The Parenting Struggle Is Real. These Videos Prove Animal Parents Are Right There With You
You’re not the only stressed-out mom or dad who’s ever thought, “That’s it. He’s going to timeout for SIX MONTHS.” Parenting is a tough gig. But it helps to know that you’re not alone. Temperamental toddlers and rebellious adolescents try the patience of moms and dads everywhere—including in the animal kingdom.
As one hilariously named children’s book so eloquently put it, sometimes all mom and dad want is a little bit of peace and quiet. So why can’t the kids just Go! To! Sleep!? This rat mom is right there with ya—she’s got 11 kids to put to bed.
It seems like no matter how many times you wipe their faces, wash their hands, and change their clothes, kids are always finding new ways of getting dirty. So if you’ve ever said, “How did you get dirty in five minutes? What even IS this? Come here—let me clean your face,” you’ll relate to this fox dad:
If your kids are old enough, you’ve likely had a conversation that went something like this:
Kid: “I can’t do it.”
You: “Yes, you can.”
Kid: “No, I can’t. You do it for me.”
You: “If I do it for you, you won’t learn anything.”
Kid: “I don’t want to learn anything, I just want _________.”
You: “Just try.”
Kid: “I can’t.”
You (under your breath): “Why can’t beer come in two-liters?
Elephants go through the same thing—and they never forget it even after Junior is all grown up.
You can see the entire video on YouTube, and—spoiler alert—the young elephant does make it across the stream, after eight minutes.
As much as they may drive you crazy sometimes, that terrifying moment when your baby gets separated from you is one that parents will never forget. Cows on dairy farms almost always have their babies taken away from them so that humans can drink the milk that they had produced for their own calves. But for one incredible mom, Maybelle, and her baby, Miles, the story had a much happier ending:
Another thing that human and animal parents have in common: They all love their babies and would do anything to protect them. Please, let animal families live in peace. By buying cruelty-free products, you can make sure rat moms get to put their little ones to bed. By refusing to wear fur, you’re letting fox parents care for their kits. By steering clear of captive-animal displays, you let penguin pops and elephant moms raise their young in freedom. And by choosing non-dairy milk, you can help ensure that cows like Maybelle will never have to endure seeing their precious baby torn away from them again.
PETA salutes all awesome parents. Thanks, moms and dads!
