My daughter recently took her driving test. As we arrived at the testing site, she made sure to park perfectly, getting out of the car not once, but twice, to check her alignment. For teenagers, appearances are everything, and their self-esteem hinges on how they’re perceived by others.
It doesn’t matter if they’re the quiet achievers, the sassy ones, or the kids who act like they couldn’t care less—deep down, they’re all concerned about one thing: How do I look to others? And nothing can throw a wrench in their carefully curated reputation faster than a mom.
I have three of these adolescents living under my roof, and as they’ve matured, my behavior has increasingly dictated their social vibe. Honestly, I’m not bothered by how my actions might reflect on them. So, when my daughter drove off with an instructor to demonstrate her parallel parking skills, I stood by, snapping pictures. She was furious—not because I intended to share these images online (which she actually supports), but simply because I was there.
Too bad for her! As her mother, I’ve earned that right after all these years. I’ve done the hard work—changing diapers, soothing them through countless sleepless nights, and even juggling more than one child on my lap in a public restroom. You think I’m going to let a little teenage embarrassment stop me from capturing these moments? Not a chance.
I’m going to take that photo of us snuggled on the couch, and I’ll make sure we get a great shot on Mother’s Day—the one thing I request all year long. When my kids hit milestones, whether it’s getting a driving permit or another year of school, I want to celebrate openly.
If we walk into a store and they plead with me to stay out of sight so nobody knows we’re related, well, it’s payback time. I’ll make sure to embarrass them at every opportunity, whether it’s singing loudly in the car or sharing silly stories in front of their friends.
Mothering instincts are hardwired, and I can’t just turn them off because it annoys my teens. They may not want to hear me express my love while dropping them off at a friend’s house, but I will do it every time. They’ll hear how much I care, whether they like it or not, especially when I’m dropping them off at school.
We all know that once we become parents, our priorities shift. We cheer loudly at their games, straighten their collars, and make sure they know they are loved. It’s part of the gig, and I don’t care how they react. They can roll their eyes all they want; I’ve earned this right as their mother.
And let’s not forget, they’ve embarrassed me plenty of times too, so a little payback is only fair.
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In summary, it’s my role as a parent to embrace every moment, even if it means embarrassing my teens. This is a journey we share, and I’ll take pride in every snapshot along the way.