Here's one thing the parenting books don't teach you — how to embarrass your child. More specifically, how to embarrass your teen. Whether it's a unique form of punishment [1] or a way to get a laugh, causing your child a little humiliation is part of your job as a parent. But some kids are not as easily mortified, and embarrassing them requires a little extra effort. Fear not, folks! We have 13 ways to turn your teen beet red in an instant.
Source: Shutterstock [2]
Call them by their childhood nickname.
If they didn't have one, just make up something.
Source: ABC Family [3]
Squeeze their cheeks.
And squeeze them hard!
Source: 20th Century Fox [4]
Rock a bathrobe when dropping them off at school.
For a little extra embarrassment, throw some curlers in your hair.
Source: The CW [5]
Throw on some mom jeans.
And put on a dickie for good measure.
Source: NBC [6]
Kiss your partner in front of them.
And we're not just talking about a peck on the cheek.
Source: New Line Cinema [7]
Wear the same clothes as them.
Because every teen girl wants to see her mom in a crop top.
Bust out some sick dance moves.
And by sick, we obviously mean foolish.
Source: Paramount Pictures [8]
Sing as loud as you can.
Bonus points if you don't know the words.
Share their baby photos on Instagram.
Or take a cue from this dad [9] and share a video of your child taking selfies.
Source: NBC [10]
Use slang.
And do so out of context.
Source: Universal Pictures [11]
Shout at them from your car.
You don't have to say anything in particular. The call to attention should suffice.
Commit a major text fail.
Actually, this may lead to more laughs [12] than blushes.
Source: CBS [13]
Try to be the "cool mom."
Trust us — they prefer you act like a mom rather than a friend.
Source: Paramount Pictures [14]