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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Following on ... strange things you do! AIBU?

165 replies

Canwedoit4 · 14/12/2023 01:01

So following on from a thread I read earlier where the op sucked a cup of hot tea until it was stuck around her face... AIBU to not be able to resist rubbing my cheek with a McDonald's cheeseburger bread. You know what I mean right? So soft and fluffy and just totally irresistible. It's really difficult not to do this every time but when I'm in the right company and people know, they know what's coming!! Go on and tell me the strange things you do that make you happy but nobody would understand!

Poll removed because I genuinely don't want any negatively on my cheeseburger face!

OP posts:
pencilvrspen · 14/12/2023 22:42

I get wee crusty things on my scalp and I rally enjoy picking them, I'm always searching for them in my hair

PatchworkWellies · 14/12/2023 22:47

@Namechangeforstrangethings My dad does this! I remember him showing me when I was a child, how he folded the edge of the sheet into a sharp point and he would run it along the edge of my finger to show me how sharp it was. I never picked up the habit myself although I do something I call 'twiddling' which is sort of making a small ridge on my pillowcase/duvet cover with my fingers, then pressing one finger into the ridge and releasing it which makes a point clicking noise. I used to do it as I went to sleep but have had to more or less stop since I got married as it drives my husband mad. It does make a surprisingly loud noise of you're practised at it 😁

evtheria · 14/12/2023 22:52

This is a fascinating read!

DP does the earlobe thing, really winds our kid up when Dad's stroking his earlobe while watching tv "you are SO WEIRD, stop touching my earlobe!!"

I'll mirror accents, but only ones that I'm v familiar with/grew up around: Australian, NI, American. When I can hear myself doing it I either immediately stop and clam up or start trying my best to 'talk how I normally do' but I don't know what that is so sound like Siri having a malfunction.

I have to go to sleep with my arms all bundled up against my chest and my hands all curled/bent in.. Almost painful!

BeaniesMam · 14/12/2023 22:55

I don’t think this is that strange but my teenager says it’s embarrassing. I love to trolley surf in the supermarket, I wait until the aisle is clear so as not to crash into anyone then floor it! Jump down near the end and walk on like nothing has happened. I also do this when I’m by myself, makes me happy.

KeeefBurtain · 14/12/2023 23:07

I use a nitty gritty to scrape the psoriasis off my head until it bleeds - the satisfaction of getting a huge plaque is immense.

I twiddle my pubes when I’m reading.

I scratch my arms and legs really hard before I get in the bath so that i get that stinging feeling when I first get in the water.

I have one eyebrow hair that doesn’t stop growing so I leave it until it gets really long then snip it off to play with.

I chew my toenail clippings.

I can’t use metal cutlery so use plastic ikea picnic ones (only the red) but my spoon is a light purple petit filous one I got in my bounty pack 7 years ago.

Imuptoolate · 14/12/2023 23:19

I never realised that I do this until my husband pointed it out… whenever I have a drink of water I always stand in one spot in the kitchen with the spare hand on my hip, leaning back whilst I down the whole cup. I haven’t been able to stop even now that I know I’m doing it. Maybe it’s to keep my balance or something when I lean my head back, I’m not sure!

Paella2022 · 14/12/2023 23:31

Touch the bulb of a bristly plucked hair to my top lip and feel the force it takes to bend it a bit!

munchmagic · 14/12/2023 23:34

eldorado02 · 14/12/2023 19:02

I can only chew food in equal size bites divided between the two sides of the mouth.

So, I eat a roast dinner by cutting a piece of chicken and adding a piece of potato or stuffing or veg etc, chew it on the right side of my mouth (has to start on the right), then make an equal forkful with the exact same proportions and chew that on the left.

I must finish on the left and each mouthful must be equal.

If I have an odd number of something, such as crisps, I will bite the last one in half so both sides get the same.

It gets even more complicated when there’s a built-in degree of diversity. So, to use a packet of skittles as an example, I try to eat them in colour pairs, ie a green on the right followed by a green on the left. If that’s not possible as there aren’t matching pairs of colours, I try to eat them as closely colour matched as possible, such as orange with red or blue with green etc.

This habit was a nightmare after I had my wisdom teeth removed from the right side of my mouth, as I had to chew exclusively on the left for a couple of weeks. My brain was not pleased!

Haha I do this too!!! Right down to the bit about the skittles! I always presumed everybody did and then mentioned it to some friends who looked at me in a way that made it immediately clear that no, not everybody does! I also count pasta etc as I go. At least our arithmetic and eye for detail will be awesome!

LostandHound · 14/12/2023 23:38

I feel my eyebrows with the skin under my fingernails, you kind of have to poke the hairs under the nail. If i’m stressed I catch myself doing it and it instantly relaxes me.

AlpacalypseLlamaggedon · 14/12/2023 23:47

I like to dig my thumbnails into my gums so it creates a kind of dull ache.

Ohmahgaws · 14/12/2023 23:52

AngryBirdsNoMore i aslo hum when happy or anticipation of something nice
i have no isea am doing it . But apparently i have a different hum when am feeling worried
Was in Superdrug for a good half hour looking at make up last wwi and I noticed staff sort of staring at me .- I realised i must have been hummng happiy for half an hour whist browsing .
we have an old dog who cant go in long walks now . She has special dog son the family have always sung to her . I cant stop singing it in my head when I walk . Wonder if it s a way if ‘ being ‘ with her

my most soothing thing is i twiddle my eyelashes. I dont recommend it ! Over time it can affect them !

pinklemonata · 14/12/2023 23:52

I pull open Kirby grips and tickle my ears with them.. never told anyone that in 40 years!!

Dontsayyouloveme · 14/12/2023 23:52

I love to pull both of my top eyelids right up to my forehead as high as they’ll go… and then look down! The sensation is amazing !

Glasgowgal200 · 14/12/2023 23:54

I do something similar but I like kind of pinching throat skin between 2 fingers (not easy to explain what I do) and sort of flick it!!!! Or gently push my fingernails into the base of throat skin(think it's a comfort think as I find it soothing)

munchmagic · 14/12/2023 23:59

Glasgowgal200 · 14/12/2023 23:54

I do something similar but I like kind of pinching throat skin between 2 fingers (not easy to explain what I do) and sort of flick it!!!! Or gently push my fingernails into the base of throat skin(think it's a comfort think as I find it soothing)

That's a better way of describing what I meant earlier, it's something I've done since childhood. It's so comforting isn't it?

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 15/12/2023 00:02

15PiecesOfFlair · 14/12/2023 13:33

Sometimes I can't tell if laundry is completely dry unless I press it to just above my top lip. It's super sensitive for telling if something is damp!

I do this! 😊

toastlady · 15/12/2023 00:07

I find it hard to sleep unless I am able to rub the fastened poppers of the duvet cover between my toes. I've done it since I was a child and I have no idea why. My worst nightmare is having buttons (instead of poppers) on a duvet cover because buttons make me feel nauseous. I can't have buttons on any of my clothes either.

I always smell books before I read them and enjoy making myself sneeze by putting a rolled up piece of tissue up my nose.

I used to enjoy stuffing sponges into my mouth but haven't done that for years actually.

evtheria · 15/12/2023 00:14

15PiecesOfFlair · 14/12/2023 13:33

Sometimes I can't tell if laundry is completely dry unless I press it to just above my top lip. It's super sensitive for telling if something is damp!

There's a reason for this! We actually have no 'wet' sense, but testing the cloth against your cheek is a better indicator because of all the tiny hairs on it helping us feel.

Violettah · 15/12/2023 00:20

When I was young I would suck my thumb and hold my plait with the other hand. Always had long hair. Im not just holding the hair I’m rubbing my thumb along a “plait segment”. Wrapping my hair around a finger to create a smooth surface also works now my mother doesn’t plait my hair each morning. Self soothing I guess

Violettah · 15/12/2023 00:21

Also used to suck flannels - soapy detergent flavour is delicious.

Bristoluser · 15/12/2023 00:26

I always count stairs when I go up them and estimate the number of steps to for example the local shop and then count them.

Ellamaelucyolivia · 15/12/2023 00:28

This stuff is so weird. Counting gulps?

MrsHughesPinny · 15/12/2023 00:41

I absolutely must start walking down the stairs right foot first. If I start with my left it feels all wrong and I feel like I’m going to fall the whole way down.

SinnerBoy · 15/12/2023 00:45

Anybody else have a shoe donning order? Mine is always left first, which I'd never realised until I read the question somewhere.

SantaExpress · 15/12/2023 00:53

I share a lot of these….
stair-counting, petrol amount must be on a 00 or 05, holding dry washing to my face to check for dampness. I think my main one is pulling foods apart before I can eat them eg: breaking sandwiches, buns, pies, pasties, burgers, chocolate etc apart then eating them in a specific way. I’m always being told that my food looks like it’s been blown up!
We are a funny lot aren’t we?😁