The parentality told by comic by Luca detachment: « With the cartoons the parents feel less alone »

Becoming parents is a journey full of contrasting emotions, between immense joys and deep insecurities. Luca Laudito, aka Luca Petco (@lucadistacco on Instagram)lives in Turin. Marketing, cartoonist and author expert has published books and cartoons on various themes. Over the past five years he has become a father and has decided to tell this experience through comics, with the aim of offering parents like him a space of sharing and reflection. With his project on Instagram, detachment not only gives smiles, but helps to normalize the difficulties of parenting.

The parenting told on Instagram

«I decided to talk about parenting by publishing cartoons and comics related to this world. The goal? Make parents feel less alone. We all have the same problems: feelings of guilt, sleepless nights, insecurities. But also growing through comparison with other parents  »

What inspires you for your cartoons?
«The inspiration comes from my personal experience, but also from the comments and stories of other parents, who often reflect themselves in the cartoons, but also external sources play an important role. Sometimes I draw from what I observe in everyday life, from what teachers and teachers tell, or even by cartoons such as Blueywhich I consider a great source of inspiration for the delicacy with which it deals with the themes of childhood and parenting. But also episodes of everyday life: I recently been inspired by a grandmother who brings grandchildren to school ».

What is the feedback you receive from the parents?
«Comics is an effective communication method and in recent months I have received many positive feedback. The comments are deepened, both positive and negative, and often give life to important debates. There is no lack of criticism, even strong, to whom I answer serenely, I question myself. If a criticism makes me think, I welcome it. But I will not stop telling what I live only for fear of reactions ».

One of the most discussed themes?
«The disparity of tasks and the mental load between the parents. Many women complain that they have to think about everything, unlike their companions or husbands. One of the most discussed cartoons is the most recent, regarding the fatigue of the parents. I had thought of adding a disclaimer To specify that even those who have no children can be tired, but I have chosen not to do it. However, a comment stressed this point and I replied serenely; In the end I speak of parenting. On the other hand, the controversies were more heated on a comic entitled « Five things I thought I knew before I had a son ». One of the sentences said: « I thought I knew what love is, spoiler: I didn’t know it ». Some reacted by saying that you can be happy without children and that we should not associate parenting with happiness. I welcomed the criticisms and open a debate, but I continue to tell my experience « 

What is the cartoon that has been most successful?
«One who tells the feelings of guilt. He made incredible numbers and generated a large debate. Many parents get involved every day, many have written to me because they recognized themselves in the cartoon, others do not understand this feeling ».

Is there a particular message you want to pass through comics?
« The cartoons are » antimachism « . An example? Dads cry. Dads can cry in front of their children. There is no longer the hard and raw man returning from work without showing emotions ».

In the cartoons there are not only mom and dad, but also the grandparents
«I don’t want to make the page self -referential, but to represent common experiences. Just think that 60% of my community is made up of women. I try to imagine how they can feel ».

Have your comics also influence your being a dad?
«In a sense, yes. It forces me to think much more. For example, I collaborated with a speech therapist, Sara Mariottini, and I discovered, thanks to her, that my son needed a path of stabilization and discovery of sounds he had not before. This definitely had a direct impact on everyday life ».

What is your vision about parenting?
« My idea is that of a sweet and long -term education. I see the work of childhood as an investment for a more conscious adolescence. Unfortunately, many parents still give the famous slap to educate. In addition to not believing in the effectiveness of this method, I think it can create more problems than anything else. It does not mean being permissive, but being convinced of how we educate our children, to make them understand why certain rules. And always put themselves from their point of view. I try to question myself every day, because nobody taught me to be a parent. The only one who can do it is my son ».

Future projects on the subject?
«I am working on a fairytale book and a podcast in which I will read fairy tales and interview people linked to the world of parenting. I will talk about childhood, cases of disabled children, but I would also like to talk to people who would have liked to have children but they did not succeed ».