Episode 86: Red in the Face and Ready to Change Schools

After reading a list of 21 Cringeworthy Ways Kids Have Embarrassed Their Parents on Buzzfeed, we wanted to hear each other’s most embarrassing stories so we could feel a little better about our own. Nicole shared her daughter's deliberate efforts to embarrass Mom, Amanda recalled her mortification over a child's innocent yet racially insensitive comment, Catherine wished her kids had the sense to lie when she needs them to, and Terri confessed to being more likely to embarrass her kids than the other way around. Beyond that, Amanda and Terri commisserated over their mutual tendency to be embarrassed for other people as well as themselves, and we're all embarrassed by the crummy sound quality of much of this first portion of the podcast.

While sheer humiliation has probably not been the cause, over the years some of us have moved our kids to different schools, or wanted to. How do you know when changing schools is a good idea? We shared our school-switching war stories and road-not-taken regrets before moving on to our weekly recommendations. Catherine celebrated after-school snacks that can double as dinner (so your kids don’t embarrass you by telling everyone you never feed them); Amanda shared her article on Montessori Preschools: What You Need to Know, in case you're thinking of switching to one; Nicole passed on her list of 10 Class Rules for Teachers; and Terri suggested asking yourself five questions before advocating for your child in a way that may embarrass your kid or necessitate a change of schools or both.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for producing our episodes, and to Kristin Eredics for our happy in-and-out music. If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, come to http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.