<p>I for one insist on wearing togs of the '80’s. My pants have a TRUE waistline and fall to my ankles or below and my blouses close at the neck. I wear shoes that have vamps. I carry my handbags where they belong…in my hand…shoulder bags, yes rest on my shoulder…There are NO back packs for me. Back packs are for camels and donkeys. I wear socks…as I don’t appreciate the pungent fragrance of leather and sweat. And I sometimes like to wear makeup…if I am a mother, of course. Not the “au naturale” kind. NOOOOO…the kind that makes you look years younger…and hides those blemishes and wrinkles after years of toil and aggravation. I could go on…but perhaps others on this forum deliberately embarrass their children like I do?</p>
<p>sgi, this will be a fun thread that I realize you started after the sharing some of us did on the other thread. But I just want to tell ya, that when I posted on that thread about being seen or not heard or not being seen in front of my D’s friends, I do not think of it as a way I SELECT to embarrass my teen, but more that she ridiculously is embarrassed by what I don’t think she should be, know what I mean? (though obviously lots of teens react this way as attested to on that thread) One of my teens has no problem with this. The other, whoa. You would think I was being polite when her friends call and I might say a line or two that I committed the WORST offense. Now, I did not MEAN to embarrass her. Her friends never act as if they mind. She is over the top on some of this!</p>
<p>Susan
(by the way, I don’t wear make up and she has never mentioned anything about my clothing, so I guess I do something all right in that area)</p>
<p>1) Singing , whether along with the radio, national anthem, doesn’t matter. My voice is somewhere south of Tom Waits, closer to Louis Armstrong, far more authentically gravel-ly than Leon Redbone. To her it is the sound of two male cats fighting.</p>
<p>2) I wear shorts outdoors year round . Not all the time, but sometimes. It is not unusual for it to be 45 and sunny and for me to be in shorts. It somehow drives her batty for me to be so , so,so WEIRD.</p>
<p>3) Other than my mere presence , which is often enough, I can’t think of any others right now.</p>
<p>I was being facetious, Sue, when I used the word “SELECT.” None of us really choose to embarrass our kids!!! I was only kidding…and YES…i was accused of '80’s wear. GO figure? My D is a real fashion plate in her BIRKENSTOCKS!</p>
<p>I embarrass my son by insisting on walking to his dorm every time I go to drop him to college. I love the sights of the college, so pardon me, if I’d want to look around and not just drive off into the sunset.
I am sure there are thousand other ways I embarrass him!</p>
<p>Curmudgeon…YOU ARE A RIP! I knew you would be dreaming up some real gems!!! Thanks for making my day…again!</p>
<p>top three in reverse order is:</p>
<ol>
<li>Coming into their school and waving at their child or acting like they know their child</li>
<li>Talking to their friends about school, grades, likes, dislikes etc</li>
<li>Being seen in public, especially at malls, with their children</li>
</ol>
<p>I never wear makeup either but my son is so used to my not wearing makeup that if I do, he complains it is too noticeable and the lipstick is too dark!
“Geez mom, you are too old for that bright red lipstick!!”</p>
<p>Somehow we have been switched to COLLEGE CONFIDENTIAL CAFE…OOOOooooo</p>
<p>Taxguy, how could I forget your #3. God, those have been the worst. I have given her nightmares with my school day visits (career day, mock trial coach, GT screener). She swears whenever she hears “we will have a special speaker” that her heart literally starts into tachycardia until she finds out it’s definitely not me. Golly, I have tears from laughing too hard as I type this remembering her anguish in middle school.</p>
<p>Sgiovinc1,
A different moderator must have moved this thread to the cafe. I will inquire about that. I assume it is due to the fact that it is “off topic” with regard to college admissions topics. However, it does relate to “parenting” topics and most posters likely meant for the discussion to be amongst other parents, though anyone can read the Parent Forum, the majority of posters there tend to be parents. Many of those parents do not frequent the Cafe. It may have to stay here if going strictly by the “off topic” standard, but I will find out.</p>
<p>Thanks…because as parents, these types of revelations can be alot of fun and yes, sometimes help us in understanding that “we are not alone!”</p>
<p>I wonder if this is a “girl” thing. My son never seems to care. My daughter scrutinizes my clothing when I pick her up from first grade…“mom, can you PLEASE wear that pretty red dress when you pick me up tomorrow…and have your hair out!”</p>
<p>I embarrass her by putting love notes in her lunchbox. (wicked grin)</p>
<p>Still waiting for that Parents Cafe, college mom ;). I know you’re trying. </p>
<p>How I embarrass my teenager? How about, by getting up in the morning?</p>
<p>Actually, as Susan has, my two girls react differently. One is still very loving and open even in front of her friends, and the other is the stereotypical embarrassedtohaveamomwithin10miles type (although she too goes back and forth between childhood cuddliness, in private, so all is not lost). They are one minute apart in age (truly) so it is not an age issue!</p>
<p>Kissing my husband (etc!!!). How does she think she got here?</p>
<p>My husband and I like to bop our heads to the music as we slowly drive through our small town and the kids try to become invisible in the back seat. It’s best done to a punk song so we can do the hand movements too.</p>
<p>Voronwe…VERY FUNNY!!!</p>
<p>Kathiep…LOVE that head bop and HAND routine accessory!!! You are all providing me with much NEEDED ammunition…wait 'til next Parents Weekend…aha! TAKE THAT!</p>
<p>voronwe, we have the same response to my daughter’s long drawn out “EEEEEWWWWW!”</p>
<p>I also enjoy singing my old sorority songs to her if I’m REALLY in a sadistic mood.</p>
<p>My daughter likes the way I dresss, so I probably should give all my clothes to the salvation army and go buy a chanel suit and some ferragamos. She sometimes gets embarassed by what she perceives as my over-protectiveness, such as when I call a parent whose kid is hosting a party to ask if the parent will be there etc. Similarly if there’s somewhere I want to walk her to instead of letting her walk by herself. I always offer to wear a paper bag over my head so nobody will know I’m her mother but she doesn’t like that either.</p>