Parents show us the best way to embarrass teens in public
The look of total disapproval from the boys had us laughing out loud...
You might think you’ve got this parenting thing figured out – until your kids hit their teenage years. That’s when the real endurance test begins.
Cape Town teacher, motivational speaker, and MC Mr Hartzenberg shared a video that's racked up over 1.2 million views, and it’s not your typical motivational pep talk or viral dance.
This time, he took a light-hearted jab at teenagers and just how easily they get embarrassed.
As any parent knows, toddlers beam with joy at seeing their parents being affectionate. Fast forward a few years, and that same child (now a teenager) might want to crawl under the table and disappear.
Mr Hartzenberg and his wife were enjoying a meal at what looked like a KFC restaurant with their teenage sons when they decided to film the boys' reactions to a little public display of affection.
Their actions were completely PG, but their sons’ reactions? Absolutely priceless.
As Mr Hartzenberg took a bite of chicken, his wife leaned over the table to bite the other side, leaving their boys staring in disbelief, visibly horrified.
Watch the video from TikTok below.
@shukr_hartzenberg Best way to embarrass your teenagers in public 😂 #couple #goals #relationship #husband #wife #husbandwife #sunday #teenagers ♬ original sound - SashMannsHouse🇿🇦
With over 1.2 million views, it’s clear that parents weren’t the only ones who found the video amusing.
One person joked, "It's difficult to raise parents in this generation."
But beyond the laughs, there’s actually some solid psychology behind why teenagers get embarrassed so easily.
According to Psychology Today, "Adolescents are very easy to embarrass because this is the age of in-between when one is no longer a child but not yet an adult, and can be criticised on both fronts for either presuming to act too old or for not acting old enough.
"Sometimes, it feels like one can’t win for losing as the young person stumbles to adulthood through the trial and error process of growing up. Along the way, there is much to learn, mistake, correct, recover from, and adjust to."
So while we’re here for the laughs, there’s also a gentle reminder in all this: raising teens takes a little humour – and a lot of grace.
Tune in to the 'Workzone with Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp', weekdays from 09:00 – 12:00. Stream the show live here or download our mobile app here.
Listen to Jacaranda FM:
- 94.2
- Jacaranda FM App
- http://jacarandafm.com
- DStv 858/ OpenView 602
Image courtesy of TikTok