Accurate Motherhood Comics Are Brilliantly Illustrated With What Its Actually Like For Parents
Australian mum of two, Paula Kuka has been illustrating relatable "mom life" comics since 2016 when she established Common Wild, which at the time were illustrations of various things in the world that she loved.
In 2017 when her family went from a one child family to a two child family, she found solace in documenting her family's life in a series of cartoons and few illustrations could have ever been so honest and relatable as hers.
Her Facebook page has over 37,000 followers and her Instagram has over 127,000 followers and it's largely due to the relatable nature of her illustrations and musings. It definitely helps that she's a skilled artist, too. Check out some of her post popular illustrations to date!
With Experience Comes A Relaxed Perspective
Most parents find that as the more children they have, the more they learn which battles are worth choosing.
common wildA Matter of Perspective
In an interview with Bored Panda, Paula said:
I never had plans to be an artist. When I finished school, I studied landscape architecture at university and went on to work in that profession for about 10 years.
common wildReality
She added:
When I went on maternity leave with my first child, I started drawing as a way to keep creative.
common wildNever Alone
The nights are long but don't fret. According to Dr. William Sears, night-waking helps prevent SIDS.
common wildIt's Never Easier When They Talk
Paula uses the same skills on her family cartoons that she did on her landscape architecture:
After I had my second baby a few years later, I started drawing cartoons as a way of documenting our daily lives (because I was useless at writing in their baby books).
common wildFrustratingly Accurate
It's easy to find Paula's illustrations relatable.
common wildMINE
Paula says:
I posted them on Instagram and they very quickly gathered attention from other parents who loved seeing such a relatable view of parenting. I like to talk about some of the challenges of motherhood — the guilt, the frustration, the boredom, as well as the hilarious and heart-warming aspects.
common wildSure Thing
And:
It’s important to me to talk openly about these things as I know it can help other parents feel less isolated in what they are going through.
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Venting is Self Care
Community is important, but sometimes venting is just venting.
common wild
Wrestling
Paula is pretty busy, she does a weekly cartoon and is writing a column in ‘The West,’ a newspaper in Western Australia.
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A Grandmum's Place
The future also looks bright. She told Bored Panda:
I am also putting together a book which I hope to have out early next year. And as long as people are enjoying what I am creating, I’ll keep posting and see what opportunities arise.
common wild
Loaded
"A Mother's love is something that no on can explain, It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain. Itis endless and unselfish and enduring come what may, For nothing can destroy it or take that love away." - Helen Steiner Rice
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Always Watching
Paula definitely has a lot of solidarity to offer other mothers.
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Gender Equality?
She also has advice for budding illustrators:
Opportunities can come in the most unlikely places. Be generous with your time and skills.
common wild
It's Confusing
She added:
All my greatest opportunities came when I went out on a limb and did something for someone and didn’t expect anything in return.
common wild
What's On Your Mind?
And this bit seems true beyond the scope of art:
Just keep going and stay true to yourself. People resonate the most with authenticity.
common wild
Motherhood
"Be kind in the way you speak to yourself, in the way you speak about yourself." - Lisa Marie
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Sleep, My Love
Dr. Jay Gordon says, "Newborn babies breathe in irregular rhythms and even stop breathing for a few seconds at a time. To put it simply, they are not designed to sleep alone."
Snuggles may help babies sleep better.
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Me Time
Self Care is important, so is community care.
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Showers
Unfortunately relatable: the phantom cries.
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That Explains It
Influential as heck.
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The Cycle
Vicious.
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Indefinitely
Zero complaints.
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Alone Time? No.
Potty time!!
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Exhausted Pro Tips
Helpful!
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Sneaky, Sneaky
Get tricky, folks.
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YUM
Choices.
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Mommy Wars? Meh.
Be proud of where you are.
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Forever
Love lasts.
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Priorities
A burden sometimes, maybe. It's also convenient
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Did you find Paula's illustrated comics relatable? Let us know in the comments! Don't forget to follow her on Instagram and check out her website.
