‘You’re doing the best you can, Mom and Dad!': A family gathering of parenting laughs for witty mothers and fathers (October 31, 2026)

Melissa Knudson • Writer

Oct 31, 2026 2:00 PM EDT

The morning after Halloween, the parent tax will increase its candy acquisition.

Who needs the spooky season when you can have a scary toddler all year long?

Parenting is a lot like Halloween. They are both filled with scary moments, situations that feel like elaborate pranks, and lots of secret candy bags to recover the energy lost throughout the day. This celebration is clearly a universal metaphor for trying to deal with a toddler. In other words, being a parent is basically living in a world in which every day is Halloween, and everyone is wearing last-minute costumes called "outfits".

I feel for you, parents of the world. I'm not gonna lie to you, this weekend is about to get intense. On the bright side, you'll get to confiscate your favorite candy and call it "the parent tax". Here's an excellent collection of memes to laugh at while you make all those peanut cups mysteriously disappear in one sitting. Don't worry, your secret is safe with us; we will tell your children that the Boogie man was just extra hungry.

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via childfreetamil
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via reel_men_lif
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via momsbeingpetty
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via @punk_history
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via @meme_zar
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via blessedwifeposh
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via @thewildwest3
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via @mytinytraveler
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via @Thedad_father
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via _natalieperkins_
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via _natalieperkins_
In the era of technology, and specialty around these sorts of celebrations, internet parents will try to tell you how to do the job right. They will go on and on about ridiculous concepts like “no screen time” and “serve carrots instead of sweets during the trick-or-treating session”. I’m not a parent, so I have absolutely no idea if you should listen to them, but I used to be a child, and I will tell you, from a kid's perspective: if you give the kids carrots instead of candy, your Halloween night’s going to turn a lot more scary than it should be. Also, I know screen time is supposedly not the best idea, but how else are you going to show your kids the amazing Halloween movies that became highlights of your generation? Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown are just necessary for a proper childhood education.
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via cw_622
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via mattlisle
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via spiralhumour
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via badmommy.official
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via LIFEofDAD
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via ScaryMommy
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via includofficial
Yes, the weekend’s going to get hard and even feel a little impossible when your tiny toddler creature decides to bring some friends over. But in the midst of chaos, remember to enjoy yourself too, and take the very entertaining opportunity to reactivate your creative side towards making an awesome costume for the family.
Halloween is always a challenge for parents, but these nights will become your kid’s favorite childhood memories. On that note, no better opportunity than to demand free candy from strangers; your economy and your sweet tooth will thank you for it.
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via @themarvelousmrsmom
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via firstcryparenting
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via moms_beyond
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via Kelly Pulley / Citytv
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via theortegaspartyof6
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via life.with.jesss
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via @Thedad_father
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via @simply_stephaaani
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via @Lhlodder
Send this hilarious meme collection to another struggling parent, and let them know they’re doing just fine. None of this parenting stuff comes with a manual, and every day is definitely a crazy adventure. Sometimes, it will be more of a Barbie land kind of adventure, in which everything feels pinky perfect. An occasional dark thought here and there, but nothing major. On the other hand, some days will definitely feel like the Halloween movie franchise, in which your toddler will suddenly get the ability to move inhumanly fast and increase their destruction capacity. In either case, at least you get a great rewatch opportunity.
Happy Halloween to all the scared parents who already live in a haunted toddler house, and I hope you get all the candy you need to recover from trick-or-treating.