Are you ever embarrassed by things that your children say in public? I know that I used to be. I don’t think that I embarrass very easily anymore though, not after 25 years of parenting, with 14 of those years with special needs children. One of my husband’s friends came over one evening to help him process a deer. They were working in the kitchen and chatting. I took the four year old into the bathroom to have her brush her teeth and get ready for bed. The bathroom we were using opens into the kitchen. In quite a loud voice she announced, “Aunt Julie, you have a really big butt. I have a little butt, but your’s is huge.”

I responded with the usual, “I know.” I glanced at my husband’s friend in the kitchen. The more she talked, the bigger the grin on his face became. I thought he might say something to me, but he never did. I asked my husband if his friend had mentioned it. He did not say anything. So, I give him high marks for prudence.

One of my now adult daughters managed to leave me with a memorable embarrassing moment several years ago. I had taken her to the Secretary of State office to get her driver’s license. As usual, I had a baby in tow. The office was crowded so we took a number and sat down and the baby sat on my lap. The baby was passing gas and ripped a loud toot, as babies sometimes do.

My daughter looked at me, opened her mouth in pretend shock, and yelled, “MOM!” Yes, my face did turn red as every eye in the place turned on me. I got a good laugh out of it and so did everyone else at my expense.

Photo Credit Julia Fuller 2008