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30 Parents Share The Times They Screwed Up So Bad, The Embarrassment Never Faded
Kids often see their parents as invincible. Often stubborn and strict, they’re the epitome of doing things right, or at least they seem so until some point in adolescence when we finally start developing our independent take on things we carry throughout life.
But it turns out, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Parents are no strangers to embarrassing screwups, and in fact, while raising you, have experienced a very solid share of them. “What are your parenting fails?” one dad tweeted, stirring a confessionary thread full of hilarious stories from moms and dads.
From whooping your son like ‘a fun dad’ only to realize it was not your kid to teaching your child the art of tossing a pancake that ended with him taking a hit from the pan, parents are far from perfect, but hey, who is, really?
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Lovin' Life 4 years ago
I did that once inside and my son's head stopped the ceiling fan. Thankfully it was on low speed and he was okay.
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Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
My mother was a nurse. Nurses often don't notice broken bones until it's that bad. After all, if you're not screaming, unconscious, or gushing blood.... You'll be fine! ------ As a kid, I broke something, but my mom decided it wasn't broken. It never healed properly. She still apologizes, at least.
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Allan Breum 4 years ago
Well, phones cost money to get. Babies you can make for free... The "after market" expenses on babies are quite high, though. :P
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Gary 4 years ago
Took my kids to a much looked forward to fancy dress party. All the parents and kids were there, but they were getting in to cars, not out of them. I had gotten the finish time mixed up as the start time. Left with disappointed kids. I don't think they remember it after all these years, but I do, and still feel sorry for their younger selves.
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M Calad 4 years ago (edited)
Off 🤦♀️, I had a similar story. My parents gave my daughter as a present a book about History of Art for Children. Pretty cool. We were going through it every night and one night we reached the chapter about photography. Then there was a sub-chapter about photography as reportage, and there was a photo of the Napalm girl in Vietnam. My daughter (5-6 yo?) asked why that girl was running naked. I explained a bit as child-friendly as I could. But oh my! My daughter started crying desperately feeling terrible for those kids trapped in war, and had nightmares the whole week. That book had to be banned from home. 🤦♀️😖
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Sleazy Weaver 4 years ago (edited)
Sorry to be a buzzkill, but don't put your kids on animals unless they're specifically there to be ridden & have a handler present. Just plonking your kid on a random animal you don't know the temperment of can stress out the animal & end in an accident that hurts the kid. Irresponsible parenting that can lead to both kid & animal suffering, especially if, worst case scenario, the injuries are severe & the animal gets put down. Not a "fun" idea at all.
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What do you think ?
Hans 4 years ago
I would honestly not call these "parenting fails" but "parenting slips". Failing are those who beat their children, feed them just junk food, let them watch TV all day all days, or never read to them. 90% of the things described here were embarrasing mishaps that make funny memories. I think it is an important lessons as a parent not to be too strict to oneself. Most of us with children try their best every single day.
classbag 4 years ago (edited)
I agree but would take "never read to them" off the list. I know a dyslexic parent who is uncomfortable reading even children's books but does lots of other wholesome activities with their child. Children are read to in school and can go to reading programs at the library. A parent who is unable to read is not a failure as long as they make up for it in other ways.
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Carol Emory 4 years ago
Was a new mom when my son was born. He did not sleep through the night on his own until he was 5 (autism). He was about 6 months old, he woke up and I was tired. I laid him on my chest as I rocked in a recliner...we both fell asleep. I woke up to the sensation of my son rolling off my chest onto the floor. My husband and I were living at my parents house at the time. I ran into where my mother was sleeping and said "I dropped the baby!" I was panicked and she said "How far did he fall." I said "Two feet onto the carpet." My mother just looked at me. "He'll be fine. Go to bed." As I walked back to the bedroom with my son I thought "Wait...how does she know that?!?"
BlackPearltheSeaWing/NightWing 4 years ago
My dad punched me in the face once. I'm at his shoulder level, so it's actually pretty easy. He just lifted his arm up one day and turned towards me then ended up punching me. In public too. Probably didn't look very good.
Helen Jones 3 years ago
Oh you could have definitely milked that for some extra candy.
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Hans 4 years ago
I would honestly not call these "parenting fails" but "parenting slips". Failing are those who beat their children, feed them just junk food, let them watch TV all day all days, or never read to them. 90% of the things described here were embarrasing mishaps that make funny memories. I think it is an important lessons as a parent not to be too strict to oneself. Most of us with children try their best every single day.
classbag 4 years ago (edited)
I agree but would take "never read to them" off the list. I know a dyslexic parent who is uncomfortable reading even children's books but does lots of other wholesome activities with their child. Children are read to in school and can go to reading programs at the library. A parent who is unable to read is not a failure as long as they make up for it in other ways.
Load More Replies... Carol Emory 4 years ago
Was a new mom when my son was born. He did not sleep through the night on his own until he was 5 (autism). He was about 6 months old, he woke up and I was tired. I laid him on my chest as I rocked in a recliner...we both fell asleep. I woke up to the sensation of my son rolling off my chest onto the floor. My husband and I were living at my parents house at the time. I ran into where my mother was sleeping and said "I dropped the baby!" I was panicked and she said "How far did he fall." I said "Two feet onto the carpet." My mother just looked at me. "He'll be fine. Go to bed." As I walked back to the bedroom with my son I thought "Wait...how does she know that?!?"
BlackPearltheSeaWing/NightWing 4 years ago
My dad punched me in the face once. I'm at his shoulder level, so it's actually pretty easy. He just lifted his arm up one day and turned towards me then ended up punching me. In public too. Probably didn't look very good.
Helen Jones 3 years ago
Oh you could have definitely milked that for some extra candy.
Load More Replies...
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