Old Rules? New Rules? Who's got rules? - Page 3

Sabatini2 · ‎11-13-2010

On 4/21/2014 mima said:
As a kid:

We had to make our beds every single day. I don't now and I think I'm still rebelling at age 57.

We had to eat what was served even if we hated it.

We had to sit at the table to eat. No eating in any other room. Once a year when the Wizard of Oz was on, we got to get take out food and eat on tv trays in the living room. Boy, that was a real treat!

NO TV while we were eating a meal ever. DH and I watch TV while we eat now. Take THAT mom. LOL

Our dog was never alloud in the living room or bedrooms when I was a kid. She had to stay on the built in back porch that was open to the house. Now our dog sleeps with us in our bed.

DH and I break a lot of the rules my mom had for me as a kid.

I forgot one rule!!!! My brother and I had to clean the house on Saturday. It had to be done before we left the house. My brother would never help because he didn't care if he left the house or not. I was the older one and wanted to meet my friends downtown, so I had to do it all by myself. Talk about NOT fair.

mima, are we sisters?? Much of this sounds very familiar.

I don't think that rules are a bad thing, but what accompanied ours was dour, heavy-handed parenting, and an oppressive, rigid atmosphere that permeated everything. It was a joyless and intimidating way to live, & I think my pendulum swung way too far once I finally moved away.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

The majority of the rules my brothers and I grew up with were Dad's rules, not Mom's. Mom did not have any of the rules you listed; she did expect our beds to be made every day, our rooms kept clean, and we had to put our own clean laundry away. We also knew to clean the bathtub after each use, and take our wet towels to the basement.

Zcat · ‎07-11-2010

It's hard to remember a time when my mother had rules, because now my she has great-grandchildren around, and they have NO rules.

We had to eat what was on our plates, but these little kids get options like a pot pie or a can of spaghetti-Os or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What??? Is this the same woman who raised me and made me eat butter beans (which I still hate to this day)?!!

We had to go outside and play everyday, eat what she fed us and clean up after ourselves. I joke about it, but I appreciate that we were not spoiled.

Allegheny · ‎03-19-2010

I think the only rule my Mom had was no dessert before a meal and eating in the kitchen and dining room only.

I have heard some of OP's mother's rules.

~ No one took a bite to eat until Dad had his pick. ~ Every meal should contain a protein, veggie and a starch. ~ No eating in the bedrooms or living room~ Every meal should contain a protein, veggie and a starch~ Oh, and she would set the breakfast table every night before going to bed.

Back during the depression, the working male selected first. I was told this was because he was the provider and it was important he was nourished to continue to perform his family function. Not eating in other living areas. Furniture and carpeting back in the old days were expensive and they didn't want to take a chance of soiling it. My Dad told me when he grew up that the table was always set for the next meal and covered with oil clothe. It was always ready for the next meal. He was in a farming family that rose at dawn and headed out to the barn and fields. The women's day was filled with tasks as well, baking, laundry, tending children, gardening, feeding chickens, etc. Once the meal was complete, dishes were cleaned and the table was reset for the next meal. I am thinking it was for time saving.

Snowpuppy · ‎03-09-2010

Wow. I can't imagine.

I don't understand the ""why"" of many of those pointless ""rules"". When did anyone have fun?

I don't have but a few requests. Like please remove shoes when you come in and I don't care for food in the bedroom. Beverages are okay but I don't freak if someone sneaks a bag of chips or cookies off to the bedroom.

Life's too short and there are so many other problems in the world that need attention other than who has elbows on the table.

okiemam · ‎04-15-2010

Brings back memories. My mom would occasionally let us have a candy bar, but only HALF. Never a whole one. We always had different colored foods on our plates- she thought it was horrible to have all one color. When it was near pay day, we had baked spam with a sweet/sour sauce on it. Or Kraft Mac and Cheese, which my dad hated...sometimes mom would turn it into tuna casserole with tuna and peas. When we had fried pork chops, we always had bread and gravy, not potatoes and gravy.

Marienkaefer2 · ‎03-09-2010

Rules..

Never threw away food...never ever. My grandparents grew up very poor in Italy, and my mom.was born at the end of the Depression. We always ate everything my mom made. She was a great cook, anyway.

Make your bed every morning.

No clothes on the floor.

Clean up after yourself in the bathroom.

We all had our chores around the house that we were expected to do.

I guess the last rule was "no lying around!" If we didn't have anything to do, my mom would find something for us to do.

ETA: No back talk. Nuff said.

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.--Marcus Tullius Cicero

chessylady · ‎05-01-2010

You can' t bring fresh cut flowers into a dirty house. I violate this all the time. Also no trousers in church. I no longer go to church but if I did I would wear a dress.