According to the dictionary, cringey means causing a person to feel embarrassed or awkward. This feeling arises from the things people say or do that make others groan or facepalm, and parents are especially skilled at being cringey. We can find examples of cringey behavior from parents who make requests that would be considered inappropriate, such as a mother who asked a babysitter for child support or another who begged for Instagram likes. It’s surprising how cringey these parents can be.
Beware the Evil Cards
Certain parents have an intense desire to dictate the conduct of those in their vicinity. While it is understandable to expect specific behavior from individuals who associate with your child, some parents go beyond reasonable boundaries.
There are two awkward and uncomfortable situations present in this scenario. Firstly, the mother seems to have the belief that it is inappropriate for a grown man to have a particular hobby, like collecting cards. However, there is no law that states that collecting cards is only meant for children. Secondly, what makes the situation even more concerning is the assumption that there is an evil force hidden within a pack of cards. This raises the question – where else could this sneaky devil be hiding? Are even our teddy bears not safe?
Got the Wrong Group Chat
Having group chats is somewhat a mixed feeling because although they can be enjoyable, they may also overwhelm your phone with irrelevant messages, as seen in the conversation between the father and mother.
It’s quite uncomfortable to discuss! Children are generally not interested in hearing about their parents’ sexual experiences. Despite the prevalence of texting, it’s still surprising how often people mistakenly send messages to the wrong chat.
Parents Being Creepy Stalkers
There are parents who give their children more freedom while others have a tendency to constantly monitor and regulate their behavior, even outside of the home. Although this type of parenting is not very widespread, it does exist, like in the case of the person mentioned.
It’s strange that this father is constantly monitoring his child’s activities. It’s unclear if this is due to a lack of trust in the child, if the father is overly protective, or if the child is in a questionable area. Regardless, it’s not normal to monitor a child’s whereabouts while they are out with their friends. The father should exercise restraint.
A Little Pee With Your Popsicle
The usage of urine for various medicinal and cosmetic purposes is termed as “Urine therapy”. Despite being a controversial alternative medicine practice, it includes a wide range of procedures such as hair rinses and cleansing drinks. It’s not a practice that everyone will be comfortable with.
This woman’s child is being fed her mother’s urine against their will, and so is another child! No child would want to consume their mother’s urine. It would be interesting to witness the confrontation between this woman and Erin’s parents when she tells them what she has been doing. However, it is more probable to result in a heated argument rather than a peaceful conversation.
Blowing Up the Phone
Almost everyone these days is familiar with the concept of a “helicopter parent.” These are parents who are overly invested in their kids’ lives and tend to be controlling and worried about every aspect of their child’s activities, similar to the parent in question.
Sheridan’s situation is quite pitiable as she was just spending time with friends and playing games, but her mother threatened to call the police, which is quite shameful. Even though her mother had sent her a message just an hour ago, she needs to control her emotions and have more faith in her child.
No More Disney Movies
When we were children, some of us may have had a friend who was restricted from watching certain television shows or movies, or playing with specific toys due to their parents’ disapproval of the content. And, for instance, how many individuals were prohibited from watching Harry Potter due to the belief that its portrayal of witchcraft is evil?
It appears that those parents are still actively searching for “satanic symbolism” in the mentioned animated movies. We are very interested to know the specific elements that they consider as such. The parent in question probably feels perpetually anxious, and their children likely have a limited choice of entertainment. This is unfortunate for the kids.
Mysterious Missing Spacebar
Many parents weren’t exposed to personal phones during their childhood. They heavily relied on their landlines, and adapting to technology progress from bag phones and T9 to present-day smartphones with QWERTY keyboards was quite challenging. Though many of them succeeded in adapting and have become experts in using smartphones, there are still a few who lag behind.
Although it may seem a bit embarrassing, it’s still adorable. The mother might not be accustomed to typing on a small keyboard, so it was a challenge for her to locate the keys. Nonetheless, we believe that she eventually figured it out. Otherwise, she could always use the voice-to-text feature!
Beware the Mega Moth
One of the tasks assigned to a father is to take care of his children, which may involve dealing with insects. Regardless of whether he kills the irksome spider or catches and moves it, it is certain that bugs are unpleasant and must be handled.
It appears that the moth has won over the dad in this situation. Although dad jokes can be very embarrassing, if you were a child stuck in a bathroom because of a bug, this statement would have brought some amusement. Nevertheless, we still don’t know if the dad managed to remove the moth.
What Is Mom Up To?
Have you ever seen The View? Well, we haven’t either, but we’ve heard that talk shows are quite widespread. Although the era of families appearing on shows like Jerry Springer is mostly over, thankfully, some families still seek recognition from TV programs.
It is embarrassing because it is quite clear that the mother intended to share her post on The View’s discussion page, but mistakenly published it on her personal page, alerting all her friends that she was attempting to have her daughter appear on the show.
Way Too Much Information
Sharing too much information can be a weight that nobody wants to carry, particularly when our parents are providing us with excessive details about their romantic relationships. We are aware of our origins, and that’s sufficient. Anything more than that can create an awkward feeling.
If this dad made a bet with the mom, that’s totally cool, but his kid doesn’t need to know what the prize was! That LOL probably came from a lack of having anything to say that doesn’t consist of, “Ew, omg, why would you tell me that?”
Dad Gets Sad
Social media took the world by storm — and followers, likes, and judgment are some of the things at the forefront of people’s minds, especially when it comes to Instagram. This poor dad turned out to be no exception.
It is assumed that the father’s low mood was not solely due to the fact that he had only five followers, but it definitely contributed. Even though such trivial matters should not impact one’s emotions, they often do. It is expected that the child would have contacted their father and uplifted his spirits.
This Kid Really Messed Up
Dealing with adolescents can be challenging since they tend to exhibit mood swings, behave erratically, and cope with several transformations that make them distant from their parents, resulting in vexing conduct. A certain father seemed to have reached his limit and consequently opted for extreme strategies.
This is honestly a bad decision on the dad’s part. Being mad at your kid is understandable, but losing money on their vehicle by selling it out of anger is pretty irresponsible. One has to wonder what the son did to warrant such a serious punishment.
Imitation Isn’t Necessarily Flattery
Teens take weird photos. It’s just a fact. They pose in odd stances, they stick out their tongues in every picture, or they scrunch up their faces in unflattering ways. These parents decided to have a laugh at their kid’s photos with her boyfriend.
In this case, the phrase should be “imitation is the sincerest form of mockery.” Surely the parents’ Facebook friends found it amusing, but whether the daughter did, we’re unsure. At the least, she may think twice before making these same poses.
Bring Back the iPods
Ah, the good old days of the iPod touch. Many a day was spent wasting hours playing Flappy Bird or Fruit Ninja. It was the coolest thing to have something with access to so many apps and the internet. But, most of us didn’t think of it as an alternative to cell phones.
More concerning than the lack of cellphone in this day and age is the comment about ordering an Uber home from school. Does the kid really have no alternative? We’ve got so many questions here, and none of them reflect nicely on the mom.
Don’t Mess With Netflix
Mixed messages are one of the plagues of human communication. Things like backhanded compliments and gaslighting make dealing with those around us really confusing. Take this parent, who’s being petty and “loving” at the same time (their words, not ours).
Messing with someone’s Netflix — or any other streaming service, for that matter — should be a modern-day crime. This parent isn’t doing it to show they love their kid, they’re doing it to be petty and mess with them. That’s so not cool.
Give Mom the Likes
Social media is addicting, especially when it comes to receiving reactions to things we post. Many think of it as an issue for teens, but tons of parents are also addicted to that high from getting lots of likes. This mom is no exception.
Demanding likes from your family is a bit cringey, but we can’t really blame her. After all, it’s a given that your best friends are going to like everything you post. Why not be able to expect the same from your kids?
Medication Is Fake News
No one enjoys taking medication every day, but it’s worth it, as it gives so many the opportunity to live with their conditions in a more comfortable way — and for some, it’s life-saving. With epilepsy, it helps control seizures.
Can you imagine thinking you have the right to tell another person whether they should or shouldn’t take medication? Unless this parent was a certified doctor, which they obviously aren’t, they have zero right to an opinion. We hope this person put that parent in their place.
Assigned Baby Daddies
Did you know that you can’t choose the dad of your child? Instead, the government randomly assigns you someone, and you’ve just got to figure it out together. Thankfully, that isn’t reality — it sounds more like an episode of Black Mirror. But, this lady doesn’t seem to know that.
Shockingly, you can choose your baby’s father! By choosing who gets you pregnant. We know surprises happen, but generally speaking, it’s absolutely a choice. Someone should probably let her know as she seems a bit confused.
We Need to Talk
“We need to talk” are four of the scariest words in the English language. Partners say it when they want to break up. Parents say it when they’re really upset about something. So this daughter naturally panicked when receiving a message like this from her mom.
There are so many other things the mom could have written, like “What do you want for dinner?” or “Come downstairs for a second!” Why send such a cryptic message and terrify your kid? Additionally, what has the daughter been doing that made her afraid to be kicked out?
Hidden Duct Tape Dangers
The last couple of years has come with a lot of controversies, particularly over the use of face masks. Some claim it causes us to breathe in our own CO2. Others claim it’s an infringement on personal freedom. And apparently, some think it’s downright dangerous, like this lady.
The cringiest part of this is that this mom made her son put on duct tape and pose for this photo. That kid was probably just going about his business and ended up being used for some anti-mask propaganda. Poor guy.
Merry Christmas?
Families love Christmas card photoshoots. Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to show off their kids in their cute Christmas sweaters? However, somehow people find a way to ruin everything — in this case, by turning a cute photoshoot into something… mysoginistic?
This screams “Women are seen, not heard” — and it’s not cute. In fact, it’s really tacky and really disrespectful to the wives and kids. It’s shocking that the moms would even agree to this in the first place. The worst part is it’s only the girls; the sons are duct tape free.
Bye-Bye, College Money
The world is fed up with MLMs, but the people getting sucked into them don’t seem to know that. From essential oils to beauty products, MLMs prey on people who really need money and suck them into something that’s ultimately a waste of money. Or for this mom, a waste of college funds.
No words can describe how cringey it is to blow your child’s college funds on selling hair products. Much respect goes out to people running legitimate businesses or who manage to make money from MLMs, but rarely do people become millionaires.
Who Wants Lightly Fried Fish Filets?
Deciding what to have for dinner is the worst, and we have to do it every single day. Being an adult is hard. So, it’s great when someone makes dinner for us so that we don’t have to, except when it’s at a really weird time.
Try and say lightly fried fish filets three times fast! Tongue twister aside, at least dad was productive when he was bored. If only he had made something a bit more exciting than lightly fried fish filets. Does anyone else want some lightly fried fish filets?
Adoption Fakeout
There’s nothing wrong with being adopted, yet many parents use it as a joke or empty threat to their kids — “You must be adopted because you’re not acting like MY child!” Take, for example, this joke from this dad.
What exactly prompted this joke, especially at 6am? No wonder the kid wasn’t responding. Hopefully, dad didn’t wake the kid up to make sure they weren’t upset, as it’s doubtful the kid was even awake at this time. Some parents are just weird.
Dog Park Meet-Cute
Some parents are convinced that they’re matchmakers. And while that may have been true back in the old days, it’s completely unnecessary now. Between Tinder and bars and other social interactions, the kids have got it covered. But, some still try anyway, like this mom.
Imagine how embarrassing it would have been if this guy had realized what the mom was doing! No one likes having secret pictures taken of themselves. One has to wonder how many other times her mom has done this. We doubt this was the only one.
Funky Baby Names
Let’s face it — baby names are starting to get weird. People especially seem to love the letters ‘X’ and ‘K,’ or combining two random words or names into one. Here’s a good example.
Those of us adults with weird names can tell you with certainty that these poor kids are going to spend their entire lives having their names misspelled and correcting people on pronunciation. That may not seem like a big deal, but when it’s something you deal with every single day, it gets old.
A Christmas Miracle
Speaking of weird names, some parents love taking normal words and changing the letters around. Whether it’s creative or annoying is debatable, but it’s a huge trend, as evidenced in this Facebook group.
While Krissmiss Dae isn’t the most horrible name we’ve heard, it’s definitely weirder than Noelle or Ivy. This future mom clearly doesn’t listen to many Christmas carols. In fact… how about Carol for a holiday-themed name? It’s much better than the weird spelling of Christmas.
Let’s Sue the Babysitter
Yahoo! Answers used to be an absolute goldmine of cringeworthy content. From horrible misspellings of the word pregnant to completely ridiculous questions, it had all you needed for hours worth of entertainment, including this absolute gem.
How could anyone in their right mind think your friendly neighbor doing you a favor constitutes taking on a fatherly role? And believe that a court is going to back you up on your delusions? This guy probably won’t be doing anyone else any favors anytime soon after this experience.
Those Gosh Dang Millennials!
The world is honestly so tired of listening to people talk smack about millennials. Every generation has its pros and cons, and millennials are no different. Contrary to popular belief, they’re just as hardworking and motivated as any other generation. But, this parent struggles to understand that.
What have people got against avocado toast and video games? Video games are a great way to unwind and enjoy new, unique words, and avocado toast is delicious and healthy. Get off of millennials’ backs, people!
The War on Christmas
Who’s heard that one before? Christmas is under attack! You can’t say the word Christmas! Whether or not the “War on Christmas” is real is up for debate. But, many people truly believe it does, like this parent.
Who cares if a box says Christmas or holiday? Christmas is a holiday, after all. And we can guarantee that the kid doesn’t care what the box says — he cares about the delicious snacks waiting inside it. But, if crossing out holiday made this parent feel better, then more power to them, we guess…
Unexpected Flight Lessons
Note to self — when throwing your child in the air, make sure it is your child. This dad failed the first rule of being a parent and that is being able to identify your own offspring.
We just hope he had the upper body strength and hand-eye coordination required to catch the strange child, who was later quoted as saying, “I’ve had better days. Most of them, in fact, were better than this one. Usually, when I go airborne, I expect it. The restraining order should put an end to that, though.”
Let’s Get the Red Shoes
Why embarrass your child in private when you can do it in public? That’s what this mother decided to do in a department store, for absolutely no good reason.
If there’s anything clingier than your parents talking about “bedroom stuff” in front of you, it’s doing it in front of you — and a whole crowd of middle-class shoppers. Who knows what went through this mother’s mind, but it can’t have been as horrifying as what her child was forced to endure!
Extra Long Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a natural part of life. Indeed, it provides newborn babies with all the nutrients they need to get through the early stages of life. The only problem is when it goes too far…
The mother decided to nurse her child for an extended period of four and a half years, even though it was believed that two years was the maximum age for breastfeeding. It is peculiar to use months to describe a child’s age beyond two years old. It would be interesting if adults could use the same measure to describe their age, such as saying “I am 360 months old” and receiving compliments like “You definitely look younger than 320 months!”.
No More Chubby Babies
One of the most adorable things on earth are plump infants with their adorable chubby cheeks and rolls. Nonetheless, some guardians seem to disagree with this opinion which may seem unbelievable, but a mother reflects the contrary view.
This is really sad as it sounds like if she ends up with a chubby baby, she won’t love it as much because she doesn’t deem it as cute as a tiny one. Babies aren’t dolls, they’re living creatures who should be loved no matter what.
She Just Doesn’t Want Kids
Some adults just don’t want children. Whatever their reasoning is, it’s entirely their choice and no one should be pressured to have a family. Some people have a hard time accepting that, though, like this lady.
We have so many questions here. What are these “karmic reasons”? Why two babies specifically? And how uncomfortable must her daughter be every time she says it’s actually her daughter’s child when it so clearly isn’t?
Bipolar Toddlers
While bipolar disorder can technically affect children of any age, it’s most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 6 and 18. So, when this mom was convinced her baby had it, others weren’t so sure.
It sounds like she wants to blame normal moody toddler behavior on bipolar disorder, when what’s really going on is typical developmental and personality changes that toddlers go through. Being aware of possible problems is good — but this takes it a little too far.
Breast Milk Cookies
While the benefits of breast milk are pretty well-researched, it doesn’t mean that we should go putting it into everything. Shockingly, many don’t like the idea of drinking milk that came out of another human.
We’ve got to side with the husband on this one. If she insists on taking them to work, hopefully, she at least is honest about what the cookies are made with. And don’t get us started on the person who thinks breast milk can cure COVID.
No Choosing Your Own Partner!
Keeping your children fit and healthy is something most parents are concerned with, as they’re responsible for their children’s diet and lifestyle. It’s a balancing act between maintaining a healthy body and pushing it too far, causing kids serious body image issues for years to come. This family has a… unique approach.
It is extremely cringeworthy to try to regulate your child’s dating life. We sympathize with the unfortunate girl who had to end a relationship due to the disapproval of her boyfriend’s parents based on her appearance. We sincerely wish that this experience did not result in any significant psychological harm for her.
Talk About Inappropriate Typos
Since the advent of text messaging, phone users have struggled with typos. The situation is awkward, particularly when a typo alters the intended message, as this mother came to know.
It’s a toss-up whether her son died laughing or was absolutely mortified. It was probably a mix of both. This cringey moment could have been avoided by assuming her son, who’s old enough to text, is also old enough to know not to shake a carbonated drink.
Autocorrect Gone Wrong
Autocorrect may seem like a useful feature, and most of the time it is. But, sometimes the words it chooses to replace are a bit… out there, and can lead to awkward situations.
The question is — how often does this mom write fondled for autocorrect to change Googled to fondled? It’s not exactly a common word, so it makes one question what kind of things this mom is texting about when not texting her kid.
A Remix You Weren’t Expecting
LMFAO is more than just a texting acronym. It’s an electronic dance duo that put out some real bangers in the early 2000s, perhaps the most well-known of which being “Sexy and I Know It”. This mom managed to turn it into a cringey remix.
It’s bad enough having your mom find a rubber, but for her to take a song you enjoy and turn it into a way to punish you is pretty uncool. This kid probably never saw LMFAO’s hit the same way after this incident.
Favorite Child Much?
Siblings — you love them, you hate them, you steal their clothes, and you compete with them for mom and dad’s attention. They’re built-in best friends and also the bane of your existence. And as much as they may deny it, parents have favorites.
This harsh comment from a parent was definitely a wake-up call. While it may have been a joke, anyone reading this would alternate between thinking what a sick burn it was and feeling bad for the original poster.
Self-Care or Self-Indulgence?
It’s hard not to appreciate the self-care craze that’s sweeping social media. Many of us have embraced the “Treat yo’ self” philosophy popularized by Tom in Parks and Recreation, indulging in little luxuries like a fresh manicure, a fancy candle, or some new kicks. However, when we see someone constantly engaging in these lavish activities, it’s natural to wonder where they’re getting the funds to support such a lifestyle.
Is it embarrassing for the parent to mock their child on social media or for the child to be subjected to cruel jokes by their own parent? In any case, one person ends up laughing at the expense of the other.
