55 Healthy Marriage Memes About the Expectations vs Realities of Marriage and Family (October 26, 2023)

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elina lee
Oct 26, 2023 1:00 PM EDT

Can we be real for a second? It's no secret that marriage and parenthood represent two of life's most transformative experiences, each with a distinct set of realities and expectations. And while the concept of a blissful family with children might be idealized, it's essential that we recognize the obstacles and difficulties that can occur on this journey. So whether you're planning your next pregnancy and Googling 'what to expect when you're expecting' or you already have 5 of your own, this one goes out to y'all! 

Every parent knows that once you embrace parenthood, your focus shifts away from your personal desires and ambitions. No matter how much you believe you can juggle it all, your children will always be your number one priority. It might seem like you're losing your freedom at first, but then you learn that it's not freedom you lose, just spontaneity. You can still take those trips and go on those date nights, all you have to do is plan ahead, that's all. 

With that being said, we hope you enjoy this week's batch of memes about all things marriage and family. 

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  • 01
    Forehead - A random woman at the grocery store waiting for her opportunity to ask me where my baby's socks are @oneawkwardmom
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 02
    Cartoon - When you're in sensory overload but no one will leave you alone
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 03
    Hair - Do you feel dominated by your wife? No, he doesn't.
    via guywhodoesthings
  • 04
    Plant - Parenthood is hearing a noise at 3 AM and hoping it's an intruder and not your kid getting up again.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 05
    Microphone - Me: It's bedtime. Good night! My kids: N I DON'T WANNA CLOSE MY EYES
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 06
    Hairstyle - MY KIDS SLEPT IN 5 MINUTES LATER THAN USUAL BECAUSE I LET THEM STAY UP 4 HOURS PAST THEIR BED TIME LAST NIGHT.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 07
    Font - THE DAD The Dad @thedad Welcome to parenthood. What are you eating? Can I have some? That's not fair, I'm hungry too! No, I'm not hungry for that, I want what YOU'RE eating. IT'S NOT FAIR 1:20 PM 17 Feb 23 8,707 Views ●
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 08
    Outerwear - 3 year old using a tablet or smartphone: 3 year old using a blanket: 2144 A hallussill Lokanta
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 09
    Rectangle - Told my daughter she couldnt hang out with friends until she hung up her laundry. Not sure if I should ground her or applaud her ingenuity. 06 FAIRY 00000
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 10
    Mouth - When you're trying to be mad at your husband but you know in his own weird way he's a good man and you are a little crazy sometimes boredpanda.com
    via guywhodoesthings
  • 11
    Organism - My toddler when it's bedtime: Bedtime is more what you'd call guidelines than actual rules.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 12
    Photograph - WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO HAVE MULTIPLE KIDS WHAT IT'S ACTUALLY LIKE
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 13
    Font - Lucy Huber @clhubes The worst thing about kids crying about you not letting them watch tv is how quiet they would be if you let them watch tv. 6:02 PM 9/5/22 Twitter Web App . ... 305 Retweets 34 Quote Tweets 8,855 Likes
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 14
    Rectangle - @dad_hard @kunkelcomedy Hey sorry childless friend, I can't commit to attending your thing because I still haven't asked my wife - we get 11 uninterrupted minutes per week and we usually try to bone or talk about getting new curtains. @dad_hard
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 15
    Organism - Arianna Bradford @TheNYAMProject TODDLERS: THE MUSICAL Including hits like: I Don't Want That (Yes I Do) H NO NO NO NO NO He's Looking At Me, She's Breathing on Me Cough in Your Mouth Bedtime is The Time for Questions SHOWTIMES AT 4 AM, 5 AM, and DURING YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW 20:57 13 Nov 19 Twitter for iPhone
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 16
    Font - THE DAD The Dad @thedad The silence after your kid falls over is the worst. Because they're either absolutely fine or filling their lungs with enough air to mimic an air raid siren.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 17
    Slope - My feelings for you How much I am able to express
    via guywhodoesthings
  • 18
    Font - Rhyming Mama @sarabellab123 When I told my daughter she needed to "use her words" I didn't think she'd @sarabellab123 ... use ALL of them, every waking hour of every single day.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 19
    Blue - The daughter I thought I'd have: led 96 @D The daughter I actually had: @Abstract_Frenchies
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 20
    Rectangle - The Dad @thedad Most people believe Valentine's Day is Feb. 14 but then you get married, have kids, and realize it's actually "whenever it's convenient for your schedule." THE DAD 4:12 PM 12 Feb 23 25K Views ● .
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 21
    Font - Mom Like That Podcast @momlikethatpod Them: why don't you just go to bed after the kids go to sleep if you're always so tired? @amomlikethatpodcast Me: I stay up a lot later than I should every night because I don't belong to myself during the day. So I want to belong to me for a few hours before I go to bed for everyone else.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 22
    Cloud - Thanks, Apple. I'll let her know. 11:45 NOISE O Loud Environment Sound levels hit 90 decibels. Around 30 minutes at this level in cause temporary ring loss.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 23
    Font - River_Tam parody @RiverTamYDN Daughter's Montessori class of 3-5yos has been banned from having ketchup with their chicken nuggets at lunch due to something she will only cryptically refer to as "the blood game" 6:55 PM 1/18/23 57.2K Views 1,998 Likes 120 Retweets 12 Quotes
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 24
    Human - Me still watching Bluey 10 episodes after the kids have gone to sleep! made with mematic THE DAD
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 25
    Font - Lucy Huber @clhubes Wild how when you're 38 weeks pregnant you could have a whole new person to take care of in three weeks or an hour and half.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 26
    Font - Twitter 9:48 AM The Dad Midwife: *handing me newborn* Give his head plenty of support Me: *to babg* your head... is phenomenal Reply Retweet THE DAD Like
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 27
    Font - Imagine it's Sunday morning. You've been allowed to sleep in as long as you want, and you have no chores or responsibilities all day. There's fresh fallen snow on the ground. Your mom makes Cinnamon rolls and serves you breakfast. But you're almost 3, so you are blind with rage.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 28
    Arm - MENTALLY & EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED PARENTS A FAMILY OF CARTOON DOGS ANIMAL THE DURRELL CHALLENGE EXHALLD RACE 2017 THE DAD
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 29
    Font - Abraham Gutman @abgutman Great British Bake Off but you pair every contestant with a 3-year-old who really wants to help.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 30
    Font - Julianna W. Julianna W Miner @juliannawminer A great alternative to screen time is playing cards as a family! So many learning opportunities! I taught my kids that there's no such as thing as family while playing Uno & that I'll put a +4 down on a kindergartner & cackle like a swamp witch because I did not come to lose. Miner
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 31
    Font - Pigeon Fancier @isabelzawtun After watching my toddler like a hawk nonstop I glance at my phone for 0.00012 seconds, and when I look up she is somehow smoking a cigarette and wielding a crossbow
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 32
    Font - Toddlers: The face of a baby The attitude of a teenage girl And, the ability to go from angel to psychopath in 2.7 seconds flat
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 33
    Font - mom mom mom mom mom @notmythirdrodeo I like to feed my kid balanced meals from the 4 toddler food groups. 1. Things he ate yesterday that he refused today. 2. Things he doesn't want but I'm hoping to get him to eat anyway. 3. Things he thinks he wants but will spit out after one bite. 4. Goldfish crackers.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 34
    Hair - Adults chugging Red Bulls for a 10pm gaming sesh Toddlers who had a cookie Look what they need to mimic a fraction of our power
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 35
    Font - 8:13 ← THE DAD Tweet James Breakwell, Exploding.... 1d Just an all-American girl scratching her pig with a Halo sword waiting for her game of Star Wars Battlefront to load. Basically a Norman Rockwell painting. மும 11 ViewS 8 NOLLIE WOMBA il₁ 73.9K 17 1762 The Dad @thedad ● 8:12 AM 16 Jan 23 Replying to @Xploding Unicorn This picture alone is a better premise for a TV show than most things my kids watch. ||| QT 93% Tweet your reply O 1,367 <
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 36
    Gauge - Me, by 4 pm every day. E 1/2 "l PATIENCE \/ F Som
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 37
    Font - @dad_hard Parenting makes total sense when you're doing it but probably seems weird from the outside. My wife just hid a pair of my toddler's pants because they were too much drama' and that explanation seemed totally reasonable to me.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 38
    Font - One Awkward Mom @oneawkward mom Friend: Want to get together next week? Me: Sorry, my kids aren't sick this week, so that means they'll definitely be sick next week.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 39
    Font - THE DAD The Dad @thedad I installed a fake thermostat that I occasionally yell at my kids for touching so they don't get suspicious. The real one is behind an oil painting in my bedroom.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 40
    Font - PARENTING HACK: There are no hacks. Everything is hard. These kids don't listen. This is your life now. Godspeed.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 41
    Font - THE DAD The Dad @thedad Dad Law: If a dad sees kids groaning or being grossed out by him kissing his spouse, he'll do it more dramatically, often with a dip to really sell it. He knows one day they will remember how in love their parents were. One day, it won't seem gross at all. (But not this day.)
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 42
    Font - THE DAD The Dad✓✔ @thedad The harder you work on a dinner, the less likely a child is to eat it.
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 43
    Footwear - Me trying to seduce my husband after the kids finally go to bed @mommymemest
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 44
    Font - THE DAD The Dad @thedad 10yo: Can I have a snack? Me: No, you'll spoil your dinner 10yo: Ok... can I have an appetizer? Me: 10yo: Me: That's genius but still no
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 45
    Font - hakuna matoddler it means no relaxing for the rest of your days
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 46
    Font - Robert Knop @FatherWith Twins *overheard from the other room 8yo: Can I have an ice cream sandwich? Grandma: Did you finish your dinner? 8yo: No Grandma: Just one then
    via GarlickyDragon
  • 47
    Happy - Marry the one who gives you the same feeling when you you get see food coming at a restaurant.
    via guywhodoesthings
  • 48
    Font - DAD ON THE OUTSIDE I'M FINE DAD ON THE INSIDE what has 5 toes and isn't your foot? my foot home! my boss told me to have a good day so I went EP hi fne, I'm dad what's brown and sticky? astick what do you call a fish wearing a bow tie? sofishticated I used to hate facial hair, but then it grew on me how many apples grow on a tree? all of them
    via guywhodoesthings
  • 49
    Forehead - Me showing my husband where the thing he couldn't find is, after telling him where it's at 20 times.
    via guywhodoesthings
  • 50
    Font - The wife loves it when I leave notes for her around the house DON'T FLUSH! GONE TO GET TAPE MEASURE (POSSIBLE WORLD RECORD)
    via guywhodoesthings
  • 51
    Rectangle - Sarah Morgan Saturday at 15:35 . domestic housewife implies the existence of feral housewife and now i have a career goal
    via guywhodoesthings
  • 52
    Joint - LEGO STAR WARS 9-14 How do three men in their 30s not have $800 between them? STAR WARS GERE solid snark They're-- The economy is in shambles.
    via guywhodoesthings
  • 53
    Wood - It's so cute when she leaves love notes for me: I'm ON AZOOM @mile69club CALL. DO NOT WALK OUT NAKED
    via guywhodoesthings
  • 54
    Organism - When you told him you didn't want anything from the shop and he actually took you seriously and didn't get you anything
    via guywhodoesthings
  • 55
    Sleeve - Me watching my husband sleep soundly at 2 am instead of being wide awake with anxiety like me @momsconfession
    via guywhodoesthings

Tags

wholesome ups and downs marriage witty heartwarming toddlers memories relationships parenting joys kids these days sleepless nights family cute kids raising kids family vacation children
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