6 Ways ‘Incredibles 2’ Reflects How Much Parenting Has Changed in the Last 14 Years
In 2004, Pixar released the original The Incredibles, which gave families a movie that they could relate to. The Parr family had superpowers like invisibility and super strength. But they also faced the same struggles that every parent and child faces: balancing home and work life, navigating teenage insecurities, and dealing with unruly children. It was a bold, funny, and heartfelt movie that many parents felt like they were looking at an animated mirror.
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In just 14 years, ThAmazinggs 2 is released in theaters. The film reunites audiences with their favorite characters, but with a new twist. Parenting has evolved since 2004. The world is a different place. Pixar knows that technology, social roles, and family dynamics have changed, as well as cultural expectations. The Incredibles 2 doesn’t just follow up on the first film. It’s also a commentary about how parenting is different in modern times.
Take a closer look at the six ways The Incredibles 2 reflects changes in parenting that have occurred since the release of the first film.
1. Stay-at-home Dads are Mainstream Now
Bob Parr, aka Mr. Incredible (Elastigirl, the husband of Elastigirl, was responsible for the family while Bob Parr struggled to earn a living. In The Incredibles 2, the roles are reversed. Helen is the one who’s called to action this time — literally — when she races off on her motorcycle to bring superheroes into the spotlight. Bob? Bob?
This is not just babysitting. He’s also parenting. He changes nappies, reads bedtime stories, helps with homework, and manages Jack-Jack’s unpredictable powers. This is not just a clever plot turn. This reflects the real-world change in family structure.
Stay-at-home fathers are not only accepted but also becoming more common. More fathers than ever are involved in the day-to-day care of their children, whether by choice or necessity. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that the number of dads who stay at home in Australia is steadily increasing, and will reach over 80,000 in 2021. The social norms are catching up with what many families already know: parenting is a team effort, and dads can run the home just as well as mums.
Bob’s journey in Incredibles 2 is hilarious and steep, but it feels real. He is often frustrated and overwhelmed, but he never gives up. It’s this that makes him so incredible.
2. Mum as Breadwinner – Breaking Gender Roles
Helen Parr becoming a superhero in the sequel is not just good storytelling – it’s a social commentary. Bob becomes the primary caregiver as Elastigirl leads the dangerous missions that bring in income. In 2004, this kind of role reversal would have been controversial, but it is now a very relevant and timely idea.
Women are increasingly taking on the role of primary earners. In many families today, the mother is the primary earner while the father works from home or part-time. Let’s face it: seeing mums portrayed as fearless, confident, and skilled leaders of their families (and the entire world) can be empowering.
Incredibles II encourages mums to think beyond their roles at home. They can follow their dreams, climb up the career ladder, or, in Helen’s situation, save the world. It doesn’t diminish their role as a mother. It’s important to give both parents the chance to be fulfilled, inside and outside of the home.
The film does not diminish Bob’s caregiver role. The film celebrates both options equally, suggesting that modern families function best when everyone is supported regardless of whether they are in the workplace.
3. Math Homework: A Universal Parental Nightmare
What is the most relatable moment in the movie? Mr. Dash’s math homework is a battle that will leave you speechless. Why would they change math? He exclaims, frustrated: “Math is math!” You’ve probably thought (or said) the same thing if you are a parent.
In recent years, the educational system has changed dramatically. The way that our children learn is often alien to them, especially with new curricula such as “inquiry-based learning” and “conceptual mathematics”. Once confident parents are now searching for tutorials to help them keep up with their Year 3 homework.
This funny yet honest moment from Incredibles II reminds us that parenting today involves navigating systems with which we were not raised. The film also pokes gentle fun at parents who feel pressure to know all the answers when, in reality, they are learning along with their children.
4. It’s Okay to Admit That Parenting is Exhausting
In Incredibles 2, there’s a scene where Bob, who is sleep-deprived and bleary-eyed, reads to Jack-Jack a bedtime tale… but then starts nodding off in the middle of his sentence. Does this sound familiar? This moment is a wink at every parent who has ever fallen asleep while reading a story, changing a diaper, or holding a baby’s bottle.
Modern parenting can feel like an Olympic competition. Not only are we trying to keep our children alive, but we also have to manage screen time, navigate extracurricular activities, stay on top of developmental markers, and try to raise emotionally intelligent humans. We’re exhausted from the constant pressure of parenting advice and social media comparisons.
Incredibles II normalises exhaustion. It shows how even superheroes can get exhausted — and it’s okay to be overwhelmed. You don’t have to be perfect. You only need to show.
5. The Unknowns are Bigger than Ever
Jack-Jack is the sweet, innocent baby in the family. But he has a set of unpredictable powers that appear to develop and explode without warning. He represents in many ways the unpredictable, ever-changing nature of toddlers and parenting in this digital age.
Modern parents raise their children in a rapidly changing world, just as Bob and Helen don’t know what to expect from their child. Social media, AI, and digital learning, climate change, global health issues — these were not things that most parents in the 2000s worried about.
Our children are growing up in a time of unprecedented change. They face challenges that no other generation has ever faced. We’re doing this without a map. We’re like Bob and Jack-Jack. We’re trying to protect our children from dangers we don’t fully understand while keeping up with their development.
Incredibles II does not offer solutions to the uncertainties, but acknowledges them. This is comforting in and of itself.
6. Edna Said it Best: “Parenting Done Properly is Heroic”
Edna Mode, fashion icon and parenting expert, is the one to take the mic away from the conversation. In one of the most memorable scenes from the sequel, she tells Bob that “Parenting is heroic when done correctly.”
It’s an important reminder. The real heroism of Incredibles 2, and real life, lies in the daily effort to wipe noses and make lunches. It’s also about the listening and juggling between work and home.
In 2004, we cheered on the Parrs because they were relatable. We still admire them today (in 2018) because they remind us of the extraordinary nature of ordinary parenting. The messy, beautiful, and exhausting heartbeat of family life they are worthy of celebration.
The Real Superpower is Evolving
The Incredibles 2, in the end, is a superhero movie. It’s a mirror that reflects the changing nature of parenting. It shows how much parenting has changed and how little. It celebrates messy modern families, shared responsibilities, and the everyday heroes of raising children in a changing world.
This is a great reminder that although your powers may make you unique, it’s your love, perseverance, and adaptability that make you extraordinary.
Here’s to the mums riding motorbikes and dads flipping pancakes. To the parents who are decoding Year 2 Maths. And the families that redefine what parenting is in the 21st Century. You might not be able to see your cape, but you have superpowers. Your story is worth celebrating.
