Embarrassing things our parents did when we were growing up

[Anonymous]

My parents were immigrants and while they spoke English (with accents) they always chose to speak their native language when out and about, at home and at all my school functions.

They were restaurant owners and brought snacks from “the stores” as they called for the entire team after all my games. All my friends/teammates loved it (and they loved my parents).

I went to a small private school and this was so embarrassing to me because all of my friends had parents in white collar jobs- lawyers, doctors, finance. My friends thought it was awesome that my parents owned restaurants and loved going there to eat while I would never go if given the choice.

Looking back on it, I’m embarrassed at how I acted. They worked so hard to give me and my siblings everything we ever needed/wanted. They were incredibly successful and kind and generous.

[Anonymous]

One where I was right to be embarrassed: Growing up I was a little reserved or shy around approaching people and asking for help, like in a store or in public. So my parents' "solution" to this was to ask the most ridiculous things purportedly on my behalf. Like standing right under a street sign for Main Street and asking passers-by, "excuse me, my daughter is looking for Main Street, is this it?" Same type of stuff with help in stores. Standing in front of a wall of shoes and saying their daughter was wondering if they could direct her to the shoe section. It naturally only made the issue worse because it added layers of embarrassment to a social situation I already struggled with, but they found it consistently hilarious.

One where I was wrong to be embarrassed: My parents both worked full time in a time and in a community where that wasn't super common. I had to sign up for a ton of clubs and activities just so I could stay at school, and they were frequently late even picking me up from those. They constantly got little scolding "talking-to's" from teachers and administrators about being late to pick me and my brother up, but it's because they had to work. This was embarrassing to me in front of my teachers and friends, most of whom seemed to have picture-perfect SAHMs. But now I feel terrible in retrospect that I was so embarrassed about it. They were doing the best they could.

[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.

Putting aside the race of the guy in the aisle, this one doesn't fit with the others because the poster was actually trying to embarrass his wife. What makes the other stories so great is that the parents are just doing their thing, wearing dorky clothes, singing too loud, or whatever their personal quirk was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Taking home the extra ketchup packets or sugar packets from a restaurant.

Ha! Yes, and the extra napkins, salt and pepper packets. And asking to have every ounce of food leftover from the meal, wrapped up and taken home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OMG, I think (depending on timing) that I'm either your dad's reincarnation or else his long lost twin! I am always mortifying my poor dd and do try to keep it in check, buuuuut.... yeah. She thought I was hilarious when she was small, so it's taking some time to learn (and remember to use) the new rules!

[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.

[Anonymous]

Growing up my dad always made me tuck a paper napkin in my collar during meals. so my shirt would stay clean. as I got older, it made me feel embarrassed if we went to a restauarnt because it was like wearing a bib. if I refused, I got sent to bed without dinner. I think I was the only teenager who was forced to do this.

[Anonymous]

I think we were one of the only families where the kids had to answer all adults with yes sir, no sir and yes maam, no maam. I hated it but my parents were really strict about it. We would get in so much trouble if we did not comply.

[Anonymous]

When my Dad was moving me into my freshman dorm we were in the elevator with a boy who was carrying an electric piano. Dad said, "Oh - this is my daughter - she's a musician too! Maybe you two can make beautiful music together!" Mortified. (It was usually my Mom who did the embarrassing; this was rare.)

Recently my son met a cute Kindergarten girl on the playground and when I overheard him telling her he was was "almost five" I reflexively called out, "NO YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE ONLY THREE!" and he was like, "MOOOOOOOOM STOP IT!" Oops.

[Anonymous]

My parents were hoarders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pulling the car over to dig up wild growing flowering plants on the side of the road.

OMG, my mom did this for my wedding in lieu of hiring a florist. My out of town cousins flew in to attend my wedding and my mom tasked us all to pick wildflowers from some overgrown roadside ditch.

[Anonymous]

My dad would sing along to Britney Spears in public. We hosted a Christmas party when I was probably 12 or 13 and set up the karaoke machine. I was mortified when he and my sister performed Crazy, complete with choreography. Now it makes me laugh!

[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.

Aren't you just so unoriginally funny. That probably happens every single time I go to Costco. That and Preparation H cream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like all this embarrassment has to do with money and status.

What are you doing to break this cycle?

Most of these seem to be about parents singing/dancing in public or wearing funny things. Nothing to do with "money and status."

Exactly. I haven't seen any about money and status.

[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.

Who cares that the guy was black? That’s such a weird detail to include in your story.

Plot twist: no one thinks this is funny. You are a loser.