One of the great benefits of the rise of the online mommy culture is the camaraderie it offers. Often when I type a quick Google search for tips on dealing with the kid curve ball of the day, some brilliant YouTuber has already conquered the topic. Other times my girlfriends will send me a link to a parody video or something sweet and sentimental to get me through the day.
I’ve spent some time looking into it and here are my top four parenting YouTube channels:
1. WhatsUpMoms
WhatsUpMoms has it all. Meg does the cooking, Elle covers kid entertainment, Lizzie tackles product recommendations and Laura specializes in style/beauty. Then there’s the comedic shorts or the song parodies where all moms contribute. My favorite video is “How to Breastfeed in Public.” It’s a comical take on the daily struggle of nursing moms everywhere.
2. Juggling the Jenkins
This is a one-woman YouTube channel that has relatability down to a science. When Tiffany Jenkins isn’t telling it like it is about mental health and addiction, she’s creating funny shorts on topics rarely discussed among Moms, like being a step parent and marital struggles. My favorite “Juggling the Jenkins” video changes but I can really relate to “When You’re Not a Morning Person” because the comedy is deliciously dry.
3. #imomsohard
Kristen and Jen from #imomsohard have a huge following on Facebook but they also post their content on their YouTube channel. They are 100% comedy. They have tackled everything from shapewear to making friends with other moms. I find their brand to be supportive of moms of all kinds and true friendship. My favorite video of theirs is hands down “I Body Hair So Hard.”
4. Story of This Life
Ah, Story of this Life. Whenever I need a dose of sentimentality or sweetness, I head over to their channel. As with #imomsohard, their Facebook following is larger than their YouTube presence but their videos are meticulously well-made and heart-warming. The channel is about parents Esther and Thad and their 3 daughters, Ellia, Tessa and Aubrey. While their take is always sweet, they’ve also mastered comedy. Case in point, they succinctly depicted the hypocrisy of all would-be parents in a hilarious video entitled “When WE Have Kids…”
My favorite from this channel is “A Normal Day” where they brilliantly remind us that our hectic, monotonous day might have been pure magic to our babies.
The next time you’re having a rough day with the kids (ahem, tomorrow), just excuse yourself to the bathroom, pop open your phone and find your next favorite video. Once you find a gem, be sure to text your mom friends because if you’re having a rough day, odds are they can use a pick-me-up too.
