Rachel Kiser
Blogger | Mom of Two

After the birth of your first child, it doesn’t take long before you start to reflect on the luxuries of your past. Eating food hot, shampooing and conditioning your hair, waking without bags under your eyes… it all seems so distant, doesn’t it?

That’s what inspired blogger Mike Julianelle of Dad and Buried to post a before and after-having-kids selfie. In the first photo, ten years ago, he appears to be having a great time; his complexion is wrinkle-free and there is light in his eyes. In the second, he’s wearing a face that can only be described as the walking dead. Exhausted and strung out.

We shouldn’t laugh, but we are. And so is the rest of the internet.

On his Instagram page Got Toddlered, Mike invited other parents to send in their before-and-afters as well. And boy, did his followers come through! Here are a couple of our favorites.

Now, before people go and take this the wrong way, it’s a light-hearted jab at some of the more superficial sacrifices of parenthood. Is anyone saying it’s not worth it? Of course not! All of the wrinkles, unwashed (and graying) hair, all of the lost sleep pales in comparison to the joy that is raising children.

It doesn’t make it any less real, though, or any less hilarious!

“Part of my thing is being open about the frustrating side of parenting,” The blogger tells Babble, “so all of us in this same parenting boat can commiserate and hopefully laugh about it … it made sense to let parents at large join in, in the name of solidarity!”

Anything that helps parents feel less alone in this crazy thing we’re doing is glorious, indeed. Maybe we’ll snap our own Before and After selfies for submission! Thanks for the giggles, Mike.

About Rachel Kiser

Rachel is a wife and mother living in Raleigh, North Carolina. She’s a fan of good coffee, wearer of gray t-shirts, and is constantly starting books she will never finish. Her family is her joy, and she loves to engage with other moms and dads on matters of parenting. Her blog posts have also been featured on the Today Show Parenting Blog and Scary Mommy.

View all posts by Rachel Kiser here.