What Have I done?
A large part of parenthood is learning new ways to handle the exhaustion. While as humans, we can hire nannies or get a babysitter for a night, our feline friends don’t have the same privilege. Since those in the animal kingdom can’t just leave their kids with a sitter while they meet up with their friends for a drink, they have to resort to other ways to work through their tiredness.
Perhaps this tired mom of several kittens is focusing on what life was like before motherhood. Back when her life was carefree, and naps were plentiful. Compared to what her life has become, surely she looks back at that time as the glory days. Surely the sight of her beautiful furry babies will remind her of the joys of motherhood, though!
No More Candy Before Bed
Giving a child sugar close to bedtime is a huge no-no in the parenting world. The unwritten rule helps to avoid overly hyper children and sleepless nights. Despite this, however, youngins will still get bursts of energy from time to time. Since a leopard's diet doesn't include sugary treats, this cub is likely just in the mood to play.
However, this leopard mom certainly doesn't look like she's in the mood for playing. Well aware of the fact that her cub will pester her until she caves, it looks like she won't be getting sleep anytime soon. Ah, the joyous moments of motherhood! It's only a matter of time before this little guy has his own cubs and will finally understand his mom's pain.
A Kiss From Baby
There are only a few things that are more precious than an impromptu kiss from a child. This momma hippo knows all about that as she steals a smooch from her baby. This tiny hippo is just a few weeks old and has a ton of charm despite being a newborn. He has character and charisma that are obvious by the way he affectionately pecks his mother.
This little hippo follows his mother everywhere she goes, as it's how he will ultimately become acquainted with basic survival skills. Whenever he wanders away, however, he does so under close supervision. Momma Hippo is never too far away!
Leave Me Be
Here is yet another member of the animal kingdom that has mastered the art of motherhood! If being a parent could be summed up in a single picture, this would certainly be it. While she snoozes away, her kittens have access to eat with no effort on her part.
While most cats wouldn't dream of napping in this strange position, it's one of the few positions that allow her to multitask. When her kittens wake up hungry, she won't even have to budge for them to have access to her milk. It's genius!
Heart Birthmarks
While many first-time parents fear their kids will get their mother's nose or their grandfather's hairline, there's also the joy of seeing a child that comes out with the features we love. They may have your partner's smile and your eyes, adding to the already prominent bond a parent has with their newborn from the moment they arrive. Parents of the animal kingdom may have similar emotions when they give birth.
This mama dog may be exhausted after delivering eight pups, but she's certainly proud of passing on her unique birthmark. Here, momma is posing with one of her newborn puppies showing off their identical heart-shaped markings. We can only hope this one-of-a-kind trait gets passed down again and again!