Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
parents panel
Parents share the most embarrassing things their little ones have said in public
“Ellie-Mae told her granny that she was ‘packing on the pounds’.”
AS PART OF TheJournal.ie’s weekly Family Magazine, we wanted to create a space for parents to share their views. A place where mums and dads could share their experiences, lessons learned, and even mistakes along the way.
As kids grow older, they become more comfortable with the back and forth of conversation, and pick up more social cues. For now though, your little one will most likely not hesitate to speak their mind, regardless of location, company or topic.
This week we asked our panel to share the truly awkward things their under-fives have come out with – in particular when others are around to hear.
What’s the most embarrassing thing your little one has said in public?
Here are some of the best one-liners…
“You’re packing on the pounds” (Ellie Mae to her granny): We don’t know where she heard this statement from, but she said it very seriously and we were all in fits of laughter. She loved the reaction so much that she told anyone we met and spoke to over the next couple of weeks that they were packing on the pounds too. I had a lot of apologizing to do.
- Denise Cumiskey
“Bye bye” (used regularly by Charlie as a conversation cut-off when he’s bored): Sometimes it happens when we are looking for an out ourselves – which can be a blessing, if a little awkward and obvious!
– Kait Quinn
“Me no like you” (Tymek to an acquaintance of my husband’s): Tymek wasn’t even two at the time. My husband stopped to chat to someone in the shop, she was trying to make conversation with Tymek and he was having none of it. Thankfully her hearing wasn’t great and she didn’t catch it…
-Marta Lisiecka
“If the baby is out of your tummy, then why are you still fat?”: My son (4.5) used this clanger on my wife recently, when I brought him into hospital the day his little brother was born. There really is no answer to that!
– Olly Keegan
“Daddy kicked Jed down the stairs” (my son to the staff at creche): This one took a lot of explaining. What happened was that my one-year-old started crawling down the stairs as I opened the stair gate for his big brother. He tumbled down three steps and I stuck my foot out to slow his fall and save him falling any further already had. It all happened in about half a second, and Adam (3) shared his version with the staff at creche during their daily sit down the next day. Yes, it was quite embarrassing to explain everything! They were worried.
– Alan Dooley
have your say