While specific rules of growing up vary across households, there are many strange things our parents told us to do that we can all agree on. At the time, we may have questioned our parents’ motives with some rules, but some of the advice we got made us into better people. We take a look at 19 rules our parents were right about all along;
No Snacks Before Dinner
Snacking often involves readily available processed foods high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. Avoiding these unhealthy foods before dinner encourages healthier choices at the main meal, which we now know to be correct, but when we were children, we saw no snacks as a punishment.
Be Helpful and Do Our Chores
Chores teach children essential life skills like time management, organization, problem-solving, and accountability. Completing tasks fosters a sense of pride and accomplishment, contributing to self-confidence and independence. While we resisted doing chores as kids, we are grateful our parents taught us these valuable skills.
Make Your Bed Instantly
Remember those carefree days when leaving your bed in a crumpled-up, barely recognizable state seemed perfectly acceptable, but your prants had other ideas? That neat bed you grumbled about becomes an irresistible haven at the end of the day, saving you precious pre-sleep minutes that would otherwise be spent wrestling with sheets. Researchers say making your bed in the morning can work wonders for your mood, focus, and stress levels.
Do Your Homework Before You Watch TV
Watching TV before or even during homework was incredibly tempting as a kid. Our parents’ watchful eyes never allowed such a thing to happen. While frustrating at the time, their rule subtly laid the foundation for essential life lessons, discipline, and reward.
Go To Bed Early
Early bedtime translates to more sleep, essential for physical and mental wellbeing. It boosts immunity, regulates hormones, and improves cognitive function. As adults, we know that good sleep is essential for our overall health, so we must accept that our parents were right about our early bedtime.
Eat Your Veggies
I eat veggies before dessert, which encourages consuming essential vitamins and minerals before possibly consuming less nutritious sweet foods. This helps ensure a balanced intake of nutrients necessary for growth and development.
Be Honest and Truthful
The adult reality of broken trust and damaged relationships dwarfs the initial fear of the consequences of telling the truth. Even when difficult, honesty builds integrity and more robust connections, something we should thank our parents for teaching us.
Be Kind and Respectful
Navigating adult relationships often reminds us why basic kindness and respect, once enforced rules by our parents, are crucial for building positive interactions and fostering healthy communities.
Respect Your Elders
While teenage rebellion challenges this rule, adulthood reveals the value of experience and wisdom shared by elders. Respectful relationships allow us to learn and grow from their guidance.
Put in the Effort
Whether it was sports practice or schoolwork, the “no shortcuts” rule prepares us for the adult reality of hard work and perseverance. We now understand that achieving goals requires dedication and effort.
Don’t Give Up
The frustration of failing a test or feeling discouraged seemed impossible back then. Now, facing adult challenges, we appreciate the resilience instilled by never giving up, learning from setbacks, and trying again.
Be Mindful of Your Actions
The consequences of reckless behavior might not have been fully grasped as children, but as adults, we understand how our actions impact ourselves and others. Responsibility and mindfulness become vital values.
Spend Time with Family
Complaining about family dinners fades with the realization that family relationships are precious and irreplaceable. Adults cherish the connection and support found in loved ones.
Don’t Walk Around With Socks On
Remember the sock-only rule your parents enforced? Annoying at the time, but it turns out there’s a reason. Frictionless socks on smooth surfaces, especially stairs, can lead to a nasty tumble. They were right, and you were wrong to complain about this seemingly strange rule.
Use The Internet Where We Can See You
Parents worry about online predators, inappropriate content, and cyberbullying, so monitoring helps them identify and address potential dangers before they escalate. As adults, this is a strategy we are thankful for our parents, but at the time, it was infuriating not to be able to message our friends in peace.
Bathing in The Same Water as Your Siblings
Sharing bathwater can be a practical way to conserve resources in regions with water scarcity or for families on a tight budget. It reduces overall water usage, contributing to both environmental and financial benefits. With children and expensive water bills ourselves now, we can see our parent’s logic.
You Couldn’t Laugh While Lying Down
When lying down, laughter can cause forceful inhalation, potentially leading to swallowing air or even choking, especially for children. While rare, some parents might have worried about this risk while children thought that their parents were being necessary party poopers.
Forced Naps
What we would give for a nap in the middle of our working day! A well-timed nap can boost energy levels, improve memory and concentration, and enhance a child’s ability to learn and engage in activities. How right our parents were!
No Shoes On The Bed
Even in our beds, we were not allowed to put our feet up with our shoes on, something we found very perplexing as kids. Shoes track in dirt, dust, and bacteria from outside, which can then transfer onto your bed sheets and bedding. This can be especially concerning for allergies and asthma, as well as being messy to clean up, and the knowledge of all this makes us wonder why we questioned our parents so much.
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