My teenage daughter is embarrassed to be seen with me in public
My teenage daughter is embarrassed to be seen with me in public. How can I get her to snap out of it?
answer:
Don’t take her embarrassment personally. “This is very normal teenage behavior,” says Marc Zimmerman, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. “She’s in the process of forming her own identity and wants to appear independent.” Like most teenage girls, she’s probably overly self-conscious and under the distinct impression that the entire world is watching (and judging) her.
Unfortunately, there’s no cure for the terrible teens. We’ve all been there, and if you can remember back to your own teenage years, you’ll realize that the best course of action is no action at all. “Sympathize with her struggle and learn how to be invisible,” says Zimmerman. If that means walking a few steps behind her or dropping her off a few blocks from school, do it. The key is to make her feel comfortable while reinforcing the fact that you’ll be there for her when she needs you. In the meantime, avoid any behavior that you think will make you look cool, such as attempting to rap. It will save you and your daughter loads of embarrassment.
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