Weird household rules you had growing up.

[habibihabibi]

A number of odd rules but most memorable:
My mother did not allow us to sit ot lie on beds unless in our pj's ready to sleep.
Not allowed in bedrooms during the day unless poorly.
If we had friends over we had to play in the garden/playroom.
We were not permitted downstairs in pjs ever.
Straight from bath to bed and immediately washed and dressed on waking.

Hit me with your strange rules

The no phone calls until after 6pm thpugh was because they were much more expensive during businesd hours.

@ipswichwitch - same here. Had to squeegee the shower after each use. We didn't have to dry though!

The funniest one is that Coco Pops were only allowed during school holidays.

Same here. Coco Pops and chocolate spread (not together I hasten to add) were only to be eaten at the weekends or school holidays.

I loved to sleep anywhere that wasn’t a bed but I was only allowed to do that when it wasn’t a school night.

Wow what utter corkers on here. Drinks drunk in one go!

"The no phone calls until after 6pm thpugh was because they were much more expensive during businesd hours."

As I've already pointed out. Not a weird household rule at all.

No playing outside in school uniform.
No knocking for pals to come out and play on a Sunday.
Could never help ourselves to milk. Squash, water was no problem.
Child of the 70’s here, I had a blessed childhood.

Food must only be eaten at the table
You must come in the same day you went out no matter what age you are

We have loose rules...

No huge meals on plate in bedroom, but dc have probably sneaked up occasionally with one! I prefer food downstairs but I don't police it

I don't ridgedly police anything.

I don't remember any odd rules but I do remember food was restricted mind you we were greedy kids. We never had crisps or chocolate in the house but would frequently go to the shop for a chocolate bar , If my mum got treats in they were gone . I never remember my parents having alcohol in the house except Christmas. The only veg we had was tinned peas . It's odd I can't eat tinned peas now and I eat loads of different veg. I have a lot healthier attitude to food now I'm older. It took me years to realise the food we had was what my dad liked so that's what we had . My dad thinks eating pasta is odd he's a strictly pie & chips person and He's also tee total . I'm a everything in moderation and love trying different foods .

My Mum was a very kind and warm human being. But we had some rules/expectations:

• the breakfast table was set every night and her teasmade topped up
• all meals were eaten at the table, milk etc always in a jug
• for tea you had to have two slices of bread and butter before moving onto cake or biscuits ( you only ever could have one cake and one biscuit)
• only one piece of fruit a day
• no eating in the street, and no gum
• no swearing or slang, no discussion of 'women's business' in front of my father
• no jumping on the furniture
• we could only turn on the TV to watch a specific programme and then had to switch it off. Generally it had to be the BBC.
• school uniform off after school
• only wash your hair once a week.

Handsoff sorry to make you feel bad, it was OK it only happened once & I said I was just scratching. (Didn't manage to masturbate again til my mid 30's though, even after I'd moved out). I've thought of some more lighthearted ones, these should be better:

• not being allowed to shave my legs or armpits as the hairs would grow back bigger and blacker

• could only have ham OR cheese in a sandwich, not both at once

• a box of raisins as a snack or 'there's apples in the bowl'

• not being allowed to watch the film A Fish called Wanda as it was deemed inappropriate for me as a 15 year old!!!

Ridiculously early bed times. One of my saddest memories is being about 9 and watching from the bedroom window whilst all the kids from our estate played rounders in the summer evening. Big games with all the local kids didn't happen often and if I'd have been my parents I'd have let it slide for one night. I definitely remember bedtime was as soon as neighbours had finished - about 6pm I think - although my mum strongly denies this.

Things like just leaving us kids playing on the landing (no stair gate) whilst they had a lie in shagged. It felt like hours but I'd be responsible for my younger siblings who could have seriously hurt themselves. This was because we were not allowed downstairs without a parent.

Not being allowed to play in our rooms. It was outside or stay quiet in the living room whilst mum watched North and South and A Woman of Substance.

Having to ask for a drink or a biscuit and both being rationed. I remember being practically beaten for "stealing" a biscuit on my way to bed one night.

Of course they deny all of these things now but the innocence and injustice of youth means it's clear as day to me.

burpsandrustles I've got out of the habit now, and have been caught out a few times when visiting, having poured a drink, turned around to put the bottle away and then turned back to find DF pouring my drink down the drain!

It apparently stems from us leaving half drunk drinks everywhere when very young. 🤷‍♀️

Orange juice was only to be drunk at breakfast and only from a small (particular) glass.

Like a PP no wet feet on the bath mat. Standing on one foot in the bathtub whilst drying the first foot wobbling precariously was such fun. The second was easier as you were anchored on dry land rather than a slippery bath

You must try everything on your plate. Even if it is something you’ve long despised because “your tastebuds might have changed”

You must not dry your hands on a tea towel. Use the kitchen hand towel instead. If your hands got wet whilst drying up you’d have to dry them on the other towel still. My DM buys me special hand towels for my kitchen. I find it bonkers because my hands touch the tea towels when I’m drying up, and they’re clean because I’ve either just washed them or have finished washing up

Oh. And we were never to lock the bathroom or loo doors. Nor complain if someone came in. I didn’t have a private bath until I left home.

Some of these rules that people were subjected to make me incredibly sad.

@Curiousdad18 I'm sorry you don't remember love or hugs from your mother. What a cruel person she must be.
I hope you're able to get as many hugs as you need from your kids and wife.

The only rules I enforce with mine (and will as they get older), is no food in bedrooms because we get ants.
No TV either but we only have Netflix and they have free rein over watching it on either the iPad or the big living room tv but self regulate well, so I'm not fussed.

Oh and I won't allow them to drink Coke, Sprite etc.

Remembering more and more.

Only one car window could be opened on the motorway and only a crack. Regardless of how hot it was. I remember driving across Europe in 35 degree heat with 5 of us in the car and all bar one of the windows done up feeling so envious of those whizzing past with open windows and fresh air/breeze.

Weird childhood, and it stills feels 'disloyal' to admit it...

No drinks ever, inc water - not necessary for kids.
No snacks, biscuits, cakes, or sweets, - as above.
One meal a day, late on. Food only at kitchen table. (tiny and for kids only) Finish all given.
No looking in cupboards etc, or for things, or helping self to anything.
Speak to adults inc parent, only when spoken to.
No addressing parent by name. 'Excuse me please' and wait for acknowledgement, to speak if needed when not requested to.
No phone, tv or radio in house. (More a fact than a rule.)
No gum, comics, or Barbie anything. Toys, treasures kept in a box.
No scraps. (paper scraps and swapping them was a big thing)
No opening shutters to front of house. People would see in.
No visitors, no friends to house. No giving out address.
No privacy, if you had it you'd misuse it.
No being in alone. Lots of waiting on walls fending off strangers.
No playing out. All playing must be done quietly.
No causing of ANY wear to books.
No crying without exceptionally good cause. IE bleeding enough, or heavily punished enough.
No unsuitable bright colors, or black (unsuitable for kids) to be worn.
'Pretty' or girly clothes (or things generally) discouraged.
Table manners MUST be used outside of home.
No pocket or personal money. Anything given by others held and what it could be spent on had to be approved of first.
No requesting money or things asked for by school ie food stuff, material for lessons or charity, harvest festival etc.
No requesting, mentioning PE kits etc, school issues to stay at school.
No school dinners (or packed lunch, - unless special outing)
No school hymns, RE lessons, or Christmas, Easter stuff allowed.
Allowed one school friend each, but only at school, apart from rare occasion when formally taken on a special visit to them.
One set of uniform must last the week clean, worn in evening too. (IF you where obeying the rules no reason for it to get dirty)
Weekend clothes -same set, washed every six weeks or so.
No touching anything that wasn't yours. (most of everything)
No relaying ANY information from home to school.
No relaying ANY information from home to any person inc other family.
To be on best behavior with everyone outside home as 'on display.'
NO bringing trouble home.
Conversely - Must stand up to 'nosy' teachers attempts to extract info.
No getting into trouble at school other than for above, which was ok!

But we were allowed loo roll!

(Some of the rules where always there but many evolved as responses to what we, well usually me, did wrong)

@Organisedclutter , my jaw dropped further and further as I read your post. That all sounds really difficult to live with and cope with as a child.

to you .

@Strokethefurrywall - let's say it's not easy for my wife. I starting seeing a counsellor recently who pretty much said "i don't even know where to start and that this will would take years'

I think then as a child you just accepted things and looked for ways round everything. It wasn't great but I did successfully break many of the rules much of the time, and it's made me grateful for many things others don't get so much joy from.

I admit to having recently brought 'scraps' just 'because', some really pretty and age inappropriate material to make a swirly skirt, and Christmas is now a happy OTT event round here.

Organisedclutter, wow! That sounds awful. Were you actually allowed to live? To exist at all?

No sweets till after lunch
Here’s a good one, I had to be back from the youthie before my dad went out on nights.
Dad left at 10 and I used to leave at 9-30 pm and run like hell
When he realised I was running like hell on my own and if I was allowed to leave at 10 I’d be walking home with my friend from next door ... in fact half the street who were aged 14-17 lol ... he relented

No phones or mobiles in 1966 well not in my house anyway

No chewing gum... mum and I had to chuck it in the coal fire... we used to laugh as we’d had a good chow down on it by then

No mini skirts . I pretty much took no notice of that one... especially as mum made a lot of my clothes... and me too come to think of it

When mum and I started working in the betting shops when I was 18 he realised he was battling against the tide

He wasn’t a tyrant. He was a good dad. Just showing how much he cared.