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#2
I would fast until someone else caved and cooked.
This made me grow up HATING cooking so much. Still makes me irrationally angry.
#3
We had the opportunity to speak with several experts who shared valuable insights about these unusual parenting practices. Counselor and psychotherapist Hanna Lewis from Compare My Health Insurance says parents implement unusual or rigid rules to either manage uncertainty, exert control, or protect their kids from perceived harm.
As Lewis tells Bored Panda, these rules may reflect their anxiety about safety or their need for structure that feels reassuring.
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I was honestly tired of hearing it but never had a clever comeback, until one day, after a tea-time visit at my friend’s place. Her mom made the same comment, and I just said: “At least when I’m old, I’ll be able to say I was happy and enjoyed life”. I mentioned this to my mom and she said that was clever.
My friend passed away at 35 from osteosarcoma. In our last call, she told me: “Get those wrinkles for me.”
#6
When I moved away from home and gained independence, I realized I was a size 4 in pants and a size small in tops, and it wasn’t “s**tty” or “revealing” to wear clothes that fit properly.
Licensed marriage and family therapist Lea Trageser concurs that questionable rules may be a product of fear on the part of parents. But as she points out, these actions aren’t done for no reason.
“The rules are maladaptive attempts at fixing a problem that the parents witness or fear,” she explained.
#7
Not mine, but a classmate’s dad had this rule and he was SERIOUS about it. So any sleepovers there was a zero tolerance rule about s******g in his house. We had to hold it or go on a group exodus to the nearest store to poop together.
What’s strange is this was in the Bay Area where everyone was on city sewer and septic wasn’t a thing. Also his house was massive (6 beds, 5 baths) so it wasn’t an issue of availability.
To this day I have no idea why he didn’t want kids s******g in his house.
#8
UNLESS...we asked and were given permission. getting to sleep with our doors open so the kitties could come in and jump up with us was treated like a rare treat, like a special occasion.
Now at 31, i still get a little feeling of "ooooo!" when I'm at someone's house and they just...have their bedroom open and their pet's chilling on their bed.
#9
The thing is, these unusual rules carry potential repercussions, particularly on the child’s psyche. Trageser says that if a child grows up in an environment where they aren’t allowed to ask “why,” they may struggle to stand up for themselves.
Meanwhile, Lewis says irrational rules may suppress a child’s curiosity, autonomy, and trust. And when they grow up, they may carry guilt, anxiety, and resentment as adults.
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There is also a possibility that these rules will become obsolete as the child grows up. According to parenting author Tim McCarthy, some children may eventually become more ready to comprehend their parents’ explanations. However, parents must also do their part.
“When the child is older, change the rule or at least explain why you made the rule, so they understand,” McCarthy said.
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It would be a natural knee-jerk response to deem such actions as irresponsible parenting. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to them trying to do their best.
McCarthy put it succinctly: “Parents don't have to be perfect; they just have to be loving and do the best they can.”
#16
One night he was driving home and saw this man in a wheelchair pushing himself backwards along the side of the road. It was raining so dad decided to offer him a ride (this was the late 80’s early 90’s). He helped the man into the car, got him situated and drove him to his destination. Dad noticed his passenger seat was pretty wet.. much wetter than it should have been considering it wasn’t raining that **hard**. Turns out the man had peed his pants and it soaked into the seat.
That rule went out the window that night lmao.
#17
I have searched for both as an adult so I could own them in spite.
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Speaking of parents taking action, Trageser encourages parents to reflect on generational patterns. She emphasized the importance of, at the very least, trying to break the cycle, especially if they were also raised in an environment where absurd rules were in place.
“Without the guidance of a professional or intentional self-reflection, that is when the attempts can become harmful and maladaptive,” Trageser said.
#19
So no Harry Potter but not for religious reasons. They don’t believe in God or science…so..what?
#20
My friend's mom wouldn't let him keep his pet turtle bc, according to her, turtles made you dumb.