend you read one or two of those parenting guides... Is there a section titled "How To Handle Mean Imaginary Friends?"

Home-Schooling

Home-schooling your kids might seem like a more straightforward alternative for some parents, but as many can attest to, having to teach your kids is not as fun as you thought it would be.

In fact, it can be downright challenging, and being made responsible for their education means you might go insane.

Let It Snow

Apparently, asking your kids to close the car door behind them is too much. What's worse is that this happened in the middle of snowy winter and now the interior of your car looks like a winter wonderland.

It's times like these you really need to dig deep and find that last bit of dignity you have left, so you don't end up in jail.

Can She Babysit?

Having kids is like being aware of a whole other world you never knew existed, one in which your child speaks to your deceased relatives through the walls.

If that doesn't creep you out, we don't know what will! Either it's time to move or take your child seriously as a medium to the spirit world.

Feeding the Monster

You're not going to believe this, but this collection of chaos is what was found in the air conditioning vent. Apparently, kids find it amusing to wedge in whatever they can find in there and see what happens.

So if you ever wonder where your measuring spoons went, or those decorative eggs, you might want to check your air vents...

Like a Scene from a Horror Film

There is a certain level of the human need to retreat every once in a while and search for privacy or at least a little peace and quiet. Here's another photo showing just how hard that can be once you're a parent.

We're not completely without empathy, but we are filled with fear at the sight of those teeth and claws.

A Two-Way Street

Well, look how the tables have turned, it seems that even kids find parenting hard. In this case, a six-year-old found it challenging to teach her mother how to use the TV remote, and there's even a picture to illustrate it.

Sometimes parenting is a two-way street and as a parent, you're just going to let your kids teach you all you need to know about technology.

An Innocent Game of Tag

Playing tag can be a good workout, with moving and blood pumping, it can set the stage for healthier kids with stronger muscles. But this game can also turn into a wrestling match that might cause your neighbors to call the police.

It's best to tread lightly with this one and set some ground rules before a fight erupts into full-blown anarchy.

Every Move You Make

You should know by now that whenever you go to the bathroom, you're not going alone, even if you close the door behind you. Your kiddo will be waiting outside the door, checking in on you even if you've only been inside for two minutes.

It's like having a stalker you can't get rid of. Instead, you're obligated to take care of them...

What's Cooking?

Raising a child is a huge responsibility. You'll need to teach them all about safety and fire hazards and that in itself, can be exhausting. Here's a little bit of advice — perfect parenting doesn't exist, so just try your best...

In case of smoke, we all know there could be a fire somewhere, but kids don't think like we do, which is why it's even more important to educate so your house doesn't burn down.

Are You Ready?

One of the best things about growing up was the cartoons, but now that you're older, they don't seem as interesting, making this question even more relevant than we'd know.

If this doesn't make you think before having kids, then you are definitely ready. Tell Spongebob we said hi.

Relatable

Let's get this out of the way fast: nothing is as relatable to the popular science fiction film called "Star Wars" as parenting. Where war wages between an evil Empire known as the first order and a Rebel Alliance of heroes called the Resistance.

Only, in real life, you're probably not the hero, simply an ancient Jedi who slowly dies while answering a string of nonsensical questions.

Boo!

Nobody would've thought that becoming a parent would mean you'd be terrified of your toddler. But acceptance is the first step, so as long as you can agree to that then you're as prepared as can be.

For many, this act requires no reflection at all, they simply just know how scary children are, and yet they still chose to have them.

Before and After

You might not believe this, but having kids is not nearly as glamorous as you've been led to believe. Sure it can be a meaningful and life-changing experience, but at what cost?!

Let's face it, we all want to be the guy on the left, he looks like he doesn't have a care in the world while he's siping on some ice tea. But on the right, he's been reduced to a step-ladder for a toddler. A STEP-LADDER, people!

Rude Awakening

Children might be called belligerent and hostile at times, but they're also great for warning you about the ever-nearing end of your life. Let's face it, none of your adult friends or family members are going to deliver this news with such finesse.

They'll even draw a picture of a waterslide for you, with a metaphor attached. That way, you'll know exactly what they mean.

Big Change

From working it to overworked. The change in footwear tells the whole story. Yes, your priorities will change, as this before and after photo can attest to, but you'll also look completely different. Almost unrecognizable.

It might look like 30 years have past since the first picture was taken, but truthfully, it's only been eight years.

A Serious Threat

This kid definitely has a flair for the dramatic, maybe he should consider a career as a performer one day. But for now, his mom will have to keep an eye on him.

You wouldn't want this seven year old to get a hold of important information, not when he's this volatile at least!

A Migraine

Ginger knows whats up with kids, in fact, she's even come up with a new expression to describe a group of them. We would also have accepted shriek and nightmare.

We think this really works – no matter what the situation or where the ‘migraine of kids’ are it just sounds right, doesn’t it?

Don't Do it

This is quite possibly the single most important decision you will make in your life and, while obviously not mandatory, there are so many hoops to jump through, so if you make up your mind like this kid, you best be prepared for an onslaught of questions.

When asked what he'd do instead, "Eat." He replies ever so casually. If only we had this kind of fortitude.

Tiny Helper

Pop quiz, hotshot: Which one of these situations is more relaxing? It might be a little tricky, but this guy's tiny helper is not as helpful as you'd think.

With his one foot strumming and his hands holding on for dear life, he's definitely not making his dad's music sound any better... "Anyway, here's 'Wonderwall'"

So Competitive

We race a lot of cool things all over the world: horses, cars, and eggs in spoons. But to find true innovation in racing ridiculous things, you’d have to search the local carnival, where carousel horses race around a merry go round.

Well, it's technically not a race, but this kid thinks it is and he's super excited to win!

Looks Bad

You know how you know it’s 8pm in a suburban home? Well, you could always check for clues in the hallway.

With diapers spread out, a chair thrown over, a lonely tennis racket. This site looks more like a crime scene than a hallway in some family's home, but who are we to judge?

Anything is Possible

When you come home and discover that granola bar disseminated across your kitchen counters, floor, and even the living room carpet, don’t look at it like a mess. Look at how much your kids are capable of with a single granola bar.

Imagine if you could channel your kids boundless energy into something positive, the possibilities are endless.

Emotional Regulation

One of the reasons why kids are so difficult to manage is because they just don't how to manage their own emotions, so if one can figure out what calms them down, then life would be much easier.

In this case, a piece of cheese does the trick, and while it might seem simple it could definitely make life a whole lot easier.

Batman's Here

Sure, we'd all like to sound like Mary Poppins but having kids means you'll quickly learn to shrug off the guilt cloak and start perusing more serious cartoon characters to voice your frustration.

If you never thought your personality could change so quickly, then having kids will show you just how creative you can become.

Outsourcing Chores

Perhaps the easiest job belongs to the kid whose job it was to sit on the training potty. Sure, she MIGHT have to eventually use the potty, but why do that when you can just outsource it to your trusted sidekick?

Clearly this toddler doesn't understand this assignment, but you can't say she's not resourceful.

No, Me!

Yet another great argument brought to you by the toddlers of this household. Perhaps they've always dreamed of being a ghostbuster, to show up and save the day.

Or maybe they've decided that calling the ghostbusters was a much more heroic deed and weren't going to let that chance slip on by.

I'm a Grown-Up

Being an adult may involve cumbersome tasks like doing your taxes and cleaning up after your self when you've broken glass, but for this toddler it means freedom to touch sharp objects.

Who are we to get in the way of her preconceived notion of adulthood? Not her mother, that's who.

A Scary Place

It's cute you thought that movie about Zombies was scary. You know what might be a little scarier? The secret life of a young child.

Nothing hits the spot like a good ol' maniacal scene, and this colorful alphabet splashed up against a ravenous gang of scribbles. Good luck trying to decipher this!

Candy Pizza

What kind of pizza do you want? It's a simple, common question that most pizza-loving people don't give nearly enough thought, usually tossing off a halfhearted "pepperoni, I guess."

But this 3 year old knew exactly what she wanted and she wasn't afraid of judgement. You go girl!

While on Vacation

For such a seemingly simple concept, vacations take on a convoluted story when they're done with kids. Forget those chores and responsibilities waiting for you at home, because you'll have fresh ones to deal with while your on holiday.

For this family, vacation looks like cleaning up Frosted Flakes every morning with plenty of soul-sweetening natural beauty to miss while your occupied with your nearest and dearest.

Fireworks

No matter how close the TV brings you to the action on the field, there're some things the cameras and mics can't quite capture, like the deafening scorch of fireworks, that feeling you might die at any moment.

This can only come from the palpable excitement of having kids. Sometimes you just have to be there in person.

Suspect Evidence

This plastic shovel, which obviously comes from a kids play set, was found in the laundry machine after a wash. Nobody knows how it got there, but we're sure kids had something to do with it.

If you have kids you might know what it's like when you find a towel stuffed down a toilet or lego pieces in the air conditioner vent.

Da Vinci

Surfaces can be rather limited when you like painting, so what do you do when you run out of canvases?  Do as Da Vinci did and use the wall of course!

Because artists can be notoriously picky about the tools they use in their craft, these parents should feel honored that their little painter used their wall.

Snacks

That moment when kids learn there are more than one snack flavor is the moment you realise you've made a huge mistake.

These days you only really ever encounter these varieties in a gas station, which is why it took two whole hours to choose!

Tattoo Markers

Maybe buying tattoo markers were not the best idea when it came to buying a Christmas present for their daughter.

Sure, they’re explicitly designed to stay on for as long as two weeks, but they never expected her to go this crazy all at once.

Oops

Even celebrities struggle with their kids, that's just how powerful they are, and they know it! This is a pic that Anna Faris shared on her Twitter page of her son, showing just how well potty training is going.

If you're also having issues with your kids, at least you know you're not alone and even the rich and famous struggle sometimes.

Clue #1

Your kid might deny a lot of things, but now you have evidence to prove just how he accidentally incriminated himself.

Uncovering an array of baby selfies is just one way you can feel some semblance of control in your own life again.

From Hero to Zero

From having it all figured out to hoping you don't get peed on! These before and after photo are another reminder that kids might just make your life a little less glamorous.

Hopefully, after reading through our list, you're a bit better prepared to jump in the saddle.

Cute Pic

This little boy thought it'd be funny to sniff his mommy's behind for the photo, yes it's funny. But it's probably mortifying for his mother!

If this photo is any indication, we'd take a bet that he’s gonna be a handful, this is just the beginning... His mom doesn't seem particularly pleased with this new arrangement.

Rules Are Lame

While we would never promote eating while watching TV, there's a good reason they let you buy snacks at the movie theater, it's just so comforting to nibble on something while you're watching a film on the big screen.

This is probably why his mom had to enforce strict rules about eating in the living room, but kids are more clever than we give them credit for...