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Original poster

Things you didn't know weren't normal

1000 replies

Applescruffle · 08/08/2023 18:43

What are things you thought every one or every family did until you became an adult or entered a new relationship?

I'll start. I thought that everyone ate the leftover yorkshires after a roast dinner as desert eg: fill them with cream and fruit or custard or something, basically use them like you would a pancake... no?

I thought everyone peeled mushrooms, I didn't know that not only do people not peel mushrooms, lots don't even know they have peel!! 😱

I'll probably think of more.

Nb: I'm not meaning to trigger anyone's childhood or relationship trauma, I just mean lighthearted things x

OP posts:
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7
backoffbuster · 08/08/2023 22:50

I was told the same!

BernardBlacksMolluscs · 08/08/2023 22:51

I always thought until I left home that if one of the family farted it was completely normal behaviour to just behave as if it hadn't happened, even if it was one of my dad's belters that smelled absolutely terrible.

when I moved into a shared house and someone audibly farted one evening, followed by much discussion of the event and some fart jokes it was honestly incredible to me. it felt daring and bohemian!

TokenGinger · 08/08/2023 22:52

EmmaEmerald · 08/08/2023 19:22

Spaniel "insurance not compulsory for vehicles and a LOT cheaper for fully comp"

driving without insurance is illegal.

I didn't know anyone peeled mushrooms!

@SpanielsMatter mentions Kiwis in her post, so is likely living in New Zealand which is why she mentions it was a culture shock. A quick google confirms it's correct, car insurance is not compulsory.

Tiredmum100 · 08/08/2023 22:52

SlatternIsMyMiddleName · 08/08/2023 20:25

The non towel sharing families - how do you know whose towel is whose? Does everyone have a different assigned colour? Their names on it? Are the 3/4/5/6 big bath towels in the bathroom at the same time?

Ds1 has a green towel, ds 2 has a red one, I have light brown and dh dark brown (plus spares). We also each have a particular spot to hang them in the bathroom. Ds also have patterned ones, but we all know whose is who.

Echio · 08/08/2023 22:52

I grew up in a mushroom-peeling family. I still feel 'lazy' if I don't do it.

Kitchen roll is always called 'kitchen paper towel roll' in my family. Always.

All sandwiches / spreads on bread or toast require butter. That includes nutella or peanut butter. We also have peanut butter and cucumber sandwiches. Which are apparently not normal.

Was about 30 when I realised that 'twat' was different from 'twit'.

Honeychickpea · 08/08/2023 22:52

'll start. I thought that everyone ate the leftover yorkshires after a roast dinner as desert eg: fill them with cream and fruit or custard or something, basically use them like you would a pancake... no?
In the US yorkshires are called popovers, and not closely associated with roast meat. There are popover cafes that serve exactly what you described and more.

MalbecMakesMeHappy · 08/08/2023 22:54

Leftover yorkshires with golden syrup for pudding. Were definitely a thing of my childhood. Delicious!

katseyes7 · 08/08/2023 22:55

I remember a friend l had as a child used to have 'weetabix with butter (likely margarine, back then). Not with milk, but like a biscuit, but with butter on. I think l only tried it once, it seemed very dry!
And when l stayed at my aunties in the school holidays l used to have 'sandwiches' made with white sliced bread and 'butterfly milk' which was some sort of very thick, sweet stuff (possibly some sort of evaporated milk?) which came in a tin with a butterfly on the label.
Oh, and they had a garden. We'd cut stalks of fresh rhubarb and l'd be given a little paper bag with sugar to dip it in.
I remember having sugar sandwiches, as well. White sliced bread with margarine, then sprinkled liberally with sugar.
I don't know how l've still got any teeth left.

rc22 · 08/08/2023 22:55

N0RKS · 08/08/2023 20:05

“Little chef will gladly swap
your empty plate, for our lollipop”

it rhymes, so it MUST be true

Yes it was true. I remember making sure I ate everything to make sure I got my lollipop!

I would love to be able to get a Little Chef lollipop . Am I right in thinking they had sherbet in the middle? Can't get anything quite like them now.
Did they also have Little Chefs hidden on the kid's menu for you to find?

Saz12 · 08/08/2023 22:56

I learned that boiled whole onions arent a normal vegetable accompaniment in my 20's. My mum used to serve them up like you'd serve up peas, carrots, etc.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 08/08/2023 22:56

saraclara · 08/08/2023 22:47

Yes! And it was even better when the toast was made over the open fire with a toasting fork.
I haven't had cinnamon toast for decades. I need to revisit it. I don't have an open fire or a toasting fork any more though!

Show quote history

Lovely memory! 🥰

katseyes7 · 08/08/2023 22:57

Growing up we would have red sauce sandwiches, if we was playing out and wanted something quick to get back out that would be it, my partner thinks it's disgusting.
Yes! l remember these.

wingingit1987 · 08/08/2023 22:58

SlatternIsMyMiddleName · 08/08/2023 20:25

The non towel sharing families - how do you know whose towel is whose? Does everyone have a different assigned colour? Their names on it? Are the 3/4/5/6 big bath towels in the bathroom at the same time?

We don’t share towels. I don’t assign them though- we just have a fresh towel for each bath/shower that I then wash afterwards. Hand towels are obviously shared though.

LongDarkTeatime · 08/08/2023 22:58

DoneWithHer · 08/08/2023 20:00

My mother told me and my sister growing up it is important not to wear knickers going to bed to air out your privates, so we would just wear pyjamas, no underwear. Genuinely thought this was as normal as brushing your teeth until a convo came up recently about it and a lot of my friends were horrified! 😅

Cold crumble always! Cook it early in the day and let it go cold. I heat it for people who want it warm but always served cold for me 👌

Why would you wear knickers in bed?

IAmKenough · 08/08/2023 22:58

Merryoldgoat · 08/08/2023 21:10

My mum told me the cane in a party bag was a present for the mum for sending the child to the party.

An entire primary school’s worth of parties where I merrily handed the cake to my mum as soon as I got home.

Didn’t realise this was a rise to steal my cane until I was 20.

My mum told me the exact same! Never once got a bit of the cake, handed over every time. I tried with my kids but they're much less gullible than me.

Loloj · 08/08/2023 22:58

Applescruffle · 08/08/2023 19:00

I didn't know what a bellend was until I was 28.
I wrong to school in the 90s when "bellend" was the insult everyone was using for each other and I didn't know what it was. I asked my parents round the dinner table and they refuses to tell me, told me to stop being stupid in front of my little brother and sister.

So I decided for myself that it must be a foreskin, not sure why.

Anyway, years later my son was circumcised (medical reasons) and I casually mentioned to my sister that "he doesn't have a bell end". She helpfully drew me a diagram.

Actually crying laughing at this 🤣

Theblacksheepandme · 08/08/2023 22:58

katseyes7 · 08/08/2023 22:42

I didn't realise until l was fifteen, and staying over at my best friend's house, that never being hugged or told 'I love you' wasn't normal.
That first night when my friend and l were going up to bed, her mam hugged her and said "Goodnight, I love you", then hugged me and said "goodnight, love."
I was so overwhelmed l burst into tears.
Nearly 50 years later, and l don't ever remember my mam cuddling me or telling me she loved me. Not once.
My friend's lovely mam made me realise that some people were affectionate and demonstrative, and that's made me the the polar opposite to the way l was brought up.

OMG you just made me cry. I hope you're getting lots of love now.

Threenow · 08/08/2023 22:59

Also surprised at seeing people stripping off to sunbathe in central city parks at the first sign of sun. Not normal in NZ to see bikinis in a park, at least when I was growing up.

It's still not normal - well, not around here anyway.

I remember a friend l had as a child used to have 'weetabix with butter (likely margarine, back then). Not with milk, but like a biscuit, but with butter on. I think l only tried it once, it seemed very dry!

I sometimes have Weetbix with nothing at all on it, or maybe Vegemite, but certainly never butter. It's a delicious snack.

Onedaylikethi5 · 08/08/2023 22:59

The cake in party bags is for the mummies. Not to be eaten by the party attendee, but a gift for their mum. Believed that for years.

inappropriateraspberry · 08/08/2023 22:59

@Maireas I wear knickers with pyjamas as I find the seams can rub a bit, and just be uncomfortable. No probs with nighties though.

DragonScreeches · 08/08/2023 22:59

Banana split for tea. A banana, peeled and split (!) with a blob of jam in the split and top of the milk poured over. It was lovely.

backoffbuster · 08/08/2023 22:59

I’m definite a butter and peanut butter person. It’s no more strange than butter and jam! Peanut butter doesn’t actually have butter in it so it’s not like it’s double butter!

Upwardtrajectory · 08/08/2023 23:01

Switcher · 08/08/2023 19:18

At children's parties in Australia, it was traditional to serve white bread with the crusts cut off, liberally spread to the edges with butter, and covered in 100s and 1000s. It was one of the things I was most excited about at my kids 5th birthday and not only did nobody eat them, all the parents were absolutely horrified and looked at me like I was a heathen!! Oh well.

my experience of that was the opposite! We were at a kids party, here in UK, but one of the host parents was Aussie. Most of the parents thought it was a great idea and the kids loved it. And the Aussie mum and her brother were amazed at the attention it got - they hadn’t realised it wasn’t a thing here!

JacquelinePot · 08/08/2023 23:02

We lived on a bus route and my parents used to tell me that was the bus to the children's home, and they would collect me if I didn't behave. Sounds awful now, but the 80s were a different time!

I also thought "pullit" was a food. As in "nan, what's for tea?", "bread and pullit". I don't know why I didn't wise up when the pullit never arrived.

inappropriateraspberry · 08/08/2023 23:02

DragonScreeches · 08/08/2023 22:59

Banana split for tea. A banana, peeled and split (!) with a blob of jam in the split and top of the milk poured over. It was lovely.

That's not a banana split! It has to have ice cream in the middle then whipped or squirty cream on top. Then a sprinkling of chocolate chips, sprinkles, fruit or whatever you like.

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