Parents Will Relate to These 7 Cringeworthy Walk of Shame Moments
Parenting isn’t for the weak-hearted. You can be as well-intentioned or organized as you like, but the moment you take your child out in the world, their unpredictable behavior, curious mind, and lack of social filter will have you at their mercy.
The “parenting walking of shame” is a term that we use to describe the moments in which your child does something so embarrassing, out of left field, that you feel your cheeks flush and your heart race. You may even wonder if there is a hidden trap door nearby.
Think again if you believe you are the only person who has experienced such humiliation. Real parents shared their most embarrassing public parenting moments. These stories, which range from public poop to chocolate theft at criminal levels, will make you laugh and groan. They may even make you feel better about your parenting horrors.
Seven real-life examples of humiliation and chaos, as well as unexpected dramas, prove that parenting is the ultimate test of humility.
1. The Book Thief – When Toddlers Turn Criminal
Let’s start with the most shameful parenting walk we’ve heard.
“Omg! “Omg! My son placed a book in the Reject Shop under his pram. The young woman who worked in security asked me to return to the shop as I was walking out. She refused to accept the $3 after I explained and apologized on behalf of my child. I offered to pay $3 and left. It was embarrassing. She followed me into my car. She called the police. The police arrived, took me in their divvy, and to the station. I was eight months pregnant with my three children, and was arrested over a $3 paperback. The judge laughed it out of the court!” – Emma.
This is a story that begins as a minor inconvenience for parents and quickly escalates to a nightmare. We all know a child who has slipped a toy or candy into their shopping bag. This is the best… or should we call the book?
What’s the worst part? Emma was eight months pregnant, probably exhausted, and juggling her three children–only for her to be in a van. This is the parenting equivalent of being mistaken as an international jewel thief just because your toddler wanted a Peppa Pig coloring book.
Moral of the Story? Check under the pram when you exit the store. And maybe don’t joke at the security guard.
2. You’ve Got to Go Even if It Isn’t a Toilet
Some children are a bit too literal. Tammy’s tale perfectly illustrates both the dangers of wandering toddlers and the importance of educating them about the bathroom.
“I’m the reason that display toilets come with a plastic cover underneath the seat. When I was 2, I ran from my parents, and they found me on a toilet in McEwans Hardware. A teenage clerk stood next to me, begging me not to do it. “It’s not real.” – Tammy.
It’s a little embarrassing to have bodily functions on display, especially if they are unexpected or wildly out of place. It’s funny to laugh now, but parents know the panic they feel when their children are lost for a second and then find them mid poo at a public bathroom.
This story, while funny in retrospect, explains the reason why toilets with displays come equipped with seat covers and bold signage. Tammy is a trailblazer in toilet safety.
3. The Very Hungry Rat-erpillar
The combination of supermarket displays and public holidays can be dangerous for sugar-fueled small humans.
“My almost three-year-old fled from us in the shops. He ran straight to the wall outside Kmart that was stacked with Easter boxes. He stuck his head into the box and ripped the foil off, then began to gnaw at the chocolate. “I couldn’t leave fast enough!” – Rhianno.n
A toddler running wild in the candy aisle has a primal quality. It’s like when a bear is in a campground. They smell sugar and start to attack before you realize that they have moved.
Rhiannon’s story is Easter chaos. A pint-sized chocolate bandit, covered in cocoa and foil. It is both hilarious and mortifying to see her child munching away like a sugar-crazed mouse in broad daylight.
Keep your children on a leash during Easter or any other holiday that involves chocolate. Otherwise, you may find yourself being chased away by staff members holding a bunny carcass.
4. The Body Shamer
Children speak the truth. By truth, we refer to the unfilteresoul-crushinging kind of truth that will make you question your life choices and gym membership.
“I was in a dressing room with my daughter, and she said loudly that my belly looked fat and that I was probably pregnant. The louder I whispered, “I’m NOT pregnant,” the more she insisted. I could hear laughter from other changing rooms. “I got dressed, and I left my head down.” – Sandy.
You will never be prepared for the humiliation you’ll receive from a toddler who has deemed you fat in public. While the laughter from nearby stalls may be well-intentioned, nothing is quite as embarrassing as trying on clothing while someone speculates loudly about your nonexistent pregnancy.
Sandy’s story is a reminder that dressing rooms can be sacred places. Bringing your mini-human in there to tell the truth could prove dangerous.
5. The Wild Thing
Elephants. Nature. Nature.
“Nappy failure while on a safari with elephants. I was holding my two-year-old when suddenly, something warm started to trickle down my neck and my back. I was wearing the same clothes for an hour and smelling of poop.
Rule #428 of parenting: Always bring a change for yourself. The nappy bags are not just for babies. Toddlers can sense when you are most vulnerable and then strike.
Nicolette walked through the shameful walk, literally stomping her way through.
6. The “Fries with That” Incident
This is what happens when kids are impulsive and generous. They’re also unaware of the social norms.
When I entered Hungry Jack’s playground, my son had already eaten some fries for kids. My sleep-deprived reactions were slow, and he was right next to me. “I offered to buy more, but the mum laughed.” – Yvonn.e
Hungry Jack’s has a chaotic atmosphere. Add a toddler who grabs at things, and you have a recipe for fast food faux pas.
What’s mine is yours, whether it’s juice, fries, or a half-sandwich. Not all parents are going to call the police over a few fries that were stolen. Bless the laughing mother for her grace.
Keep an eye on your kid who loves carbs in crowded restaurants. You could avoid a lot of embarrassment.
7. The In-App Purchase Robbery
The technology can be a blessing – a quiet child, an entertained shopper – but it can also backfire. Big time.
“I had a full shopping cart at the supermarket. Even though I knew that I had enough money, my card was declined at the checkout. My 3-year-old daughter had overdrawn her account by $300 in app purchases made on her tablet.
The modern parent’s walk of shame. Today’s tantrums are digital, unlike the old-school aisle tantrums. You may think that your child is playing a harmless bubble-popping video game, but you’ll soon discover they have built a virtual palace and hired unicorn guards.
Karin’s tale is a warning to all parents who give their children a mobile phone. Lock it down. Disable purchases. Be prepared to tell your bank why your child bought a golden jetpack to go with their animated pet.
The Badge of Honor for Parents Who Humiliate Their Children
These cringeworthy parenting moments happen everywhere. These stories are universal. Whether it’s being arrested by the police for a $3 book or chasing a half-naked kid through a shopping mall, they bind us all together.
While embarrassing in the moment, it becomes a badge. A war story. We tell our children stories in waiting rooms, parks, and online forums, like battle-hardened veterans.
These moments remind us that parenting isn’t all about perfection. It’s all about adaptability and forgiveness, both for our children as well as ourselves.
Next time your child drops a bomb verbally in the changing room, destroys the chocolate display, or redeems digital donuts worth $300, take a deep breath. Smile (or weep). You’re not alone.
