Memories of Motherhood: Embarrassing Your Son

Sometimes during parenting and motherhood, you have just got to let your hair down and have some fun. I know I remember what it was like to be a young adult, no longer a child but not quite a teen. Everything seems to embarrass you, especially your parents.

I remember one particularly trying day years ago. My son and I had been to the grocery store. He was so afraid that some of his friends would "see" him shopping for "food" with his mom. He would not get out of the car to go into the store for fear of being seen. Then to top it all off he slumped down in the seat so that when we were driving down the road, if we should pass someone he knew, they might not recognize him.

All thoughts of parenting and motherhood, just flew right out the window! I proceeded to crank up the volume from the car stereo, slinging my hair around and being as obvious as I could keeping time with the music. In other words, making a complete idiot of myself. All for my son's friends that might or might see him. He was furious as well as embarrassed.

This was just too much fun. I then headed in the direction of the park. Most of his friends would hang out there on Saturday, playing baseball or basketball or what ever. He was mortified! By this time, he was practically laying down in the floor board of the car. That didn't stop me.

I pulled into the parking lot of the park, stopped the car and jumped out. I took off running as fast as I could to those little animals that are on a big spring, you can rock back and forth on them, I don't know what they are called. At any rate I jumped on the nearest one and started to furiously rock back and forth, whooping and hollering. Kids were staring, including my son. Curiosity had gotten the better of him and he had forgotten about being embarrassed at his dear old mother acting like a fool.

Just about the time my son got out of the car to join me in the fun, my little animal bucked me off. I assure you this was not planned. I went over it's head and sprawled on the ground. My turn to be totally embarrassed. Unhurt, but extremely embarrassed! The tide had turned. My son's friends had come over to see if all was alright, and I sent him off to play a few minutes, while I soothed my wounded pride.

This is one of the little memories of motherhood that my son and I still laugh about to this day. The day I tried to embarrass him (which I did), but ended up embarrassing myself even more.