Embarrassing Our Children

Some thoughts from the class on embarrassing our children

Rather than writing about how I embarrassed my children, I would prefer to describe how my mother embarrassed me when I was a teenager.

The following incident describes this scenario which took place when we both attended the Barnum and Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden. My outgoing mother thought nothing of shrieking aloud as we watched those balancing above us on tightropes. She laughed too loudly at the antics of the clowns. She clapped too enthusiastically when the horses danced by. I was embarrassed and wished I had a mother who was more decorous.

Just lately, however, I was more than surprised when Daniel, my son, said, “Ma, lower your voice. Everyone is looking at you.”

How the world turns and things come around to haunt and mock us!

Norma Crown

My kids, especially my daughter Carol could not understand why I always called my mother when I got home from teaching. “Don’t you feel like a baby,” she always commented. I responded, invariably, that I did not feel like a baby but rather I appreciated my mother’s interest in my well-being.

And now, what do you think Carol does? She calls me twice a day – in the morning and in the evening -- to see how I am. Does history repeat itself?

Florence Glucksman