People Revealed 15 Odd Family Rules Parents Made Them Believe Normal

In every family, there are rules that help everyone get along and have a routine. Parents manage in their own way in order to keep things organized and make sure everyone behaves well. Some rules are normal, like cleaning up or going to bed on time. But some might seem really strange.

• No earphones. Music should be played out loud so they can hear it, to make sure nothing is inappropriate. © Asher Blyz / Quora
• If people were kissing on the screen, my mom would freak out and run to cover the TV with a pillow, and go “blah blah cough cough” loudly until it was over. © Dameunbatido / Reddit

• I was literally told by my best friend’s dad that I was only allowed to eat popcorn one kernel at a time. © CallMeRawie / Reddit
• We voted as a family on all important decisions. Under 18s got half a vote each, so the three kids always got outvoted 2 vs 1.5. But we were stupidly content that we’d lost in a ’fair’ democratic vote. The system collapsed when we had to decide whether to have a cat or not and Mom unexpectedly abstained. © Cwlcymro / Reddit

• Bare skin was not allowed to touch the leather sofa. No shorts, bare feet, tank tops, etc. © SuperBubber / Reddit
• No singing at the table unless it’s someone’s birthday. © ParadiseSold / Reddit
• When I was 6 my mom told me that if a behaved she would let me skip school on Saturdays and Sundays. One day my teacher said, “see ya Monday” and that’s when I knew. © missdontcare_ / Reddit
• I was not allowed to wear pajamas during the day, even when I was ill. © Babet Becker / Quora

• We weren’t allowed to eat anything without first asking. Even a glass of water, we were required to ask first. When my boyfriend and I started dating, I would ask his parents if I could eat or drink something if I was hungry or thirsty, and it was a hard habit to break when his mom told me I could literally eat or drink anything. It was so weird to just go into the fridge or pantry without permission. I sometimes have to fight the urge to ask my bf if I can eat OUR food in OUR apartment. © bigmacnpoet / Reddit
• If you ever ran out of toilet paper whilst on the toilet, you had to sing the “Stranded” song or else no one else in the house would bring you a roll. © kteabrown / Reddit
• When I got in trouble, I was put on “reading restriction” as a punishment. I loved to read as a kid (still do!) so it was an effective punishment at the time. © CharlieChooper / Reddit

• If we were going to someone else’s house for the holidays I was required to wear a dress, even if after dinner activity would not be appropriate for such a thing. © Anne Freeman / Quora
• If I didn’t get As in school, I wasn’t allowed to eat at the table. I legit thought this was normal until I had dinner at a friends’ house who would always get bad grades. His parents were so supportive and loving. © GreatGooseGimbo / Reddit
• No pocket money. I’d always bring my own lunch/snacks at school. They fetch me to and from school. This is when I was in grade school, high school, college, and, believe it or not, at work. © Asher Blyz / Quora

• I wasn’t allowed to take a shower if I was home alone. I also learned at age 7 that other households closed the bathroom door when using the toilet and keeping it open was weird. I learned that by keeping the door open at a friend’s house, a friend walked by the bathroom, saw me, told their mom, their mom called my mom, and all of a sudden the new house rule was we close the bathroom door when using the toilet. © gothchrysallis / Reddit

While most rules are about being responsible, the quirky ones make each family different and create funny stories. They become a special part of how each family lives and enjoys time together.