Your Most Embarrassing Dad Moments

Following last week's interview with the Utah dad who dressed in costume every school morning to wave goodbye to his teenage son's school bus, we hear from listeners who phoned in their own memorable "embarrassing dad" moments.



There are those moments when children treasure their fathers - reading a story, playing catch, paying for their education. Then there are those moments when a father can make his kid just cringe. I can't believe you did that. Well, last week, we talked with Dale Price of Utah, who waved goodbye to his mortified son's school bus in a different goofy costume for 170 straight mornings. And we put out a call for your own embarrassing dad stories.

(Soundbite of music)

Ms. RUTH SHAVER: I thought oh, no.

Ms. JOANN SIMPSON: I was just mortified.

Mr. TOM PROVOST: Mortifying habit.

Ms. EMILY GALLAGHER: It was mortifying.

Ms. SHAVER: I was mortified.

Ms. SIMPSON: Embarrassed.

Ms. SHAVER: I can't believe my father just said that.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Ms. SHAVER: Ruth Shaver of Schellsburg, Pennsylvania. We were going to a school dance and I came down the stairs. My dad looked at me and said oh, I'm so glad you're wearing pantyhose. Then he looked at my mother and said, although that never stopped us at the dam, dear, did it? My poor boyfriend is standing there with his jaw practically on the floor.

Ms. SIMPSON: my name is Jo-Ann Simpson. I'm a nurse practitioner. I live on Long Island. My nine-year-old niece was playing softball and my younger niece was running around. And my dad decided that it be best that she go back to her parents on the other side of the fence. He had lost some weight. As he lifted her over his head, his pants had fallen down exposing his underwear.

Mr. PROVOST: My name is Tom Provost. I now live in Los Angeles and I'm a film director. I grew up in Port Arthur, Texas and we had a very small but strong Asian community, a lot of Vietnamese and Korean families. One such family lived two houses down in my neighborhood. We were all very good friends and my father would often talk to Dr. Youn(ph) in the yard in the evenings. And this is how he would talk to Dr. Youn.

(Soundbite of yelling)

Mr. PROVOST: Dr. Youn, how are you? Yard look great today. We'd say, dad, they can hear you. They understand what you're saying. Nice to see you today. Dad, you can use prepositions. He was a lovely man. He had no idea he was doing it.

Ms. GALLAGHER: My name is Emily Gallagher and I'm a dentist here in Chicago. Came home and my mom said your dad and I have volunteered to chaperone your eighth grade school dance. My dad always complained that we listened to out music too loud. So I get to the dance and then I look over and my dad pulled out the biggest, the biggest detective headphones for his ears I've ever seen in my life. I mean like he was going to wave an airplane and on the tarmac. And, of course, the kids around me are going, whos dad is that? And I'm like yeah, who's dad is that?

(Soundbite of music)

SIMON: Tales from our listeners: Ruth Shaver of Schellsburg, Pennsylvania; Jo-Ann Simpson from Long Island; Tom Provost in Los Angeles; and Emily Gallagher in Chicago.




