Instagram has become the most popular app for uploading pictures, but let’s face it, most people don’t really show their real life, and they just pretend everything is perfect. Simon Hooper, father of 4 daughters, decided to show what parenting really looks like. The result? Now he has more than 190k Instagram followers, and they’re growing like crazy.
“My whole account is to show a realistic view of what parenting is like from a parent’s perspective,” the dad told HuffPost. “There is way too much sugarcoating when it comes to parents, so I wanted to share what it’s really like and provide a bit of humor at the same time.”
A realistic view
Source: father_of_daughters
This week my eldest has been doing sex education at school. Shes very mature about it & having a midwife as a mum, they know a lot more than your average kid, no 'front bottoms' or 'nunnys' in this house…
International day of the girl
Source: father_of_daughters
Tomorrow is international day of the girl and I, more than most, am celebrating. I might be heavily outnumbered and outgunned, but I'm celebrating because my girls are strong independent young ladies that are growing up in a world that they can do anything they put their mind to (with a little encouragement).
"Sleeping"
Source: father_of_daughters
Is it only me or do all men learn to sleep on an 8 inch strip at the edge of the bed? Irrespective of the size of the bed, or how many people are in it, I always find myself relegated to the 'man zone'.
"Go pack the baby bag"
Source: father_of_daughters
Clemmie gave me a pretty simple job this evening - "go pack the baby bag" (we're going away for a night). A plan developed in my head (why can't I take anything seriously?!) I called her in - "well you said pack the baby bag!!", expecting a laugh. She didn't.
Father of 4
Source: father_of_daughters
This is us 2 minutes after the number of kids we were responsible went from 2 to 4. Being married to a midwife & having 4 girls to bring up, I sometimes forget how lucky we are. I took it for granted that our children would be healthy and that their births would by trouble free.
Teething…
Source: father_of_daughters
Teething is now in full effect and the girls want us to know all about it. An email would have sufficed but it seems they'd rather use their voices to get the message across that they really aren't enjoying this stage of development.
Child shoes
Source: father_of_daughters
Developed a new product this evening - child shoes. They cost a fortune, stop you from achieving anything, age you dramatically, are never clean despite washing them regularly and never go in the direction you ask them to.
A nice bath…
Source: father_of_daughters
After long day of walking around and playing, the twins needed a bath and I needed a wash so day 2 of #dadtakeover ended like this.
Mobile human climbing frame
Source: father_of_daughters
If there is one thing that us dads are good for its being used as a mobile human climbing frame. We're practicing our routine for Britain’s got talent, the talent being how many family members can hang off me (kind of a real life buckaroo game) before I slip a disc and crumple into a pathetic mess crying like a child who's grazed their knee for the first time.
Dressing the girls
Source: father_of_daughters
Should I get offended that when I'm in charge of dressing the girls, instead of being given free rein to 'get creative' and use my couture fashion eye to create a 'wow' outfit that will catch the eye and imagination, I walk into their room and find that all the clothes are laid out already.
Help!
Source: father_of_daughters
Someone call crime watch! I took this picture of a guy getting mugged in broad day light today. The 2 confidence tricksters are known in the local area and ply their trade by pretending to love their victims and then, when their guard is down, scratching their faces to pieces, pulling their hair and dribbling on them until they are given milk or rice cakes.
Toys…
Source: father_of_daughters
We have A LOT of toys for the girls. Some hand-me-downs, some brand new. We offer up the handmade, ethically sourced, non-toxic, bespoke blocks made from organic, carbon offset wood, lovingly sourced from Norway.
Gotta be careful
Source: father_of_daughters
These two have been round my ankles all day, literally. I've been walking around as if there's broken glass on the floor to avoid stepping on them (no one wants to hear that cry you get when you accidentally tread on a small hand that's not where it should be - that's the point when you give yourself the 'shittest parent of the day' award).
Technology…
Source: father_of_daughters
The wonders of modern technology. Why, oh why did I give my eldest an iPod touch? Yes, it’s great to stay in contact while I’m away but my inbox is now full of emoji based spam from my bored daughter. (The emoji poo is a firm favourite).
Bathtime
Source: father_of_daughters
Why does bathtime always involve cramming as many family members into one of the smallest rooms in the house at the same time? I guess the eldest 2 like it as it's like a cheap version of the sea life centre.
Costume design depot
Source: father_of_daughters
Last night - "Oh daddy, remember to make our woodland themed costumes for school tomorrow!" - Why is this the first I'm hearing about this at 8pm the day before you need them - I'm not some 24 hr costume design dept!
Tired dad
Source: father_of_daughters
What do you get if you cross Claire’s accessories with 4 girls, 2 of whom who have just drank a coke, and a tired dad? 10 minutes of dressing up followed by 20 minutes of trying to get them to leave.
Monday…
Source: father_of_daughters
Another monday, another last minute rush to the shops to avoid the Armageddon I.e. running out of nappies, wipes & baby crack (milk) for the addicts. I basically live in this aisle of the supermarket now.
Bedtime
Source: father_of_daughters
Reading at bed time can be a pain in the a.., especially when you've got 'important' adult things to do, but that's no excuse to not to do funny voices for the characters in the story.
When the clocks changed
Source: father_of_daughters
Day 2 since the clocks changed and the girls are still not adjusted (anyone else struggling with this?!) So at 6.30am, while Ottie & Delilah studied 'farm yard biology for beginnners' with mixed success (I said point to the cow, they laughed, clapped & crawled off to chew stuff in the bin), Marnie provided me with a fluid stream of incomprehensible child brain rambling for 5 mins straight at max volume (without noticeably breathing).
