"When life gives you lemons, squirt someone in the eye." – Cathy Guisewite.

Ever wonder why we turn to humor during stressful situations? Humor lets us shift our focus, giving us a distraction from the events at hand. Guisewite's quote reminds us that sometimes embracing your worry can actually help you find the levity in the moment.

As parents, our lives have been turned upside down—we're balancing the demands of homeschooling, working remotely, caring for our families, and disinfecting groceries. Overnight, we've become teachers, CEOs, and psychologists. Memes help find the humor in the unexpected and give us a way to laugh at ourselves.

Looking for a little lightheartedness in a decidedly not carefree time? Check out these 21 hilarious memes and tweets that almost any parent can relate to.

With distance learning the new norm, parents have added "teacher" to their resumes! Of course, that doesn't mean we're prepared to teach—like, AT ALL.

Truly, a lot of us are gaining a new appreciation for how smart our kids actually are.

But that's only if you're lucky enough to get them to participate in "distance learning" in the first place.

Virtual learning comes with a new set of virtual tools…with mixed results. Anyone else struggling to keep track of 11,539 new logins on apps that were obviously named by the developer smashing their hand into a keyboard?

(As a side note, though, teachers are just trying to follow districts' orders and help us the best they can! They can't help it that our Kracklezam password won't work—or that Kracklezam exists in the first place.)

If we didn't already, we definitely have a newfound appreciation for teachers!

In the end, if all else fails (including Kracklezam)—just get creative with your lesson plans.

But kids aren't the only ones at home now—many parents are trying to work from home too, which can create some unique challenges with work.

Of course, if there's another adult in the house it can help to make sure you're on the same page about schedules and house rules.

Still, it's pretty impossible to keep the stress from seeping into every aspect of our lives.

A lot of parents in our Facebook group found some relief juggling their parenting and work-from-home responsibilities by simply referring to their child as their coworker. Problem solved!

(Click the arrow on the right to see them all.)

Needless to say, parents across the country have seen their routines dissolve and their parenting style relax.

Seriously, pretty much anything goes now.

…As long as the kids are COMPLETELY UNINJURED, naturally.

Because, um, no thanks on unnecessary trips to…well, anywhere, really.

Understandably, some of us are really feeling the pressure.

Especially when our kids are being…kids.

Of course, children have had to adjust to new routines and stress in their lives, too—so it's good to cut them some slack.

That's why, throughout all this, we need to remember to practice self-care—it's a matter of survival.

So, you know, don't hesitate to indulge—whatever that looks like right now.

Or take up a new hobby! Maybe knitting? Try baking bread from your own yeast? Learn to play the ukulele while riding a unicycle?

Whatever it takes to get through this—just remember, it won't last forever.

And the sooner this is over, the sooner we can get back to "normal."

Until then, let's stick together, parents!

If you're looking for one more bit of distraction, enjoy watching the penguins of Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa as they waddle back down from the aquarium roof, where they can dive into the Kelp Forest Exhibit for some exercise. Guaranteed giggle, so share it with your kids—this is the exact sort of thing that passes for science class these days, anyway.


Dealing with school closures, childcare issues, or other challenges related to coronavirus? Find support, advice, activities to keep kids entertained, learning opportunities and more in our Coronavirus Parents: Parenting in a Pandemic Facebook Group.

For ongoing updates on coronavirus-related issues and questions that impact children and families, please find additional resources here.