20 Viral Parenting Moments of 2017

Viral memes and videos aren't just entertainment, they've become the saving grace of motherhood, connecting us to our village of fellow parents who are also in the trenches of child-rearing. Come to think of it, the best part of mommin' in the internet age is that it's easier to see the craziness happening to parents around the world—and that makes us feel less alone, even when we're miles apart. Here are some of this year's viral sensations that we cried, laughed and cringed over—and shared with our mom friends everywhere.

In a hilarious and shocking viral video posted by newborn photographer Ana Brandt, one mom learned the hard way that babies never do what you want them to do when you want them to do it! They posed the perfect shot for the baby's newborn photos, when all of a sudden, the baby let out a stream of projectile poop right onto the set and all over Mom, too. Nobody could believe what had happened, but like true pros, they were dedicated to getting the shot, so they made Mom stay put while they wiped her off and continued taking photos.

We're most surely going straight to hell for how hard we laughed at this video, but you know what? Worth it! The video, which has received more than 1 million views since it was posted in early October, shows what happens when mom Jessica Magyar introduces her son to a Feisty Pet toy named Glenda Glitterpoop the Unicorn. The toy looks sweet and cute enough, but when squeezed, its face transforms into angry eyes and sharp fangs. Her kid totally freaks out. (Don't worry, he's fine and keeps asking to see the video of him freaking out, she says.) Seems like the perfect way to scare unsuspecting family members at Christmas this year!

All Audrey wanted for her third birthday was a poop emoji party. "For months, every time we mentioned her party, Audrey requested 'poop balloons and a poop cake,'" her mom, Rebecca, said. "I tried suggesting other themes, but she always insisted on poop." So they made it a reality with poop emoji balloons, cake, piñata, poop-shaped cookies and more. Audrey was thrilled, and everyone loved the party and thought it was hilarious—even Audrey's grandparents.

"Listen, it is the end of August—I will give you anything to take my kids," Dena Blizzard of One Funny Mother says as she rolls through the aisles of Target in a viral video posted in August 2017. "I'll get you a yellow binder, I'll get you a red binder, I will tie-dye some sh-t. If you take these kids out of my house, I'll get you whatever you want." So long as you're going to teach her kids history, she'll even throw in a microwave. Just take her kids off her hands already! And don't complain when your kids' teachers ask for Kleenex, for god's sake!

In one of the year's most shocking viral parenting video stories, Baltimore-based parents Mike and Heather Martin of the DaddyOFive YouTube channel ended up losing custody of two of their children (Cody and Emma) after people all over the internet expressed concern about their controversial videos. Their most viral videos had pranks many viewers have called emotionally and physically abusive. A neuropsychologist who worked on the investigation found that the children had "observable, identifiable and substantial impairments of their mental and psychological ability to function." Cody and Emma now live with their biological mom, and the Martins were given five years of probation.

If you thought you knew how to properly hold your baby's car seat, think again. Chiropractor (and preggo) Emily Puente shared her trick on Facebook in April 2017, and it's since been viewed more than 5.3 million times. "It's not going to hurt your shoulder, it's not going to hurt your hip, and you're not going to have to use your knee to swing like I had to do with my two (kids)," Puente says in the video. You have to see it to believe it!

U.K. dad and blogger Mark Hoyle of LadBaby is absolutely hilarious. When he finds himself having to replace his toddler son's lunch box, he decides he's not impressed with the selections available, let alone how much they cost. He even laments that he'd make fun of his own kid if he were to carry some of the lunch boxes available at the store. So, he goes to the hardware store and picks out a tool box that looks like a big bento box case, and brings it home. His wife's reaction is priceless.

If you don't already know the Justin Bieber-loving 2-year-old Mila, it's probably big brother Charles's fault. (You'll have to watch some of her videos to get in on the joke.) Mila and her twin sister Emma make adorable, funny videos that their mom posts on Instagram. Some of our favorites include Mila's thoughts on starting preschool, why football season is lame and how to get rid of a Chatty Kathy seat mate on an airplane.

Celebrity chef Eden Grinshpan has become the best Instagram bud of new moms everywhere since giving birth to daughter Ayv in April 2017. Ayv often makes appearances on Eden's Instagram stories, and Eden is super real and raw when it comes to motherhood. She got a hands-free breast pump and put it on at dinner one night. It was making rhythmic noises and before she knew it, she was dancing. Her husband, Ido, filmed her doing the robot while pumping hands-free. "Motherhood is full of such bizarre weird things you have to do all the time," she told Cosmopolitan about the video she posted. "You have to just go with it and have fun."

This video of a newborn getting her hair washed for the first time is so precious, your ovaries are going to hurt. The video has been viewed more than 37.1 million times since it was first posted. It's amazing how this tiny baby obviously loves the rinse and repeat!

Who could forget the hilarious video of professor Robert E. Kelly giving a live TV interview with BBC One from his home office, when all of a sudden his kids bust into the room to interrupt?! His toddler's got dance moves, his baby is quick in a walker and although it only lasts for a few seconds, you'll get a long laugh out of this one!

YouTube dad Taylor Calmus (aka Dude Dad Vlog) had one of the most creative gender-reveal videos of the year. In an impressive setup that took him and his friends three days to finish, it's less about the gender of the baby (a girl) than the incredible commitment to the show. It's been viewed more than 13.5 million times on Facebook since it was posted in March 2017.

This crazy video of a newborn popping out of a C-section incision is absolutely captivating. Called a "gentle C-section," the baby wiggles its way out without much assistance from the doctors. It's one of those weird, cool, gross but incredibly fascinating things about motherhood that you just can't look away from!

Hazyl Bingham loves to scream "yeah!" whenever mom Mindy is making a video for her blog. In fact, as soon as they turn the camera on, she's ready to yell. When they don't have the camera on, she doesn't do it. Mindy wants to know: "Seriously. What is her deal?!" If you've ever been interrupted by a screaming toddler, it's kind of fun to watch it happen to someone else.

Mom Nicole Walters posted a hilarious video in September 2017 after her 6-year-old started kindergarten. The school bus now stops down the street instead of in front of their house, and she's been traumatized by the bus-stop moms in her new neighborhood. You have to watch the whole thing because you'll absolutely laugh so hard you'll snort your coffee. She says all the things we want to say out loud, and the video has more than 580,000 views. "Yes, I hid from the tennis moms at the bus stop this morning," she admits. "Yes, I'm wearing the same clothes I wore yesterday. Yes, I'm wearing a sleep bonnet and no Chapstick. No, I won't try any harder at 8 a.m. …" You have our respect, Ms. Walters!

NFL player Chris Rainey takes his son to the park. His kid wants to spin and get dizzy, as most kids do. You'll have to watch the rest to find out what happens. We dare you not to bust a gut laughing!

Moms everywhere are calling Tasia Edwards a genius after she posted a video in June 2017 of her brilliant idea to make breast milk ice pops for her baby to help soothe his sore gums from teething. Not only does the ice pop give Baby some relief, it also serves as a meal! In less than six months, the video has been viewed more than 27 million times on Facebook.

Taylor Myers posted a photo on Facebook after a rough shopping trip with her 4-year-old, who has ADHD. She surely never expected her post to go viral, but she struck a chord with moms everywhere who have been judged in the grocery store by complete strangers. Parenting is hard AF sometimes, but it's how we get back up after being knocked down that matters.

Ohio dad Terrel Crawford is the man when it comes to talking his 3-year-old off the tantrum ledge, and his Facebook video has nearly 22.6 million views to show for it. After his daughter Ari started an epic meltdown during a family shopping trip to Walmart, he took her out to the parking lot to let Mom finish shopping. What happened next will have you trying his tips during your kid's next tantrum.

This viral video captures the essence of motherhood in only 34 seconds. If you had quadruplets, you might hide in the pantry, too. Be sure you watch until the end. This family first became social-media famous in 2014 when they found out they were expecting quads after eight years of fertility issues. If you've never hidden from your kids to eat treats in a moment of desperation … we just don't believe you.