Things All Parents Do That Embarrass Their Children

1. Hugging right outside the school gates

Image source: Reddit

Every kid at school is trying to scrape by, fitting in and pretending they're as cool as they can be. So when a parent loiters right outside the school gates ready to grab their child and give them a hug and squeeze, it's seriously going to embarrass them and ruin their school reputation.

2. Cracking dad jokes in front of their friends

Image source: 

Menkind

Secretly, deep deep down, we all love a dad joke. But, in front of your child's friends? That's not going to be received well at all. It's a recipe for embarrassing them and they're going to remember the time you embarrassed them by cracking awful jokes in front of their friends. Not a cool look.

3. Prying into their love life

Image source: Reddit

Is there a secret more guarded than a teenage crush? Nope. And for the very reason that they want their parents noses to stay well outta their business. Prying causes the utmost embarrassment. They might have been crushing on this person hard, and they don't want you to know about it.

4. Text speech: 'c u l8r' and 'lol'

Image source: Reddit

Noting is more cringeworthy for a kid than having their parent texting using totally out of date text speech. And what they seriously don't want is anybody else reading the super embarrassing texts you sent them 'Hw r u, did u hav a gud day 2day? Luv u!'.

5. Using pet names in front of anyone!

Image source: Reddit

Hearing a parent say things like ''Sweetie pie, do you want more snacks? Your friends can have some too, pumpkin!'' or something totally repulsive and embarassing such as ''diddykins'' or 'snugglepumpkin'' is a kind of embarassment they're never live down.

6. Telling their crush that they have a crush on them

Image source: Reddit

Adolescent emotions are a seriously delicate thing to manage. Parents can't get it right all the time. But come on, telling their crush that they like them is a step too far. And, if you ever want them to open up about their feelings again, this is definitely the thing NOT to do!

7. Baby talk...please no

Image source: Reddit

Parents can admit that it can be very hard to see your baby grow up into an adolescent. But, it happens and you've got to let them grow. You can't keep trying to reverse them back to a baby by reverting to baby talk. If their friends ever witnessed this, there would be an embarrassment overload.

8. Getting the baby pictures out

Image source: Reddit

What is it about parents getting out the baby pictures as soon as their child's friends or crush comes over? Let's get this straight: your child will recoil from humiliation as soon as they see the photo album come out. Leave the baby photos for when they're not in the room!

9. Commenting on all their social media posts

Image source: Reddit

The modern-day ultra embarrassing parental move – the unstoppable commenting spree on every social media post. When your kid posts a selfie to impress their friends on social media, what they DO not want is to scroll down ad see mom's comment ''"My stunning child! Just like the good ol' days when I used to braid your hair. Love you to the moon and back!''

10. Oversharing their personal stories

Image source: Reddit

Ah, another episode of 'TMI' with Mom and Dad. You know how it goes – you're at a family dinner, chatting about your day, when suddenly, Mom decides it's the perfect time to unleash a personal story that nobody asked for and that will severely embarrass them.

11. Wiping their face in public with a licked finger!

Image source: Reddit

WHY do parents do this. One, it's gross. It's like wiping saliva on their face. And too, it's mortifying when they're past the age of 5 years old. If you want to preserve your child's dignity at all, try an subtle point and don't start scrubbing their face.

12. Asking super personal questions

Image source: Reddit

The child and parent relationship is an interesting one, because while there's nobody closer to them, there's also nobody quite as capable of causing them serious embarrassment! The worst has to be when they ask you ''So, sweetheart, any romantic interests in your life?''

13. Cheering too loudly at sports events

Image source: Reddit

We get it, you're a proud parent. While it's lovely to share that with your child, keep it for home time when you're safely in private, away from all of their friends. Don't start whooping and cheering at the side-lines in front of EVERYBODY, please.

14. Bragging to other parents about them

Image source: Reddit

Cue the parental bragging rights! You know the scene – you're at a school event, a soccer game, or just a casual get-together with other parents, and suddenly your mom or dad transforms it into a competition of "my little cherub is the best" which triggers the rest of the overly competitive parents to join in.

15. Posting on social media

Image source: Reddit

Logging onto social media, they see their parents have posted a new selfie on social media. While you might think you're being a cool mom or dad for joining the age of social media and getting on board with the latest trends, kids are inevitably going to be embarrassed.

16. Trying to be cool

Image source: Reddit

There's something about parents trying to be cool that makes any kid cringe. It's two things they don't put together in the same sentence. That's not to say that they don't love you most, just that they don't expect you or WANT you to try to be cool.

17. Getting involved with all the school events

Image source: Reddit

Your child is just trying to navigate the very difficult academic landscape and get away without embarrassing themselves too much, but oh, the parents are there to do it for them! For example, it's a PTA meeting, and Mom is not just a participant – she's the president, vice-president, and unofficial cheerleader rolled into one.

18. Trying to participate when their friends are over

Image source: Reddit

We all know the scene in Mean Girls, and even in the movies we learn that parents shouldn't get involved with their kid's friends. It's a sign of love that parents want to get stuck in, but sometimes it's about understanding what will cause your kid major embarrassment!

19. Parents who PDA

Image source: Reddit

This is one way to make your child want to disappear into the nearest bathroom or pretend to be deeply interested in a nearby potted plant. Especially when you're at all somewhere in the vicinity of their friends. Nobody wants to be the kid with the PDA parents.

20. Impersonating them during a story

Image source: Reddit

Ah, the art of parental impersonation – a timeless tradition in the realm of family storytelling! Why, when a parent is telling a story do they have to add the theatrics and create a very exaggerated impersonation that sounds nothing like their child!

21. Telling people private things they've told them

Image source: Reddit

Keeping your id's trust is vital, especially at their sensitive ages when they think their personal life is the most important thing ever. Spilling their secrets is not only a huge betrayal of trust in their eyes, it's also totally humiliating because they think the whole world is interested!

22. Having NO filter

Image source: Reddit

Parents, listen up, where you child is concerned it's definitely good to have a filter, especially when they're around their friends. The dramatic social lives of a teenager can be wholly upturned if someone has embarrassing parents who don't hold anything back.

23. Embarrassing dancing at school events!

Image source: Reddit

Embarrassing dancing at fundraisers or school events will take approximately 10 years to eventually live it down and find the whole episode remotely amusing. It might even make your kid want to wear a disguise or consider home-schooling for a split second.

24. Telling people they're 'down with the kids'

Image source: Reddit

If you have to tell anyone that 'you're down with the kids', we can safely say that you are not. In fact, this phrase has been uncool for a while now, so saying it all completely retracts the statement, no matter how hard you try to convince someone.

25. Being overprotective

Image source: Reddit

You're heading out with friends, and Mom's completely embarrassing checklist is longer than your weekend plans: "Text me when you get there. Text me when you leave. Don't talk to strangers. Avoid poorly lit areas. And please, wear that jacket – it's chilly!"

26. Enforcing a curfew that's stricter than everyone else's

Image source: Reddit

Having to head back home around three hours earlier than everybody else it's really not something your child is going to thank you for, because quite frankly, when you're out with your friends and there's a strict curfew, it's embarrassing! Lay off the strict parent act every so slightly.

27. Scolding them in public

Image source: Reddit

Being told off by a parent in private is one thing, but being told off in public in front of peers is one of the most mortifying moments ever - especially for an older child. They just want the ground to swallow them up so they can disappear until it's over.

28. Shouting or singing from the car

Image source: Reddit

Often, we're sorry to say, but being a parent makes you inherently embarrassing - even if you think you're the opposite. So, when it comes to singing or shouting out of the car that's a whole new level of guaranteed humiliation for your kid. Especially if you're anywhere near their friends!

29. Saying 'don't show off' in front of their friends

Image source: Reddit

Children, no matter what age, WILL show off when they're with their friends. It's just a natural stage of life everyone as to go through, A rite of passage to be the annoying show off when they're with their friends. And, having a parent try and rein it in is an embarrassment.

30. Complaining in shops/ restaurants or school

Image source: Reddit

Oh, here comes the ''can I speak to the manager?'' alert - where Mom or Dad transform into the vocal advocate for consumer rights, dining standards, or educational justice. They're just trying to shop, eat, or study, and suddenly,  you decide it's time to address the issues you've identified.

31. Being super strict in public

Image source: Reddit

While parents obviously see it as their duty to manage the behaviour of their child, when they get past a certain age this strict parenting routine has to be done behind closed doors and not in front of their peers. If you don't want to cause them major embarrassment that is!

32. Grabbing their hand when crossing the road

Image source: Reddit

Children, sure. Grown up children, absolutely not. Let go of their hand. Or, you'll seriously destroy their street cred. It's a habit and natural instinct to grab their hand, but at some point (especially when they're older) you have to save them the ridicule.

33. Wearing old fashioned or strange clothes

Image source: Reddit

Great. Mom and dad have turned up in clothing that went out of date three centuries ago. Is that how you want your child to feel? Not everybody has a great fashion sense, but entering the modern era is a great place to start to be slightly less embarrassing.

34. Questioning their girlfriend/boyfriend

Image source: Reddit

Your child brings their new flame home (which is a BIG move), and before they can say "hello," Dad jumps in with a barrage of questions. "So, what are your intentions with my child? What's your five-year plan? Do you have a job, a car, a complete life story?" You can see why this is embarrassing, right?

35. Sending friend requests to all their friends

Image source: Reddit

In the eyes of a child (of any age) parents and social media just do NOT mix. Or at least, they think they shouldn't. So, when you start bombarding their friends by sending them all a friend request, it's definitely going to be an embarrassing moment when they find out.

36. Offering out parental advice to people

Image source: Reddit

Watching a parent offering out parental advice to other moms and dads is super cringeworthy. The intention may come from a very good place, but unless someone asks for it - it's best not to give out unwanted advice to people who may not want it.

37. Tagging them in lots of pictures on social media

Image source: Reddit

Do your children want to be tagged in a full photo album on Facebook? Not really. It's not the kind of look they're trying to establish as this difficult phase of life, where social antics have a lot of importance placed upon them and their social life feels like their whole world.

38. Being super over the top

Image source: Reddit

Whether it's cheering too loudly at school events, expressing exaggerated enthusiasm for accomplishments, or simply going all out in our expressions of love, the line between genuine support and over-the-top antics can get a bit blurry AND embarrassing!

39. Pointing out when they're blushing

Image source: Reddit

'Oh look... she's blushing!' This is by far the WORST thing a parent can do when their kid is embarrassed.  While the intention may be rooted in playful banter or an attempt to ease the tension, the act of highlighting their blush-worthy moments can inadvertently amplify the embarrassment.

40. Being TOO involved

Image source: Reddit

There's a fine line between being supportive and, well, just a bit too involved. From hovering over homework assignments to micromanaging extracurricular activities, the well-intentioned desire to be an active parent can sometimes take an embarrassing turn.

41. Check who they're texting

Image source: Reddit

In the ever-evolving landscape of parenting in the tech-savvy age, there's a cringe-worthy move that involves sneakily checking who our kids are texting. Call it concern or just plain curiosity, but the temptation to peek at their messages can lead to some seriously awkward moments.

42. Being too friendly with teachers

Image source: Reddit

When parents get a bit too friendly with teachers, things can get a little awkward. The friendly chats that start veering into personal territory. From swapping weekend stories to maybe sharing a bit too much about family life it sometimes leaves their kids facing red-faced embarrassment.

43. Gossiping in front of people

Image source: Reddit

This well-meaning chit-chat, though seemingly harmless, can leave children squirming in embarrassment. Parents have a knack for saying the wrong thing in front of the wrong person, so leave the gossip for home time in front of a few, and  select, people!

44. Being the public fashion police

Image source: Reddit

Watching your kid experiment in the world of wonderful (and not so wonderful) world of fashion can be difficult, especially when you have to take a step back and watch their mistakes. But your unsolicited advice isn't welcome, looking back at photos in years to come and cringing is all part of growing up.

45. Revealing their secrets

Image source: Reddit

There's nothing more fragile than a teen's capacity for embarrassment. The temptation to spill the beans on their well-guarded secrets can be a slippery slope, leading to the inevitable - your child's shame, which they may not get over for some time!

46. Suggesting names of people they should date

Image source: Reddit

Perhaps in a misguided attempt to play Cupid, parents often find themselves, all too frequently, suggesting names of potential (and usually misguided) suitors, unintentionally subjecting their offspring to a barrage of (extremely!) awkward encounters.

47. Forcing them to do embarrassing family portraits

Image source: Reddit

In the realm of parental antics that induce second-hand embarrassment, few experiences rival the cringe-worthy tradition of forcing offspring into the peculiar world of family portraits. Especially when the pictures are used in the family Christmas card!

48. Making speeches!

Image source: Reddit

Speeches are a no go, apart from in very particular (few and far between) instances. If this is an event where your child's friends are present, maybe step away from the microphone and just imagine that you're saving them from a moment of sheer embarrassment.

49. Offering them hygiene advice in public

Image source: Reddit

Imagine being a child, trying to establish your own identity and their parent starts telling them to wear deodorant or to start showring everyday in PUBLIC. Oh, the shame. That's not to say that it isn't their parents job to let them know....but it's a conversation for in private.

50. Sending lunch notes

Image source: Reddit

Lunch notes are cute, but as soon as your child leaves elementary school, the notes have got to stop. If you want to save them from any kind of embarrassment, stop the ''Hey there kiddo! Crush it today! Don't forget to smile – you're awesome! Love, Mom'' notes right away.