Japan’s ‘Shocking Images Of Parenting’ Twitter Trend Will Leave You Crying With Laughter

They come in our lives and turn it upside down. Sometimes literally.

Parents across the globe unanimously agree on two things: that having children is the best thing that’s ever happened to them, and that kids have the unexplained supernatural power to drive any adult insane. They’re adorable, cute as hell and can brighten up your day instantly — until the next thing you know is that they’ve turned the house upside down and you can’t even start figuring out how this creature could have come from you. Yes, parenting is a rollercoaster of emotional ups and downs, of pulling your hair one minute and crying happy tears of how full of love you are. Yes, even in the land of politeness we call Japan!

And sometimes, just sometimes, the best thing you can do is turn the whole thing into a joke. Or a hashtag. #IkujiShogekiGazo (#育児衝撃画像, Shocking images of parenting) on Japan’s Twitter is exactly this: a virtual museum of real-life parenting situations that will make you both laugh and cry. Here are our best picks … so far.

Hey, papa!

She’s nine months old and she already knows who runs the world. Caption reads: “Our 9-month-old showing her dad the middle finger.”

パパに向けて
中指立てる9ヵ月の女の子

#育児衝撃画像 pic.twitter.com/kvmcPiExqK

— しも (@risetaaaaak) March 28, 2019

While you were sleeping

This young father hasn’t been sleeping well these days… for a reason: his baby is building puzzle blocks inside his mouth every time he falls asleep. Lesson: If you have kids, you better get ready to keep your eyes open ALL THE TIME.

最近眠りが浅いと思ったらこいつの仕業
パズルボックス買ったのが仇となる。#育児衝撃画像 pic.twitter.com/SNaEtcb3zM

— 三天屋多嘉雄 (@TakaoMisoraya) April 1, 2019

The comfort of a cat

Priorities when choosing a pet: cuteness, the look in their eyes, the connection you feel, child weight endurance…

猫に座ってた#育児衝撃写真 #育児衝撃画像 pic.twitter.com/h1Ny9ywvUB

— 瓶子可南子 (@HeishiKanako) March 30, 2019

She’s got the look

They know the best “insta-bae” spots in town…

UNIQLOに新しい映えポイント
#育児衝撃画像 pic.twitter.com/eCX4xbOcre

— frog comic (@FrogComic) March 29, 2019

All dressed up

“I seriously shouted out loud (when I saw this). My daughter, 5yo at the time, dressed up her doll as a ‘blue demon’.” #RingContinued

#育児衝撃画像
普通に悲鳴あげたやつ。娘5歳の時。青鬼になっちゃった！って最初は服を着せてあげるつもりやったらしい。 pic.twitter.com/foSbvDsyOm

— ちぃ (@yuzuhqmqmq) March 29, 2019

This awesome view outside

“Great view!” This mom’s positive tweet after her kids tore the shoji (Japanese paper sliding door) apart deserves a medal.

#育児衝撃画像
見通し抜群。 pic.twitter.com/OWRQneMllf

— ゆみ (@75RPGMopnZ09Eyw) March 29, 2019

What goes around comes around

Then he slipped on his vomit and fell #育児衝撃画像 pic.twitter.com/uxw3Hq1vVr

— iWOUoo(窩噢) (@iWOUoo) March 29, 2019

Turn the lights on

So he got scolded for cutting his own hair and putting his dad’s smartphone in his diaper as a sign of regret seemed like the next best thing he could think of…

#育児衝撃画像
自分で髪を切ってめっちゃ怒られて丸坊主にされた後にコレ。 pic.twitter.com/YqTZTEUAHk

— KaT.かすん (@ksnt28) March 28, 2019

For a smoother sleep

“The Nivea accident.”

ニベア事件#育児衝撃画像 pic.twitter.com/vHAR4bv0UG

— s (@babymonm2) March 28, 2019

I see you

I see you too. Loud and clear.

わが家からはこれかなー。
#育児衝撃画像 pic.twitter.com/9j6MMsa5tX

— てぃも@4歳1歳 (@timo3451) March 28, 2019

I like them dry

Gummy bears are like raisins… the drier they are … wait, what?!

こないだ部屋干ししてた洗濯物を取り込もうとしたらグミが干されてた#育児衝撃画像 pic.twitter.com/wpzwTBQtpD

— アシカ (@watashi_asika) March 28, 2019

This ‘snowman’

We’re not sure if it’s the kid or the teachers at the nursery that’s responsible for this creative sculpture. But it’s a snowman. IT IS!

娘が年少の頃に園で作ってきた雪だるまですね……雪だるまですね！！！！ #育児衝撃画像 pic.twitter.com/eR63nTwUmR

— たら子部長 (@harapeko_tarako) March 30, 2019

 The sole survivor

We’ve all seen this at some point, haven’t we?

#育児衝撃画像 生存者僅か1名。 pic.twitter.com/DQBMMjOAsw

— アルプスの中年。 (@tutti22e7) March 28, 2019

Medium rare, please

“I feel relieved having discovered #ShockingImagesOfParenting. Now I know we’re not alone…,” mom says. 😅

#育児衝撃画像 見るとすごく救われる。うちだけじゃないんだぁ〜がんばろう…🥺 pic.twitter.com/gPUjdgGnSy

— mimi (@emuenu) March 28, 2019

No, you just don’t

We pray to all gods out there that one day she’ll realize this is not okay…

#育児衝撃画像
（画像じゃなくて動画ですが）

おもちゃの包丁でおままごとしてるな〜と思って見てみたら

クマのぬいぐるみ切ってた pic.twitter.com/i9GefraqX8

— りお⭕️ (@yukiurario) March 26, 2019

Oh, dear lord…

It’s just a girl trying to take her stockings off, relax…

一瞬びっくりしたよね

#育児衝撃画像
#育児衝撃映像
#タイツを脱ぎたかった模様 pic.twitter.com/1tJRuthW4y

— ちびあいりん(古川愛李) (@chibiairin_f) March 31, 2019

Playin’ penguins

What a fun game it is… pouring water on the floor and pretending we can swim!!!

朝起きたら床に水撒いてペンギンごっこしてた時の写真#育児衝撃画像 pic.twitter.com/jZM6SgSG34

— おこめ@ﾀｲde迷走中 (@tw_okomex) March 31, 2019

Got your own #ikujishogekigazo? Share the laugh and reduce the stress by tagging us at #savvycrazykids for a chance to be featured on the site!