Dad's Warning About the 'Real Dangers' of Parenthood Delights Internet

Many occupational hazards come with parenting, and one dad has gone viral after sharing on social media the unexpected dangers he's encountered—and everyone can relate to.

While Connor Lodge, 25, was watching his 15-month-old daughter master her technique on a toy xylophone, he captured the moment she decided to see if her talents extended beyond the instrument. Rather than tapping the stick on the xylophone, Calla wanted to see if it would make a noise on her dad's head, much to his surprise.

Unfortunately for Lodge, who lives in Essex, England, it wasn't the first time she's done this. He told Newsweek that he "used to laugh it off," and now she thinks it's a really funny game. Hilarious for her, perhaps, but not so much for her poor dad at first.

Lodge said: "I was really shocked at the time because I thought we were playing nicely, and she caught me off guard while I was daydreaming.

He went on: "She hit me with a plastic stick that she was using on the xylophone, which is actually for her little drum set, not my head. This happens a lot, unfortunately, and now it's hard to make her understand that it's not actually a game anymore."

As every parent knows, it can be hard to discipline toddlers when they hardly know any better, but it's all about patience and consistency. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises setting limits that they can understand and easily follow. Show children there are consequences, redirect bad behavior and know when not to respond.

An effective tool for discipline is attention, which means constantly recognizing when children are well behaved and praising them for it, the AAP says. In time, this will reinforce the good behavior and discourage them from acting out.

The AAP does not condone harsh words or physical discipline methods, as they do not work and can be harmful. They can lead to an unhealthy cycle and teach children the wrong lessons. So it's far better to communicate effectively and show them how to behave correctly.

How Did TikTokers React?

After finding out about the "real dangers of parenthood" the hard way, Lodge shared the video on his TikTok account (@con.lodge) to warn others. The clip has delighted many, and it's already received more than 11.5 million views and 1.4 million likes.

The clip's caption reads: "This girl is obsessed with hitting me, and it's not good."

After Calla hit him on the head a couple of times, Lodge first directed her attention to the instrument before pretending to play-fight with the sticks. Despite the thumping he took from his toddler, Lodge can see the humor in his daughter's antics, and he's always on the alert for her next surprise.

He told Newsweek: "She has a few habits that could be seen as a hazard, but one that really catches me off guard is when she sticks her finger up my nose. But the social media reaction has been really positive. I love the response we get, and I can't wait to keep creating content that everyone enjoys."

Since the video went viral, it has amassed over 2,900 comments, with many people sharing their sympathy and addressing the perils of parenthood.

One comment reads: "You took that so personally it's great." Another person wrote: "A great way to turn an almost negative experience into a positive one. Well done!"

Another TikToker joked: "She remembered something you did that ticked her off."

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