Growing up, my family had its fair share of weird and memorable rules. One such rule that I still giggle about is the “no snacks after 8 pm” policy. No matter if we were starving or simply in need of a midnight snack, the kitchen was not open after eight.
Back then, it felt so unfair. I’d be lying on the bed dreaming of the packet of chips I couldn’t have, but now I can’t help but laugh at what a ridiculous rule it was.
For our younger selves, most of these rules seemed pointless, but they brought order to our lives; even if we didn’t fully understand them.
Today, I’ll share 8 of the weirdest family rules people we spoke with have grown up with too.
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The “One Bite of Everything” Rule
“Whatever my mom made, we had to try at least one bite of everything on our plate. It was a rule even if it was something we absolutely detested, such as Brussels sprouts or liver. The concept was to “extend our palate,” but I had to admit, it was torture then.”
No Speaking in the Morning
“Our mornings were very quiet because no one ever talked to us until breakfast was out on the table. My mother said it was to keep people quiet until everyone got up, but it made our mornings feel like we were living in a silent monastery. Once breakfast was served, it was a matter of flipping a switch and chatter filled the kitchen.”
Board Games Had to Be Played by “House Rules”
“All of our board games had “house rules” attached to them, which were often a bit more detailed than the original. Monopoly games became marathons & Uno’s weird penalties made the game twice as long. If you didn’t obey the house rules, you couldn’t play at all.”
The “No Leftovers on Your Plate” Rule
“It wasn’t ok to have even a grain of rice left on our plates. My father called it “wasting food” and we were trained to eat every last bite on the plate, no matter how full we were. It definitely caused overeating issues later on in life.”
Bedroom Doors Must Stay Open
“During the day, our bedroom doors had to stay open unless we were changing clothes. My parents thought it made us more open & less isolated. As a teenager, it felt like an invasion of privacy, but it also led to some funny eavesdropping moments with my siblings.”
No Playing Until Homework Was Done
“This was the dreaded rule growing up. We came home from school & had to sit down and do all our homework before we were allowed to play or watch TV. I hated it then but it taught me discipline & to do my chores before enjoying my free time.”
No Singing at the Dinner Table
“We never got the chance to enjoy singing at meals. Mom said it was distracting, but my sisters and I thought it was because she didn’t like our off-key tones. Either way, as soon as someone would hum a song, we’d receive a cold stare and the singing would vanish.”
No Shoes, but Socks & Sandals Were Fine
“Wearing shoes was prohibited in our living room, but strangely enough, socks were okay (even if they were dirty from playing outside). My parents said it was to clean the carpets but this made no sense when my socks were equally filthy.”
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