When Teens Feel Embarrassed by Parents: A Mom’s Bold Lesson
Being a teenager is like a wild roller coaster—filled with thrilling highs, sudden drops, and plenty of twists and turns. One moment, teens are laughing with their parents; the next, they’re shutting the door, saying, “Leave me alone!” It’s all part of growing up, figuring out who they are, and craving independence.
But for parents, it’s not always easy to sit in the passenger seat of this ride. It can be frustrating, even heartbreaking, to feel pushed away by your once-clingy little one. As teens try to stand on their own, moms and dads face the challenge of finding a balance between giving them freedom and staying involved.
One mom recently shared her story about dealing with her teenage son’s embarrassing behavior—and how she decided to teach him a lesson he wouldn’t forget.
“I Became the Embarrassing Mom”
This mom, let’s call her Susan, has a 14-year-old son who, like many teenagers, suddenly decided his parents were the most embarrassing people on the planet.
“It all started about two years ago,” Susan explained. “One day, he just stopped wanting to be seen with us. At first, we thought it was just a phase—something all kids go through. But it only got worse!”
Susan noticed how her son started setting “rules” for them.
“He didn’t want us to come to his sports games, drop him off too close to school, or walk with him in public places. It was like he thought we’d ruin his image or something!”
The breaking point came a few days ago when Susan drove 40 minutes to pick him up from a school event.
“When I got there, he texted me to park a block away so his friends wouldn’t see me. I watched him stand there, pretending I didn’t exist until his friends left. Then he hopped in the car, didn’t say thank you, and just said, ‘Drive!’ It hurt so much.”
Susan tried talking to her son about how his actions made her feel, but it didn’t seem to sink in.
“I’ve told him, ‘You’re making us feel like we don’t matter to you.’ But he just shrugged it off. Enough was enough—I knew I had to get creative.”
A Bold Plan to Teach a Lesson
Susan decided to flip the script.
“The next time he needed a ride to the store for a new t-shirt, I had an idea. While driving, I suddenly said, ‘Duck!’ and lightly pushed his head down, pretending I was hiding him. He looked at me, completely confused.”
She laughed and explained, “I told him I didn’t want to be seen with him because he was embarrassing me.”
When they got to the store, Susan didn’t stop there.
“I rushed inside and said, ‘You stay here. I don’t want anyone to know we’re together.’ By then, he was catching on. He looked so uncomfortable, and I asked him, ‘How does it feel?’ He admitted, ‘Not good.’”
But Susan wasn’t done making her point.
“The next day, I took him to get a bus pass. I told him, ‘Since you don’t want to be seen with me, you can find your own way around.’ At the bus pass office, I said loudly, ‘I’m embarrassed to be here with you!’ and made him stand by the door while I handled everything. He looked so awkward—it was clear he was starting to get it.”
Mixed Reactions
When Susan shared her story with her sister, she didn’t get the reaction she expected.
“My sister was furious,” Susan said. “She told me I was being too harsh and that it’s just a phase he’ll grow out of. But after two years of this, I feel worn out. I love my son, but I can’t keep letting him treat us like we don’t matter.”
A Lesson in Empathy
Susan’s approach might seem over-the-top, but she felt it was the only way to help her son understand how hurtful his behavior was. Sometimes, walking in someone else’s shoes—or, in this case, feeling the sting of being treated as “embarrassing”—is the best way to learn.
“Parenting a teenager isn’t easy,” Susan admitted. “But I hope this will teach him to respect us and realize that family is nothing to be ashamed of.”
What do you think? Was Susan right to handle the situation this way? Have you ever faced something similar with your teenager? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This story is a reminder that while the teenage years can be tricky, they’re also a time for learning, growth, and maybe a few bold lessons along the way.
