Remember your childhood? Remember how it was somehow simultaneously better and worse than adulthood? It’s a confusing and magical time. Part of that magic, though, comes from just misunderstanding things. When you haven’t done or seen much and your brain is still forming, you can project all kinds of fascinating and perplexing narratives onto elements of life that, on closer inspection, end up being pretty mundane. It can be fun to return to that earlier perspective, which is probably why user _definitelynotgod tipped off such a huge discussion when they posed this question to r/AskReddit:

What was the biggest misconception that you had as a child? from AskReddit

There were over 8,000 responses, including several iterations of the obligatory “I used to think adults knew what they were doing” joke. But aside from that, there were sweet, funny, and incredible childhood memories to scroll through for hours. Here are just a few of the best ones.

1. Carpet layers are heroes.

Underneath the floor of a building was just an endless void.

I thought people who replaced floors were incredibly brave so I always told my parents I wanted to replace floors.

– Yeet_machine27

2. Race relations are over-complicated.

That people of other races just had different levels of being tanned…. found out in the mall that I was wrong

– thenewfrontiersman88

3. If you’re from a rich enough family this one’s actually true.

I thought having a job was just you picking a company you like, waltz in, find an empty spot and start doing something.

I had no concept of interviews, tests, and all the paperwork involved.

– MMMLG

4. I need to be ready for a new life.

My Mam always told me that if I got lost or separated from her while out in public and couldn’t find a police officer, I should seek out the nearest woman with children. Her reasoning was obviously that another mother would be a good kind of stranger to talk to, much more likely to help and less likely to harm a lost child.

My reasoning, however, was that if I somehow never found my own Mam again, I could and would just go home with the woman and have new siblings to play with so I wouldn’t get lonely.

– TheBlackWomb

5. Wait, is this not how it works?

All that you needed to do to get pregnant was get married.

– tengolacamisanegra

6. Potlucks are deceptively named.

I thought a potluck was where everyone brought food to a party and put it all in one giant pot.

Then you would scoop out a plateful and whatever you got was your luck.

– rogerriddle

7. Business is serious business.

I thought being fired from work meant that the fired person gets killed.

Every time my mom would tell me and my sisters not to bother her or she could get fired from work (she partially worked from home), I assumed that her boss would come into her office and literally shoot her.

I was so terrified that my mom would get in any trouble at work.

– beautyinburningstars

8. I was a photographic rebel.

I thought that if I tilted my head to one side for a picture, it made me look “sexy” (god knows what I thought sexy meant back then) but it was only something naughty girls did.

So I would wait until right before the pic was taken, and then quickly tilt my head right as the shutter went off.

– jennybelly

9. I had a foolproof retirement plan.

I would bury coins in my backyard so I could dig them up next year and be rich….because buried treasure.

– Shinespark7

10. When life gives you lemons, you also have limes.

For whatever reason I always thought limes were just unripe lemons.

When I was in my early twenties I went to buy a lemon tree and was so confused to see the had lime and lemon trees.

I feel like an idiot everytime I think of it.

– biqaza

11. I will never grow up.

That there was absolutely no way I’d ever get to be as old as the adults in my life.

For some reason it seemed more likely to me that I could become a dog than that I could age into even a fifteen-year-old.

– growol

12. We took the “Christ” out of “Christmas.”

My parents weren’t raised in the US, but they tried to make sure my siblings and i got the whole American experience so they tried introducing us to Christmas and even sent us to Christian summer camps.

For some reason, this caused a sort of confusion in my mind and I thought Santa was God and I was never corrected because my parents didn’t understand Christianity or Christmas.

– OhioOhO

13. Nuclear families or bust.

That not everyone has a sister.

I was certain that everyone had a sister like me and when I went to a friends house to sleep over I was dumbfounded that his sister wasn’t there??

His parents ended up showing me a picture of some random kid and told me that was my friends sister just to shut me up.

– 11001010jesuS

14. ATM stands for A Tiny Man.

I though people hid inside atms and gave people the money

– your8yearoldcumsock

15. That’s amore…

THE MOON IS CHASING US

– Cookieman996

When I was a kid I knew that as I got older, I got taller. When my mom informed me that one day I’d probably be taller than my older sister, I took that to mean I would one day be older than her as well. We got into a pretty heated debate about it.

What’s something strange you thought as a kid?

Share the magic in the comments.

The post People Talk About the Strangest Things They Believed As Kids appeared first on UberFacts.

There’s already a discussion to be had when it comes to so-called “influencers.” What are we paying them for, and what service to they actually provide to society?

There’s also an ongoing discussion among most parents about what and how much we should share of our children online before they’re old enough to consent.

Put those two things together, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster – and most people feel, at the very least, a bit squicky about a woman monetizing videos containing images about foreign-born adopted son.

Myka and James Stauffer had two daughters – one that was hers, one they’d had together – when she started her Instagram and YouTube accounts in 2014. Her channel now has over 700k subscribers and their family’s channel, The Stauffer Life, has around 350k.  The Ohio couple had two more children (both boys) before making a video announcing their intention to adopt a toddler from China.

View this post on Instagram

Mr. Right what does that even mean? When I was in my college years I feared I would never find so-called Mr. Right, I was far too picky and I was close to ending my senior year. These are the things I would have told my younger self: you have plenty of time don’t rush a good thing like your college years, don’t date someone you already know in your heart is not the right fit for you, and lastly be open-minded you never know where you will find your one and only. And when you meet the right one it takes tons of communication, give and take, and learning before you might even be on the same page. Love is one of the most beautiful things but just like a tropical flower, it takes lots of care to keep it from wilting. #mrright #relationships #giveandtake #couple #couples #love #therightone #couplelove #truelove #loveyou #loveislove #lovelife Photocred: @initialfocus

A post shared by Myka Stauffer (@mykastauffer) on Feb 26, 2020 at 6:20am PST

Leading up to the adoption, Myka produced 27 videos, some that chronicled their “journey” and others asking for money to go toward the adoption fees and the baby’s – who would later be named Huxley, bless his heart – unspecified special needs.

She said in one video that although they had at first not been open to adopting a baby with special needs, their “hearts had been opened” and they agreed that any baby was fine.

In October 2017, the couple traveled to China to bring Huxley home, and the videos of him in the orphanage, their meeting, and the like were viewed over 5.5 million times. He was around two and a half years old.

Myka’s profile in the parenting blogging community began to rise, with her subscribers doubling in the first year Huxley was home. Somewhere in there, the couple also found time to have a fifth baby. She continued to post about her post-adoption journey in videos that were largely sponsored, which meant she was profiting off them in some way.

Hints began to surface that all was not wine and roses, as she confessed that Huxley had been diagnosed as “having a stroke in utero, has level 3 autism, and sensory processing disorder.”

Myka’s followers – and the internet in general – are sort of torn on how to feel about the situation. Her choosing to use the word “re-home” has stuck in many a craw, given that we associate it most often with getting rid of a pet for some reason, and others (like me, perhaps) see this as proof that she never loved her adopted child the way she cares for her biological children, because most mothers would never give up on a baby, no matter how difficult.

Imagine adopting a special needs child from China, naming him Huxley (a crime in itself), exploiting him for sponsorship money and monetized videos, and then "rehoming" him when things got to hard. LIKE HE IS A PET AND NOT AN ACTUAL HUMAN CHILD pic.twitter.com/ZltwKK2YSV

— tats and naps (@tatsandnaps) May 27, 2020

Others have chosen to praise her for doing the right thing for Huxley, even though it hurts. If they aren’t able to give him everything he needs to survive and to thrive, then giving him to someone who can provide those things is the right – even selfless – thing to do.

Wrote one person,

“My heartfelt sympathies go out to you and your family.

Sometimes even when you do everything right, it can still go wrong.

Maybe this was your purpose – to help Huxley on his journey and enable him to be where he needs to be.

God bless.”

And there is, always, the concern over whether or not she should be profiting off her adoption journey now that it has ended like this. As of today, it appears that all images and videos that contain Huxley have been taken down, archived, or made private.

We can’t really render a judgment in cases like these, because no one knows what it was really like to live in their home, and in their shoes, the three years Huxley was there.

As a mom, I just have to hope that poor little boy won’t be scarred by being given away for a second time, and that the family who took him in will love him so well that he never doubts he deserves it.

The post An Influencer “Rehomes” Her Adopted Son and the Internet Doesn’t Know What to Think appeared first on UberFacts.

There are many ways to amuse children that just wouldn’t be funny to adults. It’s one of the most charming things about them, and honestly, there are more than a few days a month when it makes me feel pretty good just to know I can make someone else laugh.

Even if he can’t really talk yet.

This dad – a British musician named Trevor Newnham, amused himself and his kids by crafting a pretty realistic-looking, and honestly fairly creepy, face on his bearded chin.

It basically looks like there’s a small gremlin on the floor of their living room when his wife, Sarah O’Shea (also an artist), called the kids in to see.

They are completely delighted, giggling and laughing, but idk y’all. I would have gotten a broom and beat the sh*t out of that thing.

Especially once I learned that it likes Cheetos. No one eats Cheetos in my house but me.

Mom feeds it snacks, the kids laugh, and for a while, I’m sure it seemed as if all was right with the world.

It’s kind of nice now that we have extra time on our hands, don’t you think? Otherwise, how would a grown man think to use his bearded face to create a small rodent-creature and get his kids to feed him Cheetos instead of keeping them for themselves?

If you think about it that way, this pretend thing might be less creepy and more ingenious.

I’m not sure – what do you think? Would your kids love this? Run away screaming?

You’ll definitely want to give your wife a head’s up, though, before she runs your rodent-chin right out of the house.

The post This Man’s Kids Are Highly Amused by His Chin-Face appeared first on UberFacts.

We all love a good cat video, and mix that with a cute little girl? You’ve got internet gold that won’t be slowing down, traction-wise, for awhile.

And honestly, y’all…I think this girl is a witch or something, because who can get cats to comply in this manner without drugging them? If you can even drug a cat, which mostly you can’t because they will not take their medicine?

Also, as the mother of two toddlers, I just want to know how she got these cats to sit still at a table for that long.

She’s teaching the cats to draw a flower.

Little girl teaching her cats how to draw a flower from aww

The cats are sitting upright, in their chairs, papers and drawing implements at the ready, and appear to be listening intently to the entire lesson.

You. Guys.

Some of the comments are as cute as the video, like this one that gives hilarious voice to the cats.

And this one, that pointed out we never get to see the cats draw the flowers! Talk about a cliffhanger!

This person echoed my sentiment (at least I know I’m not alone!).

You know they will, too. Not a doubt in the mind of a cat-lover anywhere.

I mean, it’s definitely both.

Have you ever seen cats sit and listen like this? Is she a cat whisperer? If I didn’t see them move and their ears change directions here and there, I’d think they were stuffed!

I don’t know if she can teach them how to draw flowers, but this little chickadee definitely has some kind of future working with animals.

If she can get cats to do this, she can literally do anything.

The post Little Girl Teaches Her Cats How to Draw Flowers and It’s Adorable appeared first on UberFacts.

If you’re a mom and you have young kids, or you remember what it’s like to have young kids, then there’s a good chance you already know what science and therapists are about to confirm – that burnout is real, and the toll that never having any time to yourself takes a mental toll that can grow into real trouble.

Kids need us. The smaller they are, the more they need us.

Partners need us, too, and so do bosses and our parents and siblings and churches and friends…it honestly never ends, so unless you’re able to establish some firm boundaries and stick to them, there’s a good chance you’ve had a complete meltdown at least once since having a baby.

Licensed therapist Emma Bennett basically confirms what we all instinctively know when she says “I consider alone time a necessity, not an indulgence,” and maintains that mothers who don’t get enough can and do experience burnout, resentment, overwhelm, anger, and a loss of sense of self.

If you think you can manage those things, though, psychotherapist Eric Djossa says you could be taking a big risk.

“Lack of emotional or physical support can put mms at higher risk of developing a postpartum mood or anxiety disorder and lack of support/understanding can exacerbate these symptoms.”

At least one study has pointed to a lack of friend and family support as a risk factor for developing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders as well.

This surprised even me – a 2018 survey of 2000 parents found that we only have an average of 32 minutes a day of “alone time.”

No wonder aw all need more!

Djossa says we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for it, and we shouldn’t feel guilty taking it, either.

“When moms are communicating they want time alone it usually means they want a break. I think that moms don’t get time alone when these connections and supports are lacking. They may feel both isolated and burnt out all at the same time. A remedy to this is ramping up supports and connections in order to have the ability to take a break. They need help. They are tired of being touched by tiny hands. They need a breather. But I think that this breather looks different for different moms.”

Watch a television show alone, read your book, talk to your partner, see a friend for coffee, take a bath – whatever it is for you, make sure you fit it into your daily schedule – but it should be something that nourishes and replenishes you to dig back in.

Moms, especially first time moms, can also be wary of leaving their babies with other people, but that’s something we can learn to let go of (to some degree) in time. It’s important to remember, Bennett says, that it can even be a positive thing for our kiddos, too.

“Giving our children the opportunity to build other loving attachments to additional caregivers can be a good experience for children. It is OK to accept those feelings of nervousness and also try to work with them so you can have some separation.”

So, ladies, insist on some time for yourself. Even if it’s only a couple more hours a week, it’s better than nothing.

And, speaking from experience, absence really does make the heart grow fonder – and it also refills those wells of patience, too.

The post How a Lack of Alone Time Affects the Mental Health of Moms appeared first on UberFacts.

If you haven’t talked to your kid about race and inequality in the United States, no matter how old or young they are, now is the time to start.

Not tomorrow, now.

Things are changing, but not fast enough, which means all kids, all colors, should be aware of how our society treats people different based on the color of their skin.

One great way to begin the discussion with kids is to fill their library with books about the different experiences of different kinds of people in this country. Here are 10 that can get you started.

8. Abbi Invents Unbreakable Crayons by Dr. Arlyne Simon

Abbi hates when her crayons break, so she comes up with a plan to create her own unbreakable crayons – and gets the patent to prove it! This book is excellent for kids interested in STEM and Art, and they might even learn something about the scientific method while they’re at it.

7. A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara

If you’re hoping to inspire your kids to get involved in social change, this alphabet-centered book goes over concepts that center around revolution, also delving into race, class, and worker’s rights. This book should get your kiddos asking the right questions and can work for toddlers on up.

6. I Am Enough by Grace Beyers

This book teaches confidence without leaving out how important it can also be to work with others. The illustrations are gorgeous and remind Black girls that they are beautiful just the way they are.

5. The Bell Rang by James E. Ransome

You don’t want to stock your kid’s library with books about slavery, but they definitely need to understand it. This book offers a unique perspective and includes a nice handling of the topic – the author humanizes the experience of slaves without making it seem like slavery itself was anything close to okay.

4. Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson

This book sheds light on the realities of those who did, and didn’t, march for Civil Rights and highlights the existence of the children who also went on a search for justice and equality.

3. My People by Langston Hughes, illustrated by Charles R. Smith Jr.

Hughes poetry is near and dear to so many, and this photo interpretation of his work is perfect for fans. They’re full of rich diversity of Blackness that perfectly compliment Hughes’ timeless words.

2. Look What Brown Can Do! by T. Marie Harris

There are too many people who still have the idea that Black people can only achieve success through sports or entertainment (both are valid!), but the truth is, Black kids can do anything they want to do in life – just like anyone else!

This book highlights this truth by showcasing historical Black figures who excelled in areas like investing, business, science, you name it.

1. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison

Black women have achieved many great things, despite having to deal with assumptions made about them due to their race and gender. This book features 40 Black women who left their mark on society in any number of ways – and there are some obscure women here that you’ll probably be learning about for the first time, too!

I’m definitely going to pick some of these up for my boys.

If you have any other suggestions to add to the list, let us know in the comments!

The post Books About Racial Inequity You Might Want to Add to Your Child’s Library appeared first on UberFacts.

I nursed both of my boys, the first for a year (exclusively for 10 months) and the second until 9 months (he was a biter that would not be stopped). I enjoyed it, it worked for us, and I’m glad.

That said, even if breast may “be best,” I have absolutely no judgment for mothers who can’t or choose not to breastfeed their babies. It’s a huge time commitment, it’s uncomfortable at first, there are times when it’s confusing or painful and yeah, there’s a downside to being the only one who can feed the baby.

And of course, there are non-biological mothers or mothers who don’t produce or mothers who have had mastectomies…the list goes on and on, and here’s the thing. There’s a ton of advice out there for moms who choose to nurse their newborns. Like, probably too much.

But nowadays, choosing to formula feed from the beginning is so taboo that many who go that route feel like they need to do so in secret. Which is not the way to a happy parent, let me tell you. It really does take a village.

So, here are some quick answers for moms who aren’t breastfeeding. Fistbump on making and feeding that human, girl!

#4. Should you try to use someone else’s breast milk?

You can, but make sure you go through proper channels.

Outside of premature babies, who seem to have lower complication risks when fed human milk, milk banks are the way to go.

The milk is regulated and processed, and donors are carefully screened.

#3. Yes, you can choose to do a little of both.

People who are really, REALLY INTO breastfeeding will try to convince you that giving your baby formula from a bottle some of the time will ruin them from nursing and breastmilk forever. This is not true, and also the idea can be dangerous.

Babies need to stay hydrated, moms need to rest, and some of us don’t have a great supply. There has been more than one study (like this one and this one) that show (if done correctly) supplementing does affect breastfeeding at all, or even increases (see here and here) the chance of breastfeeding in the long term.

My cousins gave their babies formula for their 10pm feeding every night so they would sleep longer. You do you.

#2. Yes, you can stop whenever you want.

Just because you started out nursing doesn’t mean you have to continue to six months, a year, or beyond. Stop when you feel like you want to stop, just make sure to invest time in a gradual shift from breastmilk to formula if you can.

This is for your comfort as much as your baby’s – I found that swapping out one feeding, waiting three or four days, swapping another, and so on was the way to go.

#1. Do you need to invest in the fancy European formula?

Some Americans will buy anything if Europe says it’s better, and lately the idea that European formula is healthier because it contains fewer ingredients and a different type of sugar, possibly reducing obesity risks down the road.

It costs a ton, you have to buy it online, and because it’s unregulated by the FDA, it’s sort of frowned-upon by the government, too.

An academic paper from 2019 suggests that it’s definitely not worth any of the risks. Also, they contain most of the same vitamins, minerals, and nutrient content as U.S. versions – though the States formulas do contain more iron. The lactose in place of corn syrup argument is unsubstantiated by science.

So just buy one your baby likes, and that has an appropriate mixture of fats, carbs, and proteins along with other nutrients. And pray your little one doesn’t have a sensitive tummy that forces you to shell out more than $40 a container.

There you go, mamas. Do what’s right for you and your wee one and you can’t go wrong.

Go out there and support each other, yeah? It’s always the right thing to do!

The post Here’s Some Advice for Moms Who Choose Not to Breastfeed appeared first on UberFacts.

If you are dragging here and there, and you have to stay sober to, you know, parent your kids, memes are a great way to re-start your engines when they begin to flag.

But don’t go scouring the internet for the right sort of memes yourself – let us do it for you! We already have, as a matter of fact, and really think these 12 are going to deliver.

12. As it should have!

I probably would have called the cops before I figured it out.

11. I mean they barely have any alcohol in them.

And it is summer.

10. I mean I don’t know what I’m doing tonight, so.

And also no one has any idea what they’re doing this year anymore.

9. They’re so cute when they can’t tell you’re old.

And you didn’t even wear makeup today!

8. I have no idea why this is so funny, but there it is.

You’re laughing, too! Explain yourself!

7. This is the saddest of sad moods.

Especially when you buy the snacks so you can only blame yourself.

6. And also in the doctor’s office and the department stores.

Because you’re so old you go to department stores.

5. I think we all know the answer to that.

But if it’s red wine I hear that’s just like a workout.

4. No one is looking away from that show.

Trust me. Rubbernecking is the official spot of America.

3. That’s a generous interpretation of my wakeup face.

I can’t believe it doesn’t scare my kids away from my room. Dammit.

2. As long as you understand this, I don’t see the problem.

We’re all on fire, right?

1. Do you really want me to answer that?

Because…nevermind, I won’t.

How are you feeling? Did we hit the nail on the head?

Share what you think is the best of the bunch in the comments!

The post Memes That Might Boost Your Mood appeared first on UberFacts.

Mornings can be tough (and if you’re home with little kids, so are afternoons and that awkward stretch before dinner and also after baths when it’s somehow still not time for bed).

If you’re having one of those days when coffee just isn’t doing it, these 13 memes are ready to step in an help do the trick!

13. Things would be much easier if there were instant results.

You know, like how you’re starving right away.

12. She left off “all of the above.”

Because that’s definitely the answer.

11. Who are those people on the left?

Are they insane or are they liars?

10. Best to just put your head down and push through.

I think we all know it was worth it in the end.

9. There has to be a way to break the cycle

Besides drugs and alcohol, I mean.

8. Seriously, do people have a compass in their brain?

And don’t give me that crap about the sun or whatever – it’s not always sunny!

7. There’s no way they’re not doing it on purpose.

Ungrateful prigs.

6. If only this would work.

The truth doesn’t always set you free, I suppose.

5. A more accurate depiction I have not seen.

You can pretend it’s not so for you, if you want.

4. It’s kind of disturbing, if I’m being honest.

And yes, I’m talking about both pictures.

3. The same thing happens when I casually think I can swim a lap in the pool.

Spoiler alert: swimming is very hard and also I am out of shape.

2. I’m working on being a better person, okay?

And yes, I’ve been working on it for a while.

1. Dogs are always about living their best lives.

Don’t hate the player hate the game.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for another cup of coffee…but I’m feeling like it just might work this time!

Did you enjoy these? Tell us which one was your favorite in the comments!

The post If You Feel Like You’re Dragging, These 13 Memes Could Pick You Up appeared first on UberFacts.

A reason why there are so many parents on the internet is because we all need support. We want to know that we’re not alone, that our experiences aren’t unique, and that we will survive whatever madness life (and our kids) have thrown at us that day.

We also need and want to laugh about this crazy rollercoaster we’re all on, and these 10 memes are ready and willing to deliver.

10. I feel so seen by this post.

I can’t even buy Lucky Charms for this very reason.

9. There’s no way to just say no, either.

It’s a whole Stockholm thing, I think.

8. There are so many people to thank.

But, like me, none of them give a sh*t.

7. This is so accurate it actually hurts.

Somehow we always make it to bedtime, though.

6. Something happens between your mouth and their ears.

And it’s nothing good, I’ll tell you that much.

5. I’m going to try to talk my kid into this.

It will probably only last about 5 minutes, but still.

4. This is about as perfect a meme as I’ve ever seen.

But everything about Schitt’s Creek is perfect, obviously.

3. I mean, it’s an honest mistake.

Also…how much was he offering?

2. I think we already knew this, right?

Still, it’s refreshing, just a little bit. Because even I think Maui is cool.

1. I’ve never thought about this before, but yeah.

They know you love them now, and they take no prisoners.

I’m feeling more like part of the tribe than ever!

What’s your favorite meme on this list? Tell us in the comments!

The post Memes That Should Resonate With Parents Everywhere appeared first on UberFacts.