Don’t Share Your Child’s Embarrassing Stories

They are your child’s memories and humiliating them for a laugh isn’t cool.

In my job (I’m a therapist), I’ve encountered many similar stories. Trust me, your child will never forget those moments. Don’t use your child’s embarrassing stories as dinner party talk. And people nowadays are doing this on Facebook also. The digital footprint parents are creating for their kids is awful. Our neighbor overshares everything about her life and boys, and they’re reaching social media ages. Please think twice before you do this!

Just because you’re a parent doesn’t mean you have the right to humiliate them for a laugh. I do think that telling about something cute they once did (pronouncing something wrong, for example) is different from an embarrassing story, but if your child doesn’t like you talking about it, then you should still find something else to talk about.

Children are not as detached from their younger selves as adults are. I would never be embarrassed for something I did when I was <10 years old, but a 5-year-old can be deeply embarrassed for having worn a diaper at 2, for example.

This also applies to your boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife. I had an ex who would share some of my more neurotic habits with friends as a funny joke, which is a large reason why he’s my ex.

Also, a word not to bring up other people’s medical issues/histories unless you have their full consent. Not everyone feels comfortable revealing delicate information regarding their health and well-being.

Cute stories are one thing. I’ll never get tired of hearing my husband’s grandmother tell the story of how he tried to hide in the pear tree to keep from having to come inside. Embarrassing stories aren’t cool. Don’t share those.

And I will end this with something that I read way back and still remember to this day:

Remove/distance yourself from negative people in your life, even if they’re family and especially if they’re family.