Guys, parenting is absolutely wild, isn't it?! Sometimes the things we experience as parents are so ludicrous, all we can do is laugh. So it makes total sense that the comedians and writers of the long-running sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live occasionally draw inspiration from the insanity that can come from parenthood. If you can't cry, you might as well laugh, right? It's great to swap parenting stories with friends and family, but something about seeing our struggles turned into comedy is totally gratifying.
Somehow, the parenting skits we see on SNL prove that we're not exaggerating about all of the crazy and ridiculous things we go through as parents. Seriously, some of our WTF parenting moments already feel like they came straight out of a TV show or movie anyway, so the ups and downs of parenthood are obviously excellent fodder for entertainment. What's better to watch late on a Saturday night when you're absolutely exhausted from chasing after your kids all day?
These SNL skits are so funny, but they also legit make us feel seen and they totally empower us to, well, laugh at ourselves and the crazy things we sometimes get worked up over as parents. Keep scrolling to see exactly what we mean, and check out some of the funniest SNL sketches about parenting ever made.
'Hold Your Applause'
Recently, Kenan Thompson and Keegan-Michael Key starred in a graduation-themed skit that showed parents attempting to cheer on their kids — only to be scolded by the principal for breaking the rules. We all know graduation is really the parents' accomplishment and can totally relate!
'The Perfect Mother'
"Every moment was a joy." LOL! Actress Emma Thompson was a hoot as "the perfect mother," who was actually an absolute mess, even though her own daughter, who is now a mom herself, never realized it. They perfectly captured the chaos that is motherhood, especially in those early days with babies.
'Parents Call'
We personally haven't experienced this as parents yet, but we bet many parents of adult children have been there. In this skit, a guy gets a distressing call from his parents while in a meeting. They then get furious when their son doesn't want to chitchat but instead wants to find out exactly what's wrong and if he needs to be worried.
'Mom Got a Robe'
The "Mom Got a Robe" sketch on SNL perfectly illustrated how much work and effort moms put into Christmas gifts for everyone in our families. And yet, some years, all we get is a robe. It's funny because it's so, so accurate, and we can't even think of a single mother who hasn't had this experience at least once.
'Children's Clothing Ad'
This one had us rolling on the floor laughing. Dressing and undressing little kids during the cold winter months is absolutely the worst. Most of the time, young kids prefer to run around naked or in pajamas at most, and bulky, cumbersome winter clothing is the bane of most of our seasonal existences.
'Let Kids Drink'
During those first couple of months of the global health crisis, lots of parents felt like they were going to go nuts while trapped inside with their kids all day. SNL took that moment to record a hilarious music video spoof, suggesting we be allowed to let our kids have a bit of booze to calm them down. Inappropriate, but so funny.
'Proud Parents'
In "Proud Parents," which features Get Out actor Daniel Kaluuya, two families with very different backgrounds are chatting at a dinner party, and when one brags about their son's pre-med studies, he reveals he's quit that major and is now studying creative writing, much to the dismay of his parents. Some of us have either been there as parents or students ourselves. We all just want the best for our kids!
'Sleepover'
As a parent, sleepovers are so awkward, and they only get more so as our kids get older. This SNL skit about a teen girl sleepover gone completely wrong is one of our biggest fears about that entire situation — and it's exactly why we'd prefer to avoid sleepovers all together. Can you even imagine?
'Best Christmas Ever'
In 2018, Matt Damon's "Best Christmas Ever" skit made us laugh and cry, just like real Christmas often does. The holiday season and Christmas Day itself can be such a roller coaster of the highs of sheer joy and happiness and the lows of absolute and utter stress and annoyance. This perfectly captures that.
'The Day You Were Born'
The year before she became a mother herself, comedian Amy Schumer did an SNL skit in which she's retelling her birth story to her son, and it couldn't be more real. It's Mother's Day and everything is super sweet and idyllic until she actually starts recalling childbirth in all its graphic glory.
'Childbirth Class'
Even though they're not technically parents yet, in this skit, an Icelandic couple is attending a childbirth class and they're totally that annoying couple who thinks they've got the whole pregnancy and parenting thing in the bag before they even have the experience to know what it's really like. You know that couple …
'Baby Spanx'
Every parent knows that awkward feeling when someone comments on your baby's size. Whether chunky or petite, some people feel the bizarre need to make a baby's build a topic of conversation. In SNL's hilarious "Baby Spanx" skit, these parents are so embarrassed by their baby's size that they resort to full-body shapewear.
'Wells for Boys'
If you happen to be the parent of a sensitive little boy, you're either going to laugh out loud at this SNL commercial parody, or it's going to annoy you. But, why let the little things get to you? In it, Fisher-Price is selling toy "wells," where little boys who don't fit in the with the rowdy crowd can go and reflect.
'Baby Shower'
Trying to fit in as a mom can feel like a totally overwhelming task. In this skit, a mom-to-be is bombarded by advice from other moms who assure her that she needs to get "the cut" once her baby is born. You know the one — that short, swoopy haircut most of us associate with "Karens" these days.
'First Birthday'
Why in the world are kids' birthday parties such a big deal?! They've basically turned into a competition between the moms, and we totally don't get it. Kids don't even remember their birthdays until they're like 5! This SNL skit, which takes place at a baby's first birthday party, totally illustrates how ludicrous the entire thing is.
'Mother's Day Game Show'
Way back in 2014, during the Mother's Day episode, Kate McKinnon did a skit during which she hosted a Mother's Day game show that involved her asking her children questions about her own life — and as any mom knows, that doesn't usually go very well. You're just mom, your life did not exist before them and doesn't involve anything outside of them.
'Weekend Update'
"Weekend Update" is arguably one of the best segments on SNL. We love Colin Jost and Michael Che as the hosts, and this edition was hilarious. Ego Nwodim plays a burned-out mom who is reporting on Disney's post-pandemic reopening of its theme parks, and she is literally all of us.
