To want to tell my parents about all the times I lied to them as a teenager?

[Laraloodoo]

I had lunch with my parents today and had to fight the urge, again, to tell them about all the stuff I got up to as a teenager that they don’t know about. It’s not anything crazy- usual teen things such as Katie not having given me about 20 items of clothing in a month but that I went through a shoplifting phase, or how I spent half my girly, pamper sleepover nights at 17 raving in a field in hot pants and chewing my face off on E. I just can’t decide whether they’d find it funny or would be upset. Have you all come clean to your parents?

I did similar things as a teenager and sometimes get a massive urge to tell my Mum so I get exactly where you are coming from.

I never do tell her though, as she would take it so seriously, even over 20 years later ! My Mum knew I wasn't an angel but I don't think she knew the extent of my wildness and would probably be really hurt and blame herself. She wouldn't see a funny side at all.

If I had the tiniest inkling that she would see a funny side, I would probably mention it.

I’d think you were going through an existential mid-life crisis and assume that your need to come clean to your parents is a way to regain the thrill of youth and the thrill of reliving things you used to do by shocking your parents

Why tell them?
Btw shoplifting isn’t ‘normal teen’ and as for raving, it’s done now so why tell? I don’t know anyone who did either.
DHs parents never knew he was a spliffhead - he’s never thought about telling. Why would you?

I did similar things to you as a teenager and I would never tell my parents. It would only upset them and I've lived to tell the tale. I've chatted to my mum about some of the sillier, more innocent stuff such as taking a few short cuts on the cross country. I have a child that is now at the age where I was having a particularly bad phase and I would be horrified if I found out he was anything like me back then.