Judging by the picture perfect parents we’re bombarded with by baby brands and advertising executives on an almost daily basis, you’d be excused for thinking that parenting was the easiest job in the world.

But as the initiated amongst us know, the realities of parenting are somewhat less perfect, less sugar-coated and decidedly less airbrushed. For instance, I’ve yet to come across a new parent who smiles their way through another toxic nappy change. Or a mum who looks fresh as a daisy (with a full face of makeup) during a 3am cluster feed…

Because at the end of the day, there ain’t nothing glamorous about baby-led weaning, wearing clothes that perennially smell of old milk or realising you’ve got someone else’s poo on your finger.

However, every once in a while you find a kindred soul in the parenting community who just gets it. Someone who doesn’t live for Instagram filters and flat lays. Who shares not just the good times, but the exhausting, exasperating, not-so-good times too.

Like the brilliant Sarah Turner, The Unmumsy Mum. The hilarious Matt Coyne, from Man vs Baby. And, as I’m about to share with you, my new favourite Insta Mum…the absolutely amazing Helene from @helenetheillustrator.

Describing herself as a Cornwall local, animal lover and mum to one determined little human who hates sleep, Helene’s awesomely honest drawings of parenting life never fail to make me smile while perfectly capturing the highs and lows of raising tiny humans.

I think you’re going to love them, so keep scrolling for some of my favourites from Helene‘s growing collection. Enjoy!

The realities of parenting

“I still can’t believe an actual whole human being came out of my body.”

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“I know you can’t really tell when they’re little, but sometimes people are just BLIND!”

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“It’s a phase, they said. Another few weeks and she’ll be sleeping through, they said.”

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“For all the first time mums ‘enjoying’ having a newborn…it definitely does!”

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“The one and only time it’s socially acceptable to sniff another person’s arse in public…”

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“Hmmm…nope!”

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“My little Timmy slept through from 2 days old…”

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MELONS!

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“It’s not a competition (but if it was, I’d win)!”

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“Trying to be all things to all people is exhausting.”

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“It’s just some people were better at blagging it than others!”

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“Being a Mum is a WHOLE new level of tired!”

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“Yeah…that.”

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“Going away for the weekend with a small person…”

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“I love that quiet peaceful time before bed, slowly winding down, getting ready for 8 full hours of blissful uninterrupted sleep.”

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“Aaaaahhhhh!!!!!”

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“Ahhh baby-led weaning…otherwise known as watching your child gag on various baton shaped foods, whilst desperately trying to remember everything you learnt on your resus course!”

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“Including…oh I’ll never leave the house with my hair wet, my child will never watch TV, use an iPad, eat sweets and I’ll make my own food and toys will be mostly wooden. Hmmm, yeah.”

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“Can’t wait for my extra hour of blissful sleep tomorrow morning…hanging off the edge of the bed with no bed covers and being kicked in the back numerous times. Ahhh, heaven!”

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“Plus, I can’t afford to buy you anymore bloody shoes!”

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For more brilliant parenting illustrations from Helene, you can follow her on Instagram here or you can see more of her work via her website – www.helenetheillistrator.co.uk

Or alternatively you can contact her directly for commissions, family portraits and cat sitting!