Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Being A Source Of Embarrassment To Your Kids


BIG post photo here, right? Well, you'd swear that's the size of the embarrassment I make my oldest son feel, just by my breathing and being generally alive.

My beautiful firstborn son, who long ago and in a galaxy far, far away, couldn't get enough of me to the point where my husband had to hold this little 3-month-old baby boy up so he could still see me every time I showered, this little baby of mine who I'd have to hold on my lap when I had to go to the bathroom because his world would fall apart if I was out of his sight ... this same little boy now D.I.E.S. that someone might realize that oh my gawd I am his mother. And how many teens actually DIE of embarrassment anyway? (well, yes, I know I did go out to get the newspaper in my nightgown and boots that one time, but it was only once).

The cause for this knife straight to my heart? Three words: He Is Sixteen.

Sixteen-years-old, when everything is about you. Everyone is talking about you. The whole world only notices you. It all has to do with you.

I am no physical monster. Last time I checked, there was no one-sided hump on my back, my eyes were evenly sized and equally spaced upon my face. As the joke goes, when I walk down the street, people do not hang out of their cars shouting, "Is it Halloween already?"

I have always taken care to not embarrass my children. BUT this? Embarrassing them by just being alive? What can I do with that?

There are so many new rules that are spit out by my son at school drop off time now that he is sixteen. Rules like bullets--they come at me, "don't say good-bye, don't say my name, don't wave, don't get out of the car, don't wait to see that I get in, don't shout at me if I forget something in the car, if I fall down flat on my face and my brains spill out, just.keep. going ..."

It's not like I break into self-choreographed interpretive dance moves upon hearing Adele's Rolling In The Deep -- no matter how much that women slays me -- when my son is with me. I save that for when I'm alone in the mini-van. I may think about swaying my hands all over my head like that, but I don't do it.

Not with him - I try not to think about how he once was my bald-headed dance partner in the kitchen, 3 a.m.

He makes me wince as I remember how much embarrassment I felt about my own mother as a teen. She had come another ther country. I was embarrassed, but there was reason for it, right? Or so I thought. I mean, she had an accent, and dressed funny, and acted like she wasn't even in America. She would try to imitate the movie stars of the time. I knew back then, as a teen, that any children of mine would never be self conscious that I was their mother! I had too much going for me -- I spoke perfect English, I didn't dress in the costume from the old country *blackdressblackdressblackdress,* and I never thought to try and imitate Elizabeth Taylor. What kid wouldn't be proud of me as their mama? I was cool, with it, American, and had no delusions of grandeur.

You can see how knocked off my feet I am by this new role in my life: that of social pariah of the village.

Our morning drives to school now go like this, my son reading to me from his How To Be Invisible Manual: "don't drive right up to the door, mom. Just slow down, and I'll get out and DO NOT say good- bye to me so loud the world hears it. You're so loud. I mean it. I MEAN IT."

To which I meekly ask, "c-c-c-an I look at you? for a minute? can I just l-l-l-l-ook at you? I promise not to make eye contact ..."

"No. See? SEE? This is what I mean. Just drop me off.
Just.
Go.
Home."

He might as well have said, "Go back to your door built into a tree house on the swamp, Fiona, go back from whence you came."

I do as he instructs and drop him off far enough from the school's front doors, per his request. I slowly creeper-drive away, sunglasses covering my eyes, so he can't see that I'm still watching him, watching my handsome, tall boy walk away from me ... without even one glance back in my direction.

He walks away, taking my heart along with him. I breathe deep, and pat myself on the back, congratulating myself on my verbal restraint. How badly I want to screech on the brakes -- good and loud, roll down the window and SHOUT, "embarrassing? you want to see embarrassing? How's this:  "BYE HONEY I LOVE YOU AND DON'T FORGET TO WEAR YOUR CUP AT PRACTICE TODAY BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROTECT YOUR TESTICLES!"

You know, I think I might just call it his nutty buddy, for good measure.

*************************

97 comments:

  1. I feel your pain...I also have a 16 year old son.

    I decided that if I was going to be an embarrassment, I was going to be the biggest, baddest embarrassment it was possible to be. When I drop him at school, I always make a point of saying, loudly, "Love you, sweetie!" He always grimaces and hunches his shoulders as he slouches away, glaring daggers at me. I love it.

    I like your "nutty buddy" idea even more though - I'm going to have to coy that one!

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  2. OH MY GOSH! You had me all teary and thinking about ways to freeze my daughter at seven so she will always want one more hug and kiss before we part...and then you hit me with what you really want to say, and I'm laughing so hard.

    You are a word genius!

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  3. bwahah..err...no...he will be scarred the rest of his life...and you only have 4 years of this...you will be cool again in college...

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  4. Oh my, that was too funny. Don't you dare scream that out the window. Really, do you want to kill him or something? My Mom used to torture me for sport and I often warn parents not to tease their kids or they'll end up like me. Do you really want that? huh? But I have started to experience it already with my 11 year old. I am going to mention it briefly, next week, but I think that you did a great in-depth post on it. I love it!
    Your Friend, m.
    p.s. Don't you just want to hug them and kiss their cheeks? m.

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  5. Mark, Brian, Tracie, I: just wait till you see the bloggy fodder that comes with teens. Always ask their permission, of course. (;

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  6. My son is already starting this and he is only 9! Crap!

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  7. Okay. I'm going to go home and hug my 5 year old and when he sits on me I'm not going to make him get up after 10 minutes.......

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  8. I;m with Brian--wait it out. On the sidelines I watched my younger brothers go through this with Mom and now everything's cool.

    Not that she doesn't totally embarrass us anymore (Mom has no filter and tells childhood/teen stories to the folks we work with--when I'm in the room!) but it's not quite as bas as high school.

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  9. Giggles!
    Unfortunately, I really don't think I'll be able to restrain - I'd totally yell that out.
    Besides, don't they need good material for the shrink? LOL

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  10. I'm dreading that stage. My oldest has started a little bit of it when she's at school. But I picked her up yesterday afternoon, and she held my hand all the way to the car. I didn't make a fuss over it, but I wanted to cry from joy.

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  11. HA! My 8 year old already makes me stand three sidewalk squares away from her at the bus stop. ugh.

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  12. Oh Empress. This was so so good. I expect to see this on Blogher. No ifs buts about it. I am going through the same thing. I have become so UN COOL. OK, maybe sometimes I deserve it. But such a change... sixteen in two months. Adele reference made ma laugh, interpretive dance is a must with her! Loved this!
    Dana

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  13. Ha! Nutty Buddy! My 8 y.o. doesn't typically allow PDAs (or even close hellos) if I happen to be volunteering at his school. This is starting waaaay to early for me.

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  14. I have two boys... 17 and almost 15 years old. I don't care if I embarrass them. I DO yell "I love you!" out the car window.

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  15. Make that kid take the bus! It's so easy for me to give advice, what with not having kids and all.

    I remember my mom would want me to kiss her on the cheek and I'd be like UHHHHHHHHHHHHHH really, Mom? Then I read a book when I was 17 called something like 77 Ways to Survive Your Parents that totally changed my outlook on how my mom treated me, and I have never been able to find that book since. It's something I think every teenager should read, and of course google provides no answers to that search. It really put into perspective that hey, parents are just people too and maybe they just really love me because I'm they're kid and all. I'm rambling. Don't make eye contact!

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  16. So, my soon to be 14 year old is going to get worse? That's what you're saying, right? Fantastic!

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  17. My heart is breaking with yours!!! I almost lost it when my 6 y/o says he doesn't want me to give him a kiss when I drop him off at school in the morning. HE'S SIX! When he's 16, he'll probably want to hitch hike to school. Waaaaaa!!!

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  18. Yeah well you know what's worse then 16 year old boys...16 year old girls. Trust me on this we all have their period dates marked on our calendars, just saying.

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  19. I, too, showered and used the restroom in full view and/or in full body contact with my oldest when he was a baby. I, too, loved and adored him every minute of every day.

    Now the ungrateful little *bleep* is 11 and doesn't want a thing to do with me. God should give us visions of these days when we're deep in the exhaustion and despair of early motherhood.

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  20. Maybe a nutty buddy shout out to him would help him put things into perspective?

    Save it for the last day of school.....

    BTW, my kids are embarrassed by me too. But I kinda do it on purpose....

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  21. Oh my. He'll come around and be glad he has such an awesome mom. You are awesome. And you can tell him I said that.

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  22. Next time, please make with the yellling. That would be awesome for me. This IS all about my pleasure right?

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  23. Oh. My. God.

    Not two hours ago I was in my kitchen doing a full-on dance routine to Adele's "Rolling In The Deep." With my son.

    The difference, I suppose, is that he's only three. :)

    Thank you for this reminder that I should be more grateful for these days when my kids still want to shadow my every move and think that doing dance routines with Mom is just about the most fun they could have.

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  24. Oh, I am laughing out loud. For a long time.

    I have four sons, so I went through this...but it was different with each boy. And, get this! I was their sophomore English teacher. Poor guys. They had it tough.

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  25. Oh, Empress! Between "creepdriving" and protecting his testicles...I'm going to be laughing at this post for the rest of the day

    You should totally turn in "creepdrive" to Urban Dictionary.

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  26. Ha! I think you should go with the interpretive dance moves.What can he do?

    This was a LOL for sure! A double LOL actually because I fixed him for you. My almost 16 year old daughter heard me laughing and came over and read it too ; )

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  27. Oh I am dying at your comment that you embarrass him just by being alive!!!!!

    Jack will be 14 in three weeks.

    I'm pretty sure I'm becoming "Halloween-Costume- embarrassing" as I type.

    Lord, help us.

    (maybe we should just go put on the blackdressblackdressblackdressblackdress and be done with it.)

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  28. That'll teach him good - for sure! I am so glad I'm not 16 anymore and that the world revolves around other people now.

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  29. Gettin' a lot of votes here for the "nuttybuddy" shout out.

    Just may be on tomorrow's agenda...

    xo

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  30. My 11 year old daughter has almost all the same rules when I drop her off at school, including turning down the radio, just in case someone thinks that I actually listen to something in the car.

    Fortunately for me and unfortunately for me she has an almost 5 year old sister who has no need for such filter and delights in yelling things out like:
    "Can we play dolls when you get home?"
    "Is that Drew? Is that the boy you like."
    "You forgot your coat!!!"

    My five year old makes me happy.

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  31. God bless you. I've raised four and feel your pain. Perhaps the pain will ease. Mine never did.

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  32. I sing really loudly in parking lots and it kills my 7-year-old. I do it on purpose. And badly!

    I am trying to get her used to me being a source of her pain! LOL

    I loved this essay so much. I will always now picture you with your hands up by your head and swaying to Adele.

    xo

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  33. LOVE this post. And even though my daughter is only 6, I can kind of relate. Remember the time she started yelling on the streets of Manhattan, "Who are you? Where is my real mommy?"

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  34. That last line KILLED IT! HA HA! So friggen funny.

    Hey I was embarrassed by my mom at that age too and she was the coolest mom ever.

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  35. Fan-Freakin'-Tastic, Epic, Killer Ending! Loved it.

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  36. "don't say my name"

    Little does he know that one day he'll be saying the exact opposite to some girl he's in love with.

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  37. Also, this was hilarious.

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  38. Great, Empress, just great. I have no filter so I know I'll be using Nutty Buddy at every opportunity. Darn it that my son in only 13 days old and I'll likely be senile before having the opportunity to embarrass him with this gem. I'll just have to work my magic on all the other males I know.

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  39. I'm sometimes embarrassed to be seen with myself so I expect to hit this phase early with my kids. I'm going to pocket the nutty buddy for emergencies - like when I'm acting too normal.

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  40. You are BACK baby...er not that you ever left..not that you aren't always amazing and witty and talented...I'm just going to shut up now.

    (PS I love you, you make me laugh out loud, I kid you not)

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  41. I don't want this to happen! Even though I know it will. My 9 yo just told me she's a little embarassed by "all of our rules." I kind of liked that b/c it makes me feel like I'm doing it right, rather than too leniently. (those rules being "you're too old for the baby pool" and "you can't drink soda daily," btw). Now I'm seeing it's just one step to me being public enemy #1. :(

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  42. I am terrified of the day when my son won't need me or will be embarrassed by me. Is this a right of passage in mother hood? I'm not prepared for that!

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  43. My son, who also used to cling to me like Velcro, around age of fifteen started responding to everything I said with, "You're not funny." I just started introducing myself as, "Hi. I'm Owen's mom. And I'm not funny." He's eighteen now and I'm starting to remind him, "I'm a little bit funny."

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  44. You try NOT to embarrass your kids? Is THAT what we're supposed to do? I always thought embarrassing your kids was a natural benefit - you know, payback for the stretch marks and having to watch Handy Manny. The day I become embarrassing by my very existence will be the day I can relax and not make such an effort!

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  45. So what you are saying is that I should be grateful for the time I have now and the fact that I can dance freely in front of my child?
    Or pee with the door open?
    I'll try and keep those things in mind.
    This post was a ray of sunshine in my craptastic day...thank you.

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  46. do you know i read this whole thing and the only thing i could think was 'she loves adele. hot damn, i've never felt closer to her.'

    seriously. i've been in love with adele for nearly 3 years. might go see her in concert in a couple of weeks if my sitter (read: mom) comes through.

    and ps- i love you as a mom. you can drive me up to the front doors of school any day.

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  47. Your restraint is commendable. But as I, too, have a 16 year old boy that once upon a time made me the center of his world, I totally understand.

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  48. Oh mama, can you imagine the look you'd get if you really did holler out that testicle comment? I so hated those years when they were embarrassed by us, but thank the good Lord, they come back. Baby, they come back. :)

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  49. BYE BYE SWEET PEA!! DONT FORGET YOUR NUTTIE BUDDY!

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  50. when we were teens, my brother once instructed my mother when she drove him and his friend jerry to the mall she could only say "hello, jerry" so when the friend got in the car she said "hello, jerry" and when he said thanks for the ride she said "hello, jerry," and when he said goodbye she said "hello, jerry."

    to this day, we work in "hello, jerry" into any and all toasts at family functions.

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  51. Now, see, that's just one of the several thousand ways you and I are different. I would have let him out early, watched him walk off, then drive slowly by blowing my horn, shouting his name and telling him I love him soooo much. Then I would rent out his empty bedroom.

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  52. He'll be back.

    I think there's a little part of me that has kept my son at the tiniest of distances because of how I dread the day he turns away from me.

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  53. This is so good in so many ways! You really got me with the bald headed kitchen dancer.

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  54. Awww, happy birthday guy!

    It's so very different to think about my own situation. I'm still very much in the "the day is awesome when I see Daddy" phase (unless they're fighting naptime, when the kids are simply assholes). I was just thinking that I totally pull a Simpsons when I think forward years - the kids will just be the same - time passes, but they won't age.

    I guess the "watching them age" is the good part, even if it's a bit painful at points.

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  55. My 10 yr old son is prepping me for the inevitable: I walk him to school and the other day, as we approached the school block, I insisted he give me a kiss good-bye (see what an understanding mom I am: I did NOT kiss him in front of the building). He carefully looked up and down the block to make sure the coast was clear, allowed me a swift pass at his cheek and scurried away. But because he's only ten, and small for his age, I got even the next day: I planted a big JUICY kiss right on the smacker, just as a friend of his walked by. I mean, isn't it our jobs to give our kids something to talk about in therapy later in life?

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  56. You've got me all freaked out about my little bald dancing partner! So, you mean he's gonna grow up?? This is terrible news.

    Great post! I love your writing!

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  57. Wow, the memories of having a sixteen year old. I remember speaking meekly the way you described.

    It is quite painful. Hang in there, Mama. The best is yet to come. My son has been out on his own officially since mid February. Remember that? Remember I thought I was dying? Well, guess what? He comes home at least once a week for a home cooked meal, free laundry, or a little cash here and there. . . but that's not all. While he is there for almost the whole weekend, he takes me to lunch. We watch movies together. We talk about life. And it is a good good thing!

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  58. This is exactly why I come here. When I first "met" you, I read that post you had about your son and all the great things you did with him, it was documented with pictures, and I remember the one where he was riding the vacuum... You know, that one?
    Well, that was grandiose.
    It reminded me that when my mom picked me up from elementary school, I had told her to stop asking me how my day was, it was fine, every day was just fine.
    I think it's time I apologize for this.
    My mom was and remains the best!

    You're that kind too :-)

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  59. I know that is going to hurt me so bad. I mean, now, when they beg me to let loose with wall-shaking burps for entertainment, to dance with them to crazy music, and play guitar hero with them, and belt out Day-Oh! in the kitchen for the heck of it.... The thing that gets me by is the fact that I have blackmail pictures of them in the tub, or the handwritten stories about Batman adventures stored away, and NOTHING can stop me from burping. So they hurt my feelings, I can't guarantee those nakey bathtub pics won't wind up on the coffee table when a prospective GF winds up at the house... "I don't know how those got there! I swear! Now kiss your mother and like it, dangit."

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  60. My oldest child (12) is just beginning to show signs of embarrassment when around me. BUT he knows that he has to be nice...and pretend that he thinks I'm cool. Otherwise payback is unbearable. I have NO issue screaming across the pool that he has the "CUTEST LITTLE TUSHY EVER AND I WANT TO TAKE A BITE OUT OF IT!!" Not quite as good as your cup and testicle comment but it makes my point.

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  61. I had tears in my eyes reading this. I think it was from laughter. I don't think French kids are allowed to be embarrassed of their parents. They still have to kiss the when they're teens and all the other kids do it too.

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  62. NUTTY BUDDY!! Omigosh, I might have peed myself a little laughing. My boy is only a toddler so I am still his world (cannotgethimoffme). I would totally embarrass him when he's 16. TOTALLY.

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  63. I was lucky. None of my kids ever felt like that. In fact, my 17 year old son told me last week that all his friends think that i am "cool" so i guess i'm a lucky gal.

    Good luck with all that...it will pass

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  64. Oh, Man... My oldest son started to be embarrassed by me really early, like 2nd grade. Now he's at the end of 4th grade. I try to take it in stride, but the hardest part is knowing that he's embarrassed of me because he feels so insecure about himself, so afraid of sticking out and being noticed by his peers in a bad way, as a Momma's Boy, or just as a boy who has a Momma who loves him.

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  65. My son is 6 today. Six. I know he will be like this one day and I can't even consider it. I have time, right?

    Honestly, I don't remember being embarrassed by my momma. I don't think my lil brother was either. Maybe I'll luck out???

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  66. This reminds me of how I felt about my parents when I was 13. I grew out of it and when we (5 of us kids) got older we actually "hung out" with our parents more.

    I'm not a mom, but I'm very close to my nieces and nephews. My 14 year old niece still lets me kiss her in public, but I don't know how much longer that will go on. My nephew 10 lets me do the same, but I think he's got a shorter shelf life.

    lol on the nutty buddy ... while I'm sure you'd never do it ... thinking about tormenting him with that threat must give you a chuckle or two.

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  67. LOVE IT, I don't look forward to the day my girls are like this. Right now I can embarass my 7yr old by simply holding Hubby's hand....I love doing that to her ;)

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  68. Love this! I don't even want to think about this though...my son is 4 and always tells me, 'But I want to hang out with you, Mommy.'. You mean that stops? *wah*

    And you blast Adele every time he opens the car door in front of all his friends. Be proud! hahaha

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  69. I AM NOT looking forward to the teen years with two girls. I remember how EMBARASSED I was of my mom. There was no winning with me. She could do no right.I'm sure thats going to come back to bite me right in my ass. Sorry its happening already for you. I totally would scream and embarass, but I'm kinda mean and you're not!You are awesome and don't let lil boy tell you differently.XOXO Mama

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  70. So happy to have all of you now including "nutty buddy" in your athletic supporter lexicon.

    xo

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  71. That's why I take advantage of every waking moment and embarrass the shit out of my kids while I still can.

    Hindsight is such a BITCH.

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  72. HILARIOUS! :-) Loved this post.

    Adding you to my blog roll so that I never ever miss you again...

    Pearl

    P.S. My boy is 25. Trust me: they grow out of it and he'll be a sweetheart again. :-)

    p.p.s. Blogger hates me, hence the weird link...

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  73. ok see...just like my issue with weight, I plan to head this off at the pass too. I shall announce my embarrassing nature everywhere as to avoid being crushed when it happens.

    sigh.

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  74. Right now I'm at the phase where my kid needs to be glued onto my lap 24/7 but I know the day will come where she's all "Mo-om, you're embarrassing me." I'm still hoping I'll be the cool mom though!

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  75. Oh Oh you make me pee in my pants.

    Poor Alec.

    He doesn't know what you're like.

    I miss you guys.

    Candace

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  76. You can't even imagine how much I adore this. Or just how much I adore that you and I live in the same boat.

    Well, I guess you can...those wee little boys who once thought we not only hung the moon but invented the stars...and now?

    We may as well be the town witch!

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  77. He might really fall down and break open his head if you yelled that!

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  78. Seriously? This is like the most hilarious and simultaneously heartrenching thing I have read. Maybe in my whole life. I am totally crying. Because my boys are still in the smothering love phase, but I know it doens't last forever. And I die a little inside every time I even think about the fact that they will one day be embarassed by me. But I know it's going to happen. Beautiful post, Empress. You have such a way with words. PS I sway my hands up in the air while I'm singing in the van too. And sometimes I do the electric slide.

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  79. Oh this is hilarious and sad all in one. My oldest doesn't get embarrassed by me and my young ones? Well I am in denial that they will ever be embarrassed to have me in their presence. When it happens I am coming to you for some good digs I can yell out the car window.

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  80. DO IT. At the top of your lungs!

    I'm sure going to when mine is 16.

    Heh.

    XO

    A.

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  81. Oh, I was all tearing up and the idea of him walking away without looking back. Then, you hit me with the funny! The idea of you yelling that had me actually laughing out loud at my computer!

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  82. Nutty Buddy - that is freaking awesome. I will PAY you to yell that to him. Or what about singing Destiny's Child "Say My Name." You know. All the time.

    Oy, the self-centeredness of the teen. It makes me cringe to think of myself back then. Loved this post, A.

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  83. here's a subject matter that has been done to death: mothers embarrassing their teenage sons. but you do it so well, and make it your own so effortlessly. your stuff is fun, naturally.

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  84. I cannot take rejection in any form, but most especially from my kids.

    I also vote for the prodigious usage of the "Nutty Buddy" term.

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  85. Nutty Buddy. That was my sorority nickname.

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  86. Oh, HELL, NO. I suffered excruciating embarrassment at the hands of my mother, mostly because she was a shrieking harpy bitch, and I sure as shit was going to pass that crap on. My boys pretty much resigned themselves to it. When they were younger, I taught where they went to school. When they became old enough to get a job, I was the HR manager at the waterpark where they worked. THEY COULD NOT GET AWAY FROM ME. It was a grand thing.

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  87. And to think that I was complaining because my kids really wants me all the time. I wish the time would stop now,I don't want to be in a situation like that, I will cry in front of them, I promise! :(

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  88. LMAO!!! Don't you DARE! I used to do the same thing with my parents... I think it's a phase we all go through. Rest assured your baby loves you just as much now as he did when he danced with you in the kitchen at a young age :)

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  89. We should all do posts on WHY our parents embarrassed us so much. Yes, the teen years ae notoriously self centered ones, but--in my case--my mom really refused to assimilate.

    Just flat out NO to embracing the way of the USA.

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  90. I'm right there with you. I thought for sure my kid wouldn't feel weird about be - but here we are.

    It still pisses me off that she'll hang with the husband like they're BFFs. I should probably get over that, but I'm kind of petty.

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  91. Oh Empress. Oh. Oh. Oh. I am laughing so hard, I can't breathe. That is brilliance, just utter, utter brilliance.

    I know the same feeling, trying to press myself against the wall when her friends are around with my hands against my face, muttering, "Don't look at me! I'm a monstah!"

    Not really. I kind of enjoy the embarrassing moments, but I leave the mortification up to the sisters. They are excellent at it. Like the time, the oldest was 16 and standing in a throng of other teens, all waiting to be picked up by their embarrassing parents after school. My youngest held a naked Barbie out the window as we coasted up to school and yelled, "HEY OLIVIA, YOUR NEW BARBIE JUST GOT HERE!" I laughed for days at the look on her face.

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  92. Personally, I live to embarrass my children. Like car dancing at a stop light when it is rush hour. I think of it as a perk.

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  93. I try to remind them that nobody cares about what you're doing: they're all too worried about themselves to notice everyone else very much. It's true. Do you REALLY care if someone's butt or hair or make up isn't perfect? Nope. And yet, we obsess over our own every day. It's a waste of energy and unfortunate that teenagers can't seem to pull out of the cycle earlier.

    I say shout the crazy shit and TRULY embarrass him. Then he won't care about your mere existence next time.

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  94. But look at all the boys that are ever on TV. Who do they wave and say hi to? Their mom!

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  95. It takes a strong woman to refrain from shouting 'testicles' out the window. Or in any scenario, really.

    I'll die when Dom starts walking away from me with a teenage swagger.

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  96. Oh goodness, I love this and hate this all at the same time. Love it because it's hilarious and hate it because I have 5 young children who still adore me and I hate to think that at some point in the near future I'm going to have an angsty teenage son and 4 hormonal teenage daughters all at the same time, all loathing my existence. What a way to start a Monday morning ;-)

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  97. I just made my husband promise me that when and if we have a kid and he is this age and is completely embarrassed by us, that we will purposely embarrass him more, to the furthest extent.

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