Things you enjoy as an adult

[ThinkingForEveryone]

Because your parents had strange rules around them?
For me it's:
Showering daily
Using 'too much' shampoo and shower gel etc.
Washing my clothes and bedding before it could walk to the washing machine by itself.
Enjoying a spontaneous trip out for lunch/a bit of shopping with the kids.
Eating my evening meal later than 5pm rather than planning the whole day around making sure your back in time for 5pm.
Buying my kids branded items for school (not the cheapest version off the market)
Sure there are more...what are yours?

Not having to eat the exact same meal on the same day each week.

Being able to have chewing/ unblemished gum if I want it!

Eating dinner on settee in front of the TV. Never allowed at my parents house !

He was like a camel and so rarely needed to go. I think he just found it a massive inconvenience to change plans to go somewhere there would be a loo. He was a horrible person in many other ways, this was just the tip of the iceberg.

Eating instant mashed potato, which was absolutely verboten in our house.

I'm not entirely sure why - my mother leaned towards the lentil-knitting side a bit, but there was definitely processed food such as fish fingers / crispy pancakes in my 1980s childhood - but Smash was an absolute no-no.

I bought my first packet when I was 17 and fell in love (my current favourite, for those of you of a similar bent, is the Idahoan brand, especially the one with cheese. Total joy in a bowl in under a minute.)

Using as many tissues as I want to blow my nose, especially when I have a cold. We were made to blow our noses on toilet roll to save money and my nose used to get so sore. Especially as I had really bad hayfever.

Not having to drive round and round the back streets looking for a free parking space. I now always head straight for the multi storey!

if I’m out and about, I’ll just buy a sandwich/drink rather than bringing it with me. I still vividly remember the one and only takeaway we had when we were kids lol. (I know that’s hardly hard done by but I’ve never wanted to faff around carrying sandwiches and a drink with me everywhere I go)

I have been very Liberal with my own kids (now pretty much grown up). My mum was strict and I remember when I was 17 and had a boyf and we were sitting very innocently in my room chatting (I was very innocent at that age) and my mum screamed up the stairs ‘if you want a boyfriend in your bedroom then you leave the door open’!! Still embarassed about that to this day. She was always super strict about boys and even now as a single 43 yr old professional mum of two, I wouldn’t dare introduce her to a new guy as she has always been very unwelcoming to any boyf

God yes. I love how calm our house is. No feeling of dread and anxiety realising it’s about to kick off because Mum’s silently crying & Dad’s walking around with a face like thunder.

(They’re still married & genuinely believe happily do, but I have put a lot of distance between us to avoid having to observe their relationship)

Being married and not having screaming rows.
God yes. I love how calm our house is. No feeling of dread and anxiety realising it’s about to kick off because Mum’s silently crying & Dad’s walking around with a face like thunder

(They’re still married & genuinely believe happily do, but I have put a lot of distance between us to avoid having to observe their relationship)
My parents split up when I was 22, I wished it was sooner. To any of you waiting until your DC are young adults before you divorce, don’t. Living with parents who hate each other, or are volatile and bicker is much worse.

• Having spares of toilet paper, hand soap, toothpaste, sanitary protection etc and a clean hand towel & bin in the bathroom.
• Having a choice of reasonably stylish, clean, well fitting clothes.
• Having drinks in the house beyond milk, water and beer.
• Having a decluttered house & only keeping things we actually use.

@cumbriaumbria me too, any relaxing would be met with loud pointed huffing or direct requests to do a list of chores. It has backfired a bit because I LOVE relaxing now to the point where I just delight in a whole day of no plans whatsoever. My rebellion is wanton relaxing 😂

Painting my nails. My dad couldn't tolerate the smell so could never do it watching telly like I do now.

Buying a cup of tea or coffee on a day out instead of taking a flask.

Oh yes, this was me too.

Added to which as my parents were divorced so Dad and I had to sit at the back of the church as he was treated like a leper. He wasn't allowed communion either so I had to do that bit alone.

I wasted so very many hours in that place Sunday after Sunday. I used to wonder what actual genuinely good deeds the congregation could have achieved instead of sitting through the service every week.

Dad made me go come hell or high water until I was confirmed at 16. After that I never went again and neither did he.

I enjoy having the freedom to express myself and have an opinion. As a child I was expected to agree or keep quiet. Anything else risked a beating.

I love that my son can disagree with me and have controversial opinions without fear.

Holidaying in a static caravan. My parents detested caravans - I absolutely love them.

Choosing 'gadgets' because they have the features you want, not because they are the latest Radioshack bargain in Tandy. I was the family RTFM person, and got so frustrated with the footnote: [interesting feature] not available on model [the one we'd just bought].

Having the heating on although with energy prices that might come to an abrupt halt!

Being an adult is freedom - to sleep, eat what you choose & watch tv, relax & drink whenever you want to....

Naturally you have to work it around employment and children. I work 4 days usually from 12 noon weekdays.

I go to bed when tired & sleep up to 10 hrs....I sat up now watching "The Secrets She Keeps" with Laura Carmichael....

My daughter is 15 & we are both off for school holidays for a couple of weeks now....

Reading anywhere other than in bed. My mum would only ever read in bed and could never understand why I would rather sit with a book during the day.

Walking round brushing my teeth, standing on the bed and eating two puddings at a time!!

Buying a drink from the motorway services. It still feels luxurious, even though I've been able to drive for over 20 years.

• not being scared of my drunken dad coming home and trashing the house.
• going on trips to different places with ds. My parents never took us out .
• being able to have a glass of milk , there was never enough in the house.
• buying orange juice.
• no more soggy liver pâté butties for lunch, had them every day and hated them.
• making a snack if I am hungry .
• not being forced to be eat a plateful if I am not hungry.
• inviting friends around .
• having a shower every day and washing my hair , as opposed to a bath of cooling , second hand bath water every Sunday .
• Turning on the main light to read , I wasn’t allowed for some reason .
• washing clothes after one wear . Any spills were sponged off and we wore outfits for days and days on end .

Best of all now bringing ds up in the way I wished I had experienced it . I am not perfect , but trying my best to give him the best childhood I can .

getting a glass of milk. Melting the chocolate before I eat it if I want. Being allowed to eat later if I'm hungry, even if I didn't finish my last meal. Being allowed to leave some of my food if I'm not hungry.

Sounds awful. I too was brought up in the seen and not heard generation. There was absolutely no abuse but it did feel very repressive. Not allowing children to express themselves is so very unhealthy. I have always allowed ds to express his views.

Having a bowl full of two or maybe three different cereals.

Having a hot hot water bottle instead of an insipid safe lukewarm one.

Going for picnics, and eating meals in the garden.

I had a nice childhood but those are the things I like to do now I'm a grown up!