Embarrassing things our parents did when we were growing up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:White New Balances. Enough said

Those are cool now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom gave me and my siblings rhyming names and dressed us in matching outfits for every holiday.

We're you triplets?
Sam, Pam, Cam?
Rex, Tex, Bex?
Jane, Layne, Cain?
I would imagine past say the age of 7 you would have rebelled and not worn matching outfits

Lol, not triplets. If you knew my mother, you'd rethink the idea that rebelling would go well. She didn't stop with the matching clothes until there were too many of us for it to work. It's hard to find the same outfit for toddlers to teens, thankfully!

[Anonymous]

My dad had this huge early 1970's blue station wagon (the kind with the side-folding seats in the way back) named Big Blue. It was a third family car, not his regular car. He would pick us up from school sometimes in it in the mid-to-late 80's. And when he really wanted to embarrass us, he would hook up the Jon boat on the trailer to it and drive to school to get us. We would all groan in despair when we saw Big Blue and the Jon boat coming into the car pickup line. And when we got home, he would unhitch the boat and put it back in the driveway. He thought it was so funny to see us so embarrassed over a boat and a car.

[Anonymous]

Shopping for my first bra, age 11 or so, I was wearing a big, baggy sweatshirt and was self conscious. My mom asked the sales lady to help us, who started grabbing I don’t remember what - little shelf bras? Undershirts? My mom says, “oh, she needs a real bra, let me show you” and reaches over, pulls up my shirt / sweatshirt and effectively flashes the lady. I was horrified and my mom said “it’s not a big deal, we’re all women here!” I cannot imagine doing that to my girls.

The other day I put sunscreen on my kids. My husband asked if I could put sunscreen on him because he didn’t want to get his hands messy. I rubbed sunscreen on his face and our 8 year old DD said, “okay, I’m so embarrassed I had to watch that.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not parents, but one day DW and I were in Costco in the area near the pharmacy. I was at one end of the aisle and she was towards the other end. I held a Costco-sized box of Depends above my head and asked her, in a slightly raised voice, if these were the right Depends she needed.

A black guy in the aisle couldn't help but snicker.

Plot twist: She doesn't use Depends.

Hilarious story, but very weird to mention that the other guy in the aisle was Black…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not parents, but one day DW and I were in Costco in the area near the pharmacy. I was at one end of the aisle and she was towards the other end. I held a Costco-sized box of Depends above my head and asked her, in a slightly raised voice, if these were the right Depends she needed.

A black guy in the aisle couldn't help but snicker.

Plot twist: She doesn't use Depends.

Hilarious story, but very weird to mention that the other guy in the aisle was Black…

I agree. Would you have said “a white guy in the aisle….” ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom used to wear an umbrella hat to soccer games in the 80s.


https://www.walmart.com/ip/4-Pack-Rainbow-Umbrella-Hat-Cap-Hands-Free-with-Head-Strap-for-Sun-Rain/845548740

Do you see this now as a sweet memory? My dad wrore that hat with a straw and hung 2 soda cans on it. It was hot and my games were long. He also probably did it just because he knew it would embarrass me. Now I think back so fondly. He died of skin cancer a few years back, all those years sitting in the sun watching me play. Whenever the guilt starts to creep in, I look at his stupid hat and smile. My dad loved me.

I don’t see it as a sweet memory. It’s embarrassing stuff like this my mom did that made my siblings and I outcasts at our school. I’m sorry about your dad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom used to wear an umbrella hat to soccer games in the 80s.


https://www.walmart.com/ip/4-Pack-Rainbow-Umbrella-Hat-Cap-Hands-Free-with-Head-Strap-for-Sun-Rain/845548740

Do you see this now as a sweet memory? My dad wrore that hat with a straw and hung 2 soda cans on it. It was hot and my games were long. He also probably did it just because he knew it would embarrass me. Now I think back so fondly. He died of skin cancer a few years back, all those years sitting in the sun watching me play. Whenever the guilt starts to creep in, I look at his stupid hat and smile. My dad loved me.

I don’t see it as a sweet memory. It’s embarrassing stuff like this my mom did that made my siblings and I outcasts at our school. I’m sorry about your dad.

The only thing embarrassing is your poor grammar.

[Anonymous]

We took a family picture in front of the entrance sign for every national park we visited.

My kids found DCUM. And they are some really great pictures!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not parents, but one day DW and I were in Costco in the area near the pharmacy. I was at one end of the aisle and she was towards the other end. I held a Costco-sized box of Depends above my head and asked her, in a slightly raised voice, if these were the right Depends she needed.

A black guy in the aisle couldn't help but snicker.

Plot twist: She doesn't use Depends.

Hilarious story, but very weird to mention that the other guy in the aisle was Black…

I agree. Would you have said “a white guy in the aisle….” ?

I think OP of this has seen a lot of (too many) Bruckheimer movies where black actors always provide the comedy relief/best one liners/reaction shots. C’mon- picture Kenan Thompson reacting to an adult diaper reference and you will get it.

Black, if it matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We took a family picture in front of the entrance sign for every national park we visited.

My kids found DCUM. And they are some really great pictures!

I can’t imagine why this would be embarrassing. Tedious, not embarrassing. How lucky anyone would be to have these parents.

I can’t think of anything charming. My dad was a fall down drunk and my mom a hoarder. They weren’t bad people, but my entire childhood and much of my adult life has been embarrassment and shame. None of it cute. Those of you who have the luxury to cringe over thoughtful photos of extensive, wonderful family vacations kind of make me sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Growing up we had no a/c. On some really hot days my mom would take off her top at the dinner table. She didn't even wear a bra. My brother and I were teenagers and cringed hard inwardly.

She also liked to say really crass things (related to bowel movements) to make a point. Every time she did it I'd call her out, and she'd persist on doing it.

I can't believe no one commented on this. Horrifying!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any time my dad opened a gift, he’d shake it and ask ”is it (insert childish Disney character) underwear?” He would sing and dance to Britney Spears songs in front of my friends. He also (still) is obsessed with flying kites at the beach and topping his “extreme” kite feats each year. Once he got an extra long string and ended up snagging a plane with a big banner flying behind it. The banner came undone and fell into the ocean. The next year he used his kite to pull himself out to sea in a raft and had to be rescued by kayakers.

Your dad is both awesome and horrifying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom used to wear an umbrella hat to soccer games in the 80s.


https://www.walmart.com/ip/4-Pack-Rainbow-Umbrella-Hat-Cap-Hands-Free-with-Head-Strap-for-Sun-Rain/845548740

Do you see this now as a sweet memory? My dad wrore that hat with a straw and hung 2 soda cans on it. It was hot and my games were long. He also probably did it just because he knew it would embarrass me. Now I think back so fondly. He died of skin cancer a few years back, all those years sitting in the sun watching me play. Whenever the guilt starts to creep in, I look at his stupid hat and smile. My dad loved me.

I don’t see it as a sweet memory. It’s embarrassing stuff like this my mom did that made my siblings and I outcasts at our school. I’m sorry about your dad.

The only thing embarrassing is your poor grammar.

You are so kind to point that out. Made me an outcast. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Growing up we had no a/c. On some really hot days my mom would take off her top at the dinner table. She didn't even wear a bra. My brother and I were teenagers and cringed hard inwardly.

She also liked to say really crass things (related to bowel movements) to make a point. Every time she did it I'd call her out, and she'd persist on doing it.

OMG your mom must be Claudia Maloney!