Sometimes bad things happen to good parents, leaving us to feel — for the moment — completely and totally inept. In the first year, it can happen in the form of forgetting to bring diapers for a day out on the town (I speak from experience). Down the road, your normally guarded-like-a-hawk toddler can find his way into a bag of chocolate chips, and, well, the rest is history. And once they hit preschool and have a few hours on their own every day? Well, there's no telling how Mom and Dad's influence will manifest itself.
Because it's (almost) impossible to raise a child without a sense of humor, we don't deny the fact that every now and then, these things happen. We embrace it. Case in point, the following 15 hilarious (and totally forgivable) real-life incidents.
Source: Instagram user luccalovedit [1]
When the Baby Dove Into His Toy Box
. . . and you took a picture instead of rescuing him.
Source: Instagram user carlychan [2]
When You Wanted Her to Appreciate Music
Just not this music.
Source: Instagram user mayaislove [3]
When You Put Product in Your Toddler's Hair
. . . and he ended up looking like The Joker.
Source: Instagram user bryttnywhite [4]
That Time You Had to Lick Food Off His Face
They never warn you about this in the baby carrier brochures.
Source: Instagram user daddyswithkids [5]
When You Forgot Diapers
. . . but luckily had a pair of his big sister's undies ready for action.
Source: Instagram user brynnieskitchen [6]
When He Was a One-Leg Wonder
Dad had a 50 percent chance of getting this right.
Source: Instagram user taradru [7]
When You Remembered to Babyproof For Safety
. . . but not to censor the koozie cabinet.
Source: Instagram user babyruth82 [8]
When Walking Is Hard Enough
And then when your shoes are on the wrong feet, walking is downright impossible.
Source: Instagram user mstinkiebelle [9]
When You Meant to Give Her a Few Cheerios
. . . and she had other plans.
Source: Instagram user golfshirt6 [10]
When He Was Turning 7
But you bought him 50th birthday balloons instead.
Source: Instagram user peggypoyser [11]
When the Tooth Fairy Took the Day (Er, Week) Off
. . . and your daughter gave you this sad and not-so-subtle reminder.
Source: Instagram user shanemjohns [12]
When She Dreamed Big
Priorities, people. Priorities.
Source: Instagram user michelebell [13]
When You Accidentally Left a Tub of Margarine on the Table
And she dug into it in about six seconds.
Source: Instagram user bexcherokee [14]
That Time You Forgot to Check His Homework
Double whammy — a grammatically flawed potty mouth.
Source: Instagram user luccalovedit [15]
When You Let Your Baby Discover Nutella
And it turned out he liked it more than pureed squash. Go figure!
Source: Instagram user katerum [16]