Having two ‘teens’ in my home reminds me of those difficult and awkward pubescent years. The days when I’d have friends over and my parents would try to embarrass me, or tease us all relentlessly.
I had the house that everyone wanted to hang at. My parents (mostly) were pretty fun to be around, and we had an above ground pool which we all enjoyed.
While going through those tough years, I didn’t always appreciate the constant joking and harassment my parents dished out. It took a while to realize that the thick skin I was growing was going to be extremely important in the years to come (it still is).
Today I was thinking back to some of the moments I could have lived without, though now they’ve become very fond memories and the source of lots of laughs.
Once when a few friends were spending the night, my mom made us some Krispy treats. Out of the blue she grabs a stick of soft butter and rubs it in one of the girl’s hair. We all had a great laugh until she tried to wash it out and realized how impossible it was.
Other times when someone would call the house to talk to me, my dad would tell them that I’d broke my leg and they had to shoot me. There was more than one occasion where one of my ‘slower’ friends wouldn’t know it was a joke… that was interesting.
Of course there were many horrifying moments where my dad properly terrified my boyfriends, and my mom made me want to hide under a rock. One of them being the time my mom was at her brother’s house and called to check in on me.
I reluctantly shared with her that I had started my period (for the first time ever)… she then lovingly asked me if I was alright… then yelled to the group at my Uncle’s house that I had “become a woman.” Um… thanks, mom!
I now understand that I was very fortunate. My parents tried to be fun and provide a place for my friends and I to feel comfortable and safe. There was plenty of joking and teasing… but it was out of love and I appreciate all of their efforts.
I like to kid around with my son and daughter, and think I have a pretty good balance of fun and not overly humiliating (usually). I pray one day they’ll feel the same way I do… that I taught them it’s okay to laugh at themselves, and that I love them more than I ever thought possible!
How do you feel about the way your parents acted around your friends? Did they like to have fun… or were they the more serious type?
**For those of you who read my Lights, Camera… Action post… my (possible) big TV debut is this Saturday (tomorrow) on the Food Network. The show is Unwrapped and it is the fried foods episode. I don’t know if I made the cut or not, but I’m the really dorky girl in a bright orange sweater all bundled up because it was freezing and wet outside. I pray it’s not too embarrassing if they didn’t edit me out…
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hehehe. It could be interesting, I’m afraid to watch!
It’s great that those embarrassments can turn into fond memories! You said you aren’t overly humiliating, but your parents probably thought the same thing.
I think when you’re a teenager and so self-conscious it’s good that parents try to keep things light so none of us takes ourselves too seriously.
I’m going to try to do my best to remember your TV debut. I’ll use my DVR and record it so I can see it!
ooo I can’t wait! I’ll be recording it!!!
Set to record on the DVR! I can’t wait =)
OH, it sounds like my family! We joke and kid around so much! In the past, when I tried to write about it on my blog, I had people tell me it was wrong.
One that I can remember was I had said something like, “My mom always wished I were a mongaloid, so at least I’d always be happy.”
I had someone send me a LONG email saying that my mother wasn’t a very nice person, and that it didn’t sound like our house was full of love and harmony.
I was like, “What?!”
Okay, so maybe I shouldn’t have shared the story on my blog. It’s still funny tho. And trust me, although my folks joke, they love us children greatly.