Dad Shares Holiday Parenting Fantasy vs. Reality in Hilarious Instagram Reel

Every parent starts with a set of convictions about how they’ll raise their kids, only to find most of those ideas flying out the window when faced with the reality of children. The promises of a peacefully sleeping baby in the crib or the commitment to slow-cooked meals vanish faster than we expect, challenged by the sheer unpredictability of parenting. Recently, one dad added a hilarious festive twist to the universal truth about parenting in a video on Instagram, and it was none other than Santa himself who came to his rescue while dealing with his children.

The Viral Video

In a now-viral Instagram video shared by @fitdadceo, a dad humorously navigates the ever-changing struggles of parenting at the dinner table with the help of Santa. Captioned “’Tis the season to weaponize Santa,” the video begins with a before kids perspective, where the dad confidently asserts his stance against using Santa or bribes in parenting.

Cut to the reality with kids, and the dad is hilariously in full-on bribery mode. Addressing an imaginary conversation with a child, he quips, “Oh, you don’t think I know him?” The dad pretends to make a phone call to Santa himself, wherein the dad seeks advice on disciplining his son for refusing dinner. The dad relays to Santa that his son isn’t eating his veggies and should be removed from the nice list. Hearing this, the son, Preston, immediately starts eating his vegetables.

The Reactions

The audience was absolutely on board with the dad’s tactics, offering their own instances of parenting insanity. One parent veered from Santa to the Grinch, admitting to saving their number as “The Grinch” in their phone and leaving pretend voicemails, creating a hilarious ruse for their kids.

A particularly crafty tip involved bringing in a friend as the designated “Santa” contact, offering a lifeline for parents dealing with curious kids who demand proof. However parents use Santa in the holiday season, they can rest assured that they likely aren’t the only parents using the naughty list as a subtle threat!