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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What is the worst advice someone has ever given you?

213 replies

abacucat · 20/11/2018 16:15

I was told as a young adult to put butter over a bad burn I had got. I ignored it of course.
What about you?

OP posts:
abacucat · 20/11/2018 16:16

Sorry had meant to put this in chat.

OP posts:
MawkishTwaddle · 20/11/2018 16:17

From my mother:

When my newborn ds had a cold she told me to rub vaseline on the bridge of his nose.

Don't wash your hair when you're 'like that' (meaning on your period).

Itsyersel · 20/11/2018 16:17

Don't get married, Best thing I have ever done, My partner is amazing!

pumpastrotter · 20/11/2018 16:18

My mother to teenage me - 'get pregnant so you can get a council house.'

Isitweekendyet · 20/11/2018 16:19

‘Get him a set of those cockly things, he’ll be normal then’ said by my delightful MIL about my deaf son.

Suzyloo · 20/11/2018 16:31

"You only regret the things you don't do".

Frenchfancy · 20/11/2018 16:34

Don't get married just live together (said after a whirlwind romance - been married 25 years!)

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 20/11/2018 16:34

Suzy beat me to it....

LRDtheFeministDragon · 20/11/2018 16:38

'It's just a phase, so don't mention it to anyone else.'

'Women aren't adults until they are married.'

'Don't get divorced - you must be mentally ill.'

And, since I divorced (male) ex-H and got together with (female) DP:

'Well, it's only to be expected you'd argue. It's not normal, is it?'

All from my dad. He can come out with some shockers.

On a more serious note, my mum is quite convinced that, if you have a child with someone, you should stay together 'for the child's sake,' even if that person is abusive and violent, so long as your actual life isn't at risk. It makes me really sad, not least for her.

flumpybear · 20/11/2018 16:41

Do t get in the bath if you're on your period - my 11 year old friend - I sat on the edge of the bath for a couple of years before I realised it was rubbish!

OrangeOrBlackcurrant · 20/11/2018 16:45

Don't go to University as a mature student because you will be nearly 30 by the time you graduate. Can't believe I listened and didn't go.

Henrysmycat · 20/11/2018 16:47

Some of them were based on the reality of the times. Especially, washing on your period; considering the lack of central heating and abundance of fresh water, it was not unheard of to get sick and die with no antibiotics to help you. (Obviously, I’m not talking about the last 50 years but misconceptions stuck).
Worst advise given to me was about university studies. It was by the local priest that I was forced to seek advice. (I lived in another country)
I had won a scholarship to move here (UK) in one of the best university in the world and he advised me to not accept it as “English people are debased, full of gays and drugs and I’ll leave the road of God and become a prostitute”.
That was the last time, I entered a church that I was not invited as a guest.
Funnily enough, I graduated, had an amazing career and made some amazing friends that include many gays and various professions. Grin

speakout · 20/11/2018 16:55

Don't study Medicine at University- despite an unconditional place.

My parents talked me out of it- as I was " too working class to fit in".

Arkengarthdale · 20/11/2018 16:56

That I was too old at 24 to train to become an Executive PA as any businessman would expect me already to have 5 years experience by that age so not to bother (father)

Ploppymoodypants · 20/11/2018 17:00

‘That you have to suffer to be beautiful’
Told to be as I objected to my eye brows being plucked at 12 becUse it hurt!!! 😕
This was from my mother who is actually a very lovely, supportive well rounded person an fabulous mum. She does however place her own self worth on her attractiveness to men, which as an adult makes me sad for her.

SimplySteve · 20/11/2018 17:01

My father told me I couldn't ever leave my relationship, it was for life, because of the children.

Fucking followed it though didn't I.

Foamybanana93 · 20/11/2018 17:02

To relax and I’ll get pregnant after 4 years plus of trying and being told I’ll need ivf but it’s alright if I relax it’ll happen Hmm

Balaboosteh · 20/11/2018 17:03

But Vaseline on the bridge of your nose when you have a cold is a thing that actually WORKS. Dunno why. Defies reason. But. My granny said so and she was right. Also it stops you getting chafed nostrils from the tissues.

SimplySteve · 20/11/2018 17:04

Oh, and telling me college/uni were a waste of time and energy.

Sparklesocks · 20/11/2018 17:10

Dated a guy at uni I wasn’t sure about, he was quite hot and cold and I often felt like I wasn’t living up to his ‘standards’. Generally felt a bit bad about myself when I was with him. But he was quite popular, on the rugby team and well known at the university.

I confided in a friend about my concerns and she said I should just push through and stick it out, he was ‘lovely’ and I was being too sensitive, any girl was lucky to be with him. I wondered if I was overreacting and so kept seeing him, despite how he made me feel about myself.

After a month or so he ghosted me, didn’t reply to my texts or answer if I called (although it wasn’t even called ghosting back then!). After about a week and a half of radio silence I sent him a final message asking if it was over and he didn’t even respond. The day after I was on a night out drowning my sorrows with friends when I met a lovely guy. I confided in him about my tale of woe and we ended up sharing a sweet tipsy snog outside the nightclub.

Suddenly I heard shouting, I looked up to see my ghoster storming across the road in my direction calling me a slag at the top of his lungs. He came over and got in my face, shouting at me saying how dare I kiss another man in front of him and that I was mugging him off. Despite my protests that I hadn’t heard from him in 2 weeks and thought we were done, he kept shouting and turning it around on me. He was so angry. Everyone was staring, my snogging partner looked terrified of this huge rugby bloke and just legged it.

After that I promised to follow my gut and break it off with men who gave me that same feeling. I also never asked that friend for advice again. I’ve never looked back.

N0b0dysMot · 20/11/2018 17:14

Some of these are so sad.

@speakout my mum has always wanted my life to be quite small and ordinary. She would never admit that.
I was talking in to resigning. Talked out of going to australia. Talked out of getting braces.

MrsMarigold · 20/11/2018 17:17

"A few lines and you'll be right as rain... " Hmm

chuffnstuff · 20/11/2018 17:19

Don't go to HR. Said by a colleague about a person we both reported in to. The person reduced me to tears after an hour of him telling me how bad I was at my job and that all issues were my doing!

MunderDifflin · 20/11/2018 17:20

'If you eat whole apples, including the pips and core, it'll stop you getting cancer'

I carry the BRCA1 breast cancer gene mutation Hmm

DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops · 20/11/2018 17:24

Don't do law- we don't know any body and so you'll never get a good job. My teenaged self took this advice seriously. Thanks DM.