Diary of a Working Mum

My 6-Year-Old Thinks I’m an Embarrassment (and I’m Kind of Okay With It)

My 6-year-old daughter, has officially declared me an embarrassment. Yes, me—the mum who once used to scoop her up in front of everyone when she was upset, now gets eye-rolls and the side eye for my enthusiastic singing sessions in the car.

It started as it always has done. I was picking her up from school, we got in the car and the radio just happened to be playing one of her favourite songs. I started to belt out the lyrics with some exaggerated dance movements. Instead of the usual giggles and wide eyed admiring glances, she shot me a look that could freeze lava. “Mum, stop it. You’re so embarrassing, people will see you” she pleaded with me, glancing around to make sure her friends didn’t see. I laughed it off, but inside I felt like my heart had been punched. Thinking it was just a glitch, I tried to dance with her at home, as we often did. She buried her face in her hands and told me I was stupid. It was at this point that I knew my daughter was growing up, and didn’t need me in the same way.

It took me a little while to recover from the immense hurt that this realisation brought me. But then I realised—this is just my daughter growing up, carving out her own identity. At 6, she’s already testing boundaries, figuring out who she is, and apparently, that means cringing at my antics. To be honest, i’m kind of proud of her for it.

So, I’m learning to reign back the public sing-alongs and save my cringy dancing for when we are at home and out of her sight. But I’m determined to not change too much—after all, being a bit embarrassing is part of being a mum. One day, she might even laugh at my terrible singing and dancing again. Until then, I’ll keep showering her with love, because that’s one thing I’ll never tone down.

Have you experienced this yet? Share your story!

Cheerio

E x