ADVERTISEMENT

Even with the best intentions and brilliant 200-IQ strategies, some children won’t want to be taught important life lessons by their parents. They. Just. Won’t. Listen. And sometimes, these lessons can backfire so spectacularly, they end up making thousands of people laugh.

When Reddit user -Don-Draper- asked parents to share the times their lessons completely backfired, they sparked a whirlwind of a discussion that had us giggling at the fantastic sense of humor The Universe flexes whenever we desperately want something to work. Upvote your fave parenting stories as you scroll down, dear Pandas. And we can’t wait to read your own lesson disasters in the comment section!

What this shows is just how important communication between parents and their children really is. Bored Panda spoke about how to best communicate with kids with Samantha Scroggin, who works in government communications and is the founder of the ‘Walking Outside in Slippers’ blog for parents. Read on for her insights.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

I taught my 4-year-old to always compliment people who insult you. Later, we were helping my mother shop for a bathing suit when a woman said something rude to her. My kid squeezed out from behind me and told the woman, 'Your teeth are such a pretty yellow!'

berthejew Report

Final score:
461points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
You May Also Like:
#2

As good people, we taught our kids that littering isn't nice. As humans, we also let some curse words fly in front of them.

We were at our city's 4th of July celebration when the oldest was 4. We were walking around and someone tossed their trash on the ground. Captain Litterbug flew into action, picked up the trash and yelled, "Hey a**hole, you dropped this," while tapping them on the butt.

pedantic_dullard Report

Final score:
454points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

When my daughter was young I was trying to teach her the value of money and decided to start giving her an allowance. I explained that because she helped out and did her chores, she had earned money to spend on whatever she wanted. She happily accepted and stashed her money in her room, Later that evening before I tucked her in to bed, she goes to her money jar, pulls out 2$ and hands it to me, and explains that it's for being a good daddy.

Tsquaredp Report

Final score:
451points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

“Communication is an area I have a lot of experience in, working in government communications for a living. Even with that experience, communicating with my kids is a challenge!” Samantha from ‘Walking Outside in Slippers’ told us that even being a professional such as herself doesn’t automatically make things easy.

According to Samantha, her kids are very intense and high energy, so they need lots of validation. Now that’s something that quite a few parents can relate to! This means that some kids might need feedback from their parents all the time (which can be exhausting during lockdown) while other children might be more likely to ignore any life lessons being taught to them because they’re constantly on the move.
#4

At dinner with fam. Starting a swear jar that we all agree the money will go to help animals at the local shelter. Got all the rules down with the kids and they are excited to start. Daughter (8) says "Well s**t im gona help the animals i'll be right back!" before wife and i can even process what she got away with our son (6) blurts out "F**k yeah me too!" both running to get money from their rooms...

LeeKinanus Report

Final score:
439points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#5

My parents told my sister if she found a horse for free, she could have it. She was an industrious 8 yr old and found a free lease in the paper. She managed to call and sound adult enough to truck the barn into thinking this was a great idea. A trailer pulled up a few days later and unloaded a horse in the yard. Shocked the hell out of mom. And that started 20 years of horse ownership.

lurklurklurkUPVOTE Report

Final score:
398points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

My friend’s 10 year-old daughter was going over to a friend’s house in the same apartment complex, but a few buildings away.

Mom: “Ok, what do we do if someone tries to grab you?”

Daughter: “Kick him in the balls and yell ‘FIRE’!”

Mom: “Ha, right, but that’s not a good word, it’s ‘testicles’.”

Daughter: “Ok, kick him in the balls and yell ‘TESTICLES’!”

Mom: “You know...that might work too.”

The_Perfect_Dick_Pic Report

Final score:
390points
Add photo comments
POST
susan-herbert345 avatar
SoozeeQ
SoozeeQ
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Priceless! (And saying "fire" is good too. If someone yells, "rape", chances are people won't want to get involved, but if they yell "fire" people will come from everywhere!)

Vote comment up
271
271points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

But the important thing is to breathe in, relax, and be patient. Even if our little munchkins can drive us insane sometimes, we’re the adults and we need to act all mature. And that means sacrificing some of our well-earned leisure time to give our kids the attention they need from us.

“Although kids constantly vying for our attention can be grating, I think it's important we put down our phones sometimes, look them in the eyes and say, ‘Tell me all about that cardboard robot you made.’ Kids want our undivided attention on occasion, and to hear how proud of them we are,” Samantha said.

Now that’s something all parents should take to heart. This might just make your kids more open to learning the lessons you want to teach them in the future! All that remains is hoping The Universe doesn’t find some way to prank parents again.
#7

I was teaching my daughter that if she’s in any situation where anyone is doing something she doesn’t like, she tells them to stop. If they continue, use the palm of her hand and punch “up” on their nose.

My husband and his brother were throwing her back and forth in a pool, she kept asking them to stop, when her dad caught her again, boom. She broke his nose. Literally. There was blood everywhere.

MermaidsHaveWifi Report

Final score:
383points
Add photo comments
POST
earloflincoln avatar
Martha Meyer
Martha Meyer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well... guess that taught dad something about consent too.

Vote comment up
623
623points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
#8

40 Times Parents Taught Their Kids Lessons But It Got Them Unexpected Results When I was little my family was at an Angels game. My mother went to the restroom and left me with my dad. I wandered off and was eventually found halfway around the stadium. A crowd had gathered to watch as a police officer held me out at arms length while I screamed, 'Call the police! This man is not my daddy!' My parents had taught me stranger danger, but forgotten to teach me what police looked like.

ghode , Kevin Coles Report

Final score:
358points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

When my daughter was about 5 she asked why we need rain. I explained to her that we need to it grow the food we all eat that are plants. She asked why we need the veggies and I used this as an opportunity to get her to eat her veggies so I told her if she wanted to grow up at all she needs to eat lots of veggies. This kid has requested cucumbers or carrots or bell peppers or any crunchy kinda veggie as her snack since then. It's pretty awesome...

But now I can't enjoy a bag of chips at home any more. She'll walk in shake her head and tell me to go easy "because you're done growing UP, so you can only grow out..."

ExtraLucky13 Report

Final score:
326points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#10

40 Times Parents Taught Their Kids Lessons But It Got Them Unexpected Results My teenage son was staying up super late on his laptop doing teenage internet things (porn & gaming I assume) and f***ing up in school, so we put parental controls on the router so that the internet would be turned off from 11 pm to 7 am.

This of course impacted my wife and I, because we lost internet access during those hours too. Grumble grumble damn kids, etc.

Anyway, he was way more tech-savvy than we were, so he was able to bypass the parental controls, and stay on-line as late as he wanted. So the end result of the parental controls was that the parents didn't have internet, but the teenager did.

paul99501 , torontoobserver.ca Report

Final score:
260points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

My son was playing with deodorant and a lighter and almost set himself on fire. I made him write out "I must not play with aerosols" one hundred times. He wrote "I must not play with arseholes" one hundred times. It is now framed and hanging on the wall.

neonknight80 Report

Final score:
247points
Add photo comments
POST
baconycakes1337 avatar
Bacony Cakes
Bacony Cakes
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*trump turns into dust as he is no longer allowed to be played with*

Vote comment up
12
12points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
#12

40 Times Parents Taught Their Kids Lessons But It Got Them Unexpected Results I read a book that suggested you ask your kid what an appropriate punishment for misbehaving would be and then carry it out. My 6-year-old son pinched his brother, so we asked him what an appropriate punishment would be. He said, 'Pluck out my eyeballs and throw me over a cliff.' We didn't carry it out.

Mungobrick , youtube.com Report

Final score:
246points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

My 8 year old was spending too much time playing video games. I asked him to research the harmful results of too much time gaming. He came back with his report stating he needed “gaming glasses” and a “gaming chair.”

IndianaHones Report

Final score:
243points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

40 Times Parents Taught Their Kids Lessons But It Got Them Unexpected Results Sucessfuly taught my child to question authority. Forgot I was an authority.

AkumaBengoshi , Andy Michael Report

Final score:
242points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

40 Times Parents Taught Their Kids Lessons But It Got Them Unexpected Results My sister tried to teach her kids not to gamble, so she bought a few lottery tickets to show them that they were all going to be losers. She won $500.

RedditPoster05 , Mike Mozart Report

Final score:
236points
Add photo comments
POST
susan-herbert345 avatar
SoozeeQ
SoozeeQ
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only gamble what you can afford to lose! (I once bought a QuickPick and won $25.40. I was hoping for the jackpot of $12 million, but still, the win covered the cost of the ticket and then some).

Vote comment up
159
159points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#16

Told my children repeatedly that if I found anymore mess/junk on their bedroom floor, I would be donating it to the thrift store. I told them they had 15 minutes to clean it up off the floor.

Came back to find everything picked up, except they went into the kitchen cupboards and had put every food they didn't like in a nice neat pile right in the middle of the floor.

mollymuppet78 Report

Final score:
235points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

I was trying to teach my 4 year old that it is important to go to sleep because our brains need to recharge. I compared it to my IPad needing to recharge after it dies.

He said “okay...” and got really quiet. Then told me, “mom, I need to go to sleep.” I agreed with him, but asked why he was suddenly tired. He started crying and said “because I don’t want to die.”

mnmacaro Report

Final score:
235points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

Watching the World Cup Semi final this year with my 4 yo daughter, I was trying to teach her how we wanted the team in White to win (England), and not the team in Black (Croatia). We even chanted a couple of “C’mon England!” chants together.

Newly enthused with a love for chanting, she suddenly started shouting;

“CMON ENGLAND! BEAT THE BLACKS! WE HATE THE BLACKS! WE HATE THE BLACKS!”

Quickly taught her the “We don’t say it like that” lesson.

Annoyed_Rhino Report

Final score:
231points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
#19

40 Times Parents Taught Their Kids Lessons But It Got Them Unexpected Results My parents taught me to call 9-1-1 when I saw somebody doing something illegal. I called the cops on The Wiggles Movie I was watching when I was 5 because a clown stole a cake.

Turtelbob , Jarrett Campbell Report

Final score:
224points
Add photo comments
POST
twilight_mist avatar
Astrid Nineor
Astrid Nineor
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, some adults call 911 for nonsense stuff as well, so...

Vote comment up
223
223points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

40 Times Parents Taught Their Kids Lessons But It Got Them Unexpected Results My wife tried to explain the concept of heaven to our 5 year old after great grandpa passed. My daughter did not believe one ounze of it. She responded "you're making that up mommy, you can't be in heaven and a cemetery at the same time".

foh242 , photogramma1 Report

Final score:
224points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

Me and my wife started using code words in front of the children, mainly if we wanted to discuss plans without getting the kids too excited and getting their hopes up. For example we would say GP instead of play ground, cylindrical slice of cow place instead of McDonald's.

They have cottoned on to this and now use code words amongst themselves which we're struggling to figure out.

TheSameButBetter Report

Final score:
220points
Add photo comments
POST
emiamohler avatar
SirPatTheCat
SirPatTheCat
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Once when I was probably about 6 my mom and her friend were talking about rice crispies and wanted to be discreet because there were a lot of excitable kids around. She tried to spell out “R-i-c-e c-r-i-s-p-i-e-s” because she didn’t want me to know, but underestimated my spelling skills and I proceeded to shout “RICE CRISPIES??!!” and started a riot xD

Vote comment up
93
93points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#22

When I was like 16, my dad told me that I need to stop treating him and my mom like my friends because they're my parents. The very next day, before I got home from school, I had friend requests from both of my parents on Facebook. I denied them both. When my dad got home from work we had a conversation that went like this: Dad: Did you see that your mom made a Facebook account? Me: Yes, I did. Dad: Well, did you accept her friend request? Me: No, I didn't. Dad: Why not? Me: Because, just yesterday you told me you're my parents, not my friends. By the way, I also denied your friend request.

My dad just looked at me, looked at my mom who was almost in shock over my response, and said, "He's not wrong. I said that."

DrunkenWalrus41 Report

Final score:
211points
Add photo comments
POST
nike-bordom avatar
niki.bordeaux
niki.bordeaux
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't understand why a parent would say that to their kids.

Vote comment up
100
100points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

Not me but my aunt - she was trying to teach my young cousins that spiders are leggy friends and nothing to be scared of. She demonstrated this by bringing them all into the bathroom to witness a huge wolf spider.

"You see, it's so much more scared of us than we are of AAAAARGGGGHHH!"

It bit her. Of course it bit her. She flung it high into the air, screaming blue murder, whilst her newly traumatised offspring screamed a falsetto counterpoint.

Septoria Report

Final score:
204points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
#24

My aunt and uncle were trying to teach my cousins to address adults as 'Mr.' and 'Mrs.' In order to do this, they used each other as examples, and consequently were known to their kids as Mr. and Mrs. Iannuccilli for two months. One of the funniest moments of my life was hearing my uncle describe how in the middle of the night instead of hearing ‘Dad’ he started hearing, ‘Mr Iannuccilli!’ Cracks me up every time.

AphrodesiacBirds Report

Final score:
201points
Add photo comments
POST
juliajuhas avatar
JuJu
JuJu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My 10yo decided one day to call his gandparents by their first names, because "we know each other long enough now".

Vote comment up
260
260points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

40 Times Parents Taught Their Kids Lessons But It Got Them Unexpected Results Not a parent, but when I was little I noticed my sister was writing her name on the walls with crayon. Taking on the role of Helpful Big Sister, I informed her that if she was going to graffiti things she shouldn't write her name and give herself away. A few weeks later she carved patterns — and MY name — into the desk in the study.

frozennie , jefftk.com Report

Final score:
195points
Add photo comments
POST
kasaalex avatar
kasa alex
kasa alex
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brother did this, my name is still carved on the kitchen table

Vote comment up
132
132points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

40 Times Parents Taught Their Kids Lessons But It Got Them Unexpected Results Not a parent but when I was around 12, my father suspected that I stayed up late playing videogames, even though I didn't. One night he went into my room and told me that I shouldn't play my Game Boy Advance past bedtime, because I needed to rest. That's when I realized I could play my Game Boy Advance past bedtime, and I've suffered from insomnia since then.

Monfo , Dark Dwarf Report

Final score:
175points
Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never warn a child to NOT do something, because you are teaching them that it is actually something you CAN do. "Don't drop the glass" or "Don't slam the door" and guess what will happen.

Vote comment up
181
181points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#27

When my son was about 3 or 4 he started to ask about how babies are born. I sat him down and gave him a very simple, age appropriate explanation.

He just looked at me, shook his head and said just said 'No.' Very calmly but in a 'I can't believe you think that's how it works' tone of voice like I'd told him fake news.

I was prepared for difficult questions and even prepared for the fact that he might ask me things that even I didn't know, but I was completely unprepared for him to just simply not believe me when I told him the truth. I just sat there not knowing what to do while he went back to playing lego.

Waitingforadragon Report

Final score:
161points
Add photo comments
POST
susan-herbert345 avatar
SoozeeQ
SoozeeQ
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would have asked him, how he thought they were made, then!

Vote comment up
181
181points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

40 Times Parents Taught Their Kids Lessons But It Got Them Unexpected Results One of my 5-year-old twins was still having accidents because she'd get so caught up doing things that she'd pee her pants. To combat this, we began giving her a prize when she didn't have an accident. This caused her twin sister to START having accidents so she could get prizes too.

KyleRichXV , unknown Report

Final score:
159points
Add photo comments
POST
ishma-in008 avatar
S.
S.
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of that moment when someone tried to potty train their goats by luring them to the designated spot with treats, but then every the goats saw their owner... They'd just pee.

Vote comment up
169
169points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
#29

As the kid and not the dad...When I was 11 my father caught me smoking. As a punishment he made me finish the whole pack.

I hated my first cigarette and had no intention of ever smoking again. But after smoking that pack I would try to hang out with the older kids and smoke with them because after all, my punishment wasnt as bad as the usual whoopin' and they found me funny to have around.

I smoked until I was 37 or so. Yeah, my dad was an idiot.

Kinkzor Report

Final score:
158points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

My nephew mispronounced the name of a certain kitchen appliance, so my sister broke it into syllables very distinctly for him, saying "it's mi-cro-wave."

My nephew nodded very seriously and replied "It's your crow wave!"

anoem Report

Final score:
158points
Add photo comments
POST
dudley-budley avatar
Binxyminxem
Binxyminxem
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol reminds me when I was little, me and my family were going to Miami on holiday. I asked my mum what's an ami, do I have one, what's her Ami's name etc. 😁

Vote comment up
125
125points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

I taught them to stand up for what they believe in....
All of a sudden they believed veggies were the devil and bedtimes should be abolished.

Penya23 Report

Final score:
156points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#32

I wasn't trying to teach him but I was asking my three year old what the colors of traffic lights mean. Green means go, Red means stop and Yellow means speed up. From his experience I guess that made sense also made me more aware of how I'm driving.

Lazydust3 Report

Final score:
142points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

I tried to teach my kids to be content within themselves and how to be alone. Full success, they rarely ever go out. 22 and 24. They are so mellow that they don't tell us when something goes wrong since they were middle schoolers.

Tess47 Report

Final score:
116points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#34

Taught my four year old that you're not allowed to say that a food is gross if you haven't tried it. Apparently I'm not allowed to criticise her booger eating until I try it.

fruitjerky Report

Final score:
42points
Add photo comments
POST
shaynameidela avatar
Dorothy Parker
Dorothy Parker
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Substitute with a Harry Potter jelly beans...Bertie Botts? They have that flavor.

Vote comment up
29
29points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
#35

My dad tried to teach us to keep our rooms clean - you know, “not a thing on the floor”. He would even come in and do a walk-through to see if it was up to snuff. So I’m 5, and he was already pretty irritated with me and the state of my room. I cleaned it to the best of my ability and called him in. I was crying and he asked why on earth I was so upset. “I can’t clean my room all the way!” “What do you mean...? Your room is fine now.” “I tried to lift my bed off the floor but I’m not big enough!”

kate3544 Report

Final score:
42points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#36

We've been working with our 2 year old on holding hands when we cross the street or walking through a parking lot. After a couple weeks he tried holding his own hands. I have to give him credit since I never specified who's hand he had to hold.

mayonays Report

Final score:
40points
Add photo comments
POST
ambroise-lescop-2 avatar
Shelp
Shelp
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Running away is difficult anyway while holding its own hands. Makes you slower and clumsier

Vote comment up
21
21points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#37

My DARE program told me cigarettes were a drug. So I told everyone on my little league baseball team that my dad does drugs.

MightBeDementia Report

Final score:
40points
Add photo comments
POST
emmajgarv avatar
Niffler_13
Niffler_13
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

More kids have started doing drugs because of the DARE program, because it introduces many of them to substances they had no clue about before.

Vote comment up
5
5points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

My mother told me at a very young age "If you have a child I won't help you at all. You and your baby mother will have to be grown since you want to do grown up stuff." Now I am 28 no kids and don't plan on having any and my mom is pissed because she won't have any grandchildren and she "NEEDS" to be a grandma according to her logic.

JackOfAllAids Report

Final score:
37points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

Taught my 2nd grade daughter the tiniest bit of boxing so she wouldn't be defenseless on the schoolyard. She spent 3rd grade sending the boys home with broken noses.

joneSee Report

Final score:
37points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#40

Do well in school so you can go to college and get a good job. Then she asked why she needed to go to college to get a job when that is what I did and I hated my job.

hugomuggins Report

Final score:
37points
Add photo comments
POST
emmajgarv avatar
Niffler_13
Niffler_13
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Encourage your kids to go into trades. Not everyone needs a college degree to get a good job. My cousins in trades make way more than I do and don't have any college loans. I regret going to college.

Vote comment up
3
3points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
#41

I told my 7 year old if he didn't clean his room I'd donate his stuff. He then helped me bag it all up and said "if I don't have any stuff, I don't need to clean my room!"

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/9mebpv/parents_of_reddit_what_lessons_have_to_tried_to/e7et7xv/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 Report

Final score:
35points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#42

Not a parent, but my in-laws love telling this story about my fiance.

He was resistant to potty training, and they eventually got him to start using the potty by telling him that he had to be out of pull-ups before a family trip to Disney World, because "Mickey Mouse only sees big boys and girls." And also who wants to log a diaper bag around Disney?

The day after they got back from the trip, he took a s**t in the living room. When asked, he said "I don't gotta use the potty cause I already saw Mickey Mouse." They very firmly told him that if he was old enough to use logic, he was far too old for diapers, and that was the end of that.

thatsunshinegal Report

Final score:
34points
Add photo comments
POST
ninjakitten0w0 avatar
FurryPotatoCat
FurryPotatoCat
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

hair color has nothing to do with intelligence @Mike Hansen

Vote comment up
6
6points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#43

I always tell my children that the lottery is a tax on people that are bad at math. I let my 8 year old spend a few hard earned dollars on a powerball ticket to prove it and he won $100.

PM_BiscuitsAndGravy Report

Final score:
34points
Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lottery is also a gambling game and sometimes it works out right for you.

Vote comment up
20
20points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#44

Told my children they should always have a good reason for what they want to do as a way to curb impulsive behavior.

Am hearing about ALL THE REASONS constantly.

Shanisasha Report

Final score:
33points
Add photo comments
POST
allisondagenhardt150 avatar
Midget
Midget
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

lol this system would be very strange in my house, seeing as we all have ADHD other than my mother

Vote comment up
15
15points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#45

40 Times Parents Taught Their Kids Lessons But It Got Them Unexpected Results My parents did the thing where they gave 4-year-old me a sip of beer thinking I'd say it was yucky and they could turn it into some lesson about not drinking what Mommy and Daddy drink. Instead, I took a sip and said, 'Mmm! Can I have one?' The lesson that beer is good has lasted to adulthood.

drinkmoreshowerbeer , Fernando Mafra Report

Final score:
33points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
#46

My son is nearly two. We've taught him "don't touch" for certain items that can't be baby proofed (a floor lamp/the fireplace's glass door/low windows).

He completely understands that "don't touch" means do not put any part of your body on this thing. No hands, no feet, dont lean against it.

So now we have to watch him like a hawk because throwing a toy car at the glass isnt "touching". Neither is whacking a window with a clothes hanger. Or shoving an end table into the lamp super hard.

Anonymous Report

Final score:
33points
Add photo comments
POST
jolynnk85 avatar
Just JoLynn
Just JoLynn
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So you have the capacity to teach your child not to touch but don't have the capacity to teach them not to try and break stuff? Seems reasonable.

Vote comment up
5
5points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#47

I taught them about democracy. Now everything’s a vote and when they don’t get their way they call me a dictator.

MischiefDame Report

Final score:
33points
Add photo comments
POST
melanieking avatar
Melanie King
Melanie King
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I tried this so many times with my sister. My parets just said that their votes counte double because theyre grown ups

Vote comment up
1
1point
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#48

My friend got a book for her kids about people from different races and cultures, designed to show the world is full of more than just white people.

Which was fine, untill one day in a supermarket, when her daughter, pointing at someone down the aisle, said "look mummy, a black man".

limeblast Report

Final score:
32points
Add photo comments
POST
christianbradshaw_1 avatar
Christian Bradshaw
Christian Bradshaw
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not as bad as what I did. When I was really little, I asked a black man why "he was all chocolatey". THANKFULLY he was very nice. He sat me down and explained to me about races and people of different color. My parents still make fun of the chocolatey comment to this day

Vote comment up
40
40points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#49

My sister taught her daughters the biblical concept of “the last shall be first and the first shall be last”.

One evening her eldest daughter let her siblings go first and she waited patiently. Which only seems sweet. After going last she announced smugly, “I’m last which means I’m actually first.”

She’s going to be nicest mean girl ever.

loverink Report

Final score:
32points
Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Last shall be first and the first shall be last" is just a doctrine to keep poor people poor and rich people rich. "Yeah I know life sucks when you can't feed your family and you have to live in a rat infested house. Just remember that all those rich people who are now living a dreamlife won't be doing so good when they are dead, because it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

Vote comment up
16
16points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#50

told my kids to stand up for each other, because they will always have each other. I hopefully will be gone (and their dad as well) before they are, and they will at least have each other

Now, when I'm in an argument with one of them, the other one defends them, AGAINST ME!

katjoy63 Report

Final score:
32points
Add photo comments
POST
ishma-in008 avatar
S.
S.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heh, my sisters and I also have this kind of relationships, and we always have one other's backs! 😂❤

Vote comment up
28
28points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#51

I followed the offer your kids two appropriate choices advice- like “do you want broccoli or carrots with dinner.” My children quickly learned to just say things like “no, I’d like a candy bar or a cookie. Your choice.” Right back at me.

fiddlemonkey Report

Final score:
31points
Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Carrots, candy and cookie all start with C, so it's Broccoli for dinner.

Vote comment up
3
3points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
See Also on Bored Panda
#52

Trying to get my kid to finish her dinner:
Me: "Some kids in Africa don't even get to have a meal at dinner."
Her: "Okay. That's great. Go ahead and send this to them then."

getnakedwingz Report

Final score:
31points
Add photo comments
POST
nancy_9 avatar
Canadian in Cornwall
Canadian in Cornwall
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ha ha ! Exact conversation I had with my mom at about 6, she was NOT impressed with my back-chat, that's for sure !!

Vote comment up
25
25points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#53

My sister in law has a 4yr old daughter who was asking mom tons of questions about her own vagina so mom taught her all the different parts. Two days later while in the grocery store, the daughter starts screaming at the top of her lungs, "LAAAAAAABIA, I HAVE LABIA!!!!"

trowayit Report

Final score:
30points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#54

Saw a clip on local news about a toddler saving her mom's life by calling 911 when she collapsed. Figured it was a good idea to teach my toddler 911. Had two cops at my door 5 minutes later.

relevant_tangent Report

Final score:
29points
Add photo comments
POST
terawdon avatar
Tammy Rawdon
Tammy Rawdon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@SarcasticPanda: BELIEVE IT! My daughter did this after my cousin, a 911 operator (USA) told our whole family to just call 911 & ask for her. (We'd been complaining that we could never reach her at home.) My 3yr old chose to call her while I was busy cooking dinner. When a stranger answered, she was shy & hung up. Since the ringer was turned off (I forgot to turn it back on after her nap) when they called back to check, they showed up on high alert. It was crazy scary. It took forever to get her use phone after that. Cousin Karlee's very stupid 😒 (& a B!t[h) to this day.

Vote comment up
3
3points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#55

That playing carnival/fair games is a waste of money. My son wanted to spend his $20 to win a Pikachu stuffed animal from his allowance that he saved up. WE told him he would be wasting his money and he would not win. He spent $15.00 and won the biggest prize.

adonisgq1 Report

Final score:
29points
Add photo comments
POST
susan-herbert345 avatar
SoozeeQ
SoozeeQ
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It seems he's already learned the principle of "only gamble what you can afford to lose".

Vote comment up
19
19points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#56

40 Times Parents Taught Their Kids Lessons But It Got Them Unexpected Results Taught my toddler how to go up stairs, but I didn't realize that going down stairs was, in fact, a completely different and far more dangerous skill. Lucky for us, the kid seems to have finally grasped the finer points of head protection.

Nash_Rambler , Richard Leeming Report

Final score:
28points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#57

I tried to explain to my daughter, who was maybe 4-5 at the time that she needs to brush her teeth regularly or they'll fall out. She said she'll wait until her grown up teeth come in and brush those. I mean.. She's not wrong but still.

Turboedtwo Report

Final score:
28points
Add photo comments
POST
jolynnk85 avatar
Just JoLynn
Just JoLynn
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just tell her needs to learn how to do it now on her "practice teeth."

Vote comment up
33
33points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#58

Told my kid to walk away from the urge to get angry at his class mates when they hurt or upset him for whatever reason (he’s 6). Got a call today that he’s walked out of PE and into the adjacent orchard connected to their school to cool off for a bit and they couldn’t coax him back in at first.

rb6k Report

Final score:
28points
Add photo comments
POST
ambroise-lescop-2 avatar
Shelp
Shelp
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe the problem by this one was the school not paying enough attention to fleeing children?

Vote comment up
29
29points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
See Also on Bored Panda
#59

40 Times Parents Taught Their Kids Lessons But It Got Them Unexpected Results My nephew hated smiling, so in pictures my dad would tell him to say 'whiskey.' When he tried saying 'cheese' it wasn't the same. Anyway, at school the principal was taking a picture of the class and told everyone to say 'cheeeeese!' My nephew shouted, 'WHISKEEEY!'

anon_2326411 , bramhamprimary.co.uk Report

Final score:
27points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#60

Not a parent, but the kid. I used to go to work with my dad during seasonal breaks for school. We were coming home one day. I said "how come there's a cop on that bridge?", and he immediately slows down and says "whew, you just saved me a speeding ticket... good eye"

We made a quick stop to Toys'R'Us and he got me a Lego set to reward me! Being the little s**t I was, I spent the rest of the week "spotting" officer's trying to catch people speeding and getting lego sets.

Dee_is_a_dumb_bird Report

Final score:
26points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#61

My daughter ran down the stairs so I sent her back up so she could walk down them properly. She promptly fell down the entire flight.

mustard_fox Report

Final score:
26points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#62

My brother and I would always fight and my mom would try to stop us by saying that we did not hit in this family. Once when I was about five I was being crazy on the grocery store and my mom tapped my bottom and told me to stop. I looked at her horrified, hit her back and yelled “we do not hit on this family.”

jjawesomesauce Report

Final score:
26points
Add photo comments
POST
spellie08 avatar
Potato
Potato
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was young I called petting a dog making love. My mom put an end to that fast.

Vote comment up
8
8points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#63

I told my five year old that just because someone else says something, it doesn’t make it right or true — you should do what you believe, and what feels right to you.

Cue me telling him to brush his teeth and go to bed, and getting a “that just doesn’t feel right to me in my heart.”

ribs24-7 Report

Final score:
25points
Add photo comments
POST
#64

Dad after having a long conversation about teaching my sister to say 'pardon' instead of 'what'...

My dad calling up the stairs: "What are you doing?"

Sister: *mumbles*

Dad: "WHAT?"

Sister yelling: "DON'T SAY WHAT SAY PARDON!!!"

englishgirlamerican Report

Final score:
24points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
See Also on Bored Panda
#65

Talked to my kid about different beliefs concerning death, and one of them was reincarnation. Now he wants to dig up our dog who died last year to see if we can reanimate her.

stargazercmc Report

Final score:
24points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#66

My dad used to teach me that if i really need to use the bathroom outside, then i could go in a bush. A little while later I was in the mall with the urge to go pee and i was seen watering the fake plants in the middle of the mall.

BP_God Report

Final score:
24points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#67

I tried to get my kids to eat their veg by charging them for all their waste food. Eg didn’t eat your carrots,that’ll be 10 p please. Three days in they were negotiating the price of leaving food before the meal was served.

Liverpoolsgreat Report

Final score:
24points
Add photo comments
POST
ambroise-lescop-2 avatar
Shelp
Shelp
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just tell them from the beginning on that that's not negociable

Vote comment up
6
6points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#68

I thought I was teaching them to remember that they were family and loved each other when I made them sit on a rug when they were little and hold hands until they stopped arguing. It worked beautifully. I found out now that they are adults that the reason it worked is because one of them hated holding hands and the other knew it - so he used it every time he wanted to win an argument.

chickaboomba Report

Final score:
23points
Add photo comments
POST
earloflincoln avatar
Martha Meyer
Martha Meyer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine your boss made you sit on a rug and hold the hands of a coworker you hate and just had an argument with.

Vote comment up
18
18points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#69

I used to let my son have Five Alive juice boxes in his lunches because it's a small amount and at least it has vitamin C.

In the grocery store one day he starts asking for Kool Aid and I said no way because it's full of sugar. I pick up the Kool Aid and Five Alive to show him the nutritional data to prove my point... and discover that they have the same amount of vitamin C but the Kool-Aid has far less sugar.

Now he gets the Kool Aid.

onyxandcake Report

Final score:
22points
Add photo comments
POST
carriewatson032 avatar
Carrie Holste
Carrie Holste
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

5 Alive is not fruit juice. It's juice cocktail, which has added sugar.

Vote comment up
11
11points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
See Also on Bored Panda
#70

I'm the aunt, but my niece had been taught that no one is allowed to force her into giving hugs, etc. It's her body, she has the right to say no.

Well, she tries to use that as an excuse to misbehave from time to time. Like one time, dad told her she couldn't play in a certain space with this huge toy cart because there wasn't enough room. She claimed her body has the right to be there if she says so. Her body. Her right. All three of us facepalmed that moment.

Erulastiel Report

Final score:
22points
Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's the same logic that people use to refuse to wear masks. "I don't care about the consequences for other people, my body, my constitutional right, my FREEDOM!!!"

Vote comment up
14
14points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#71

My parents said I couldn’t go out and play until I finished all my food. Decades later, I’m still trying to stop the habit of eating really fast and eating everything on my plate even if it’s clearly too much to eat.

Geruvah Report

Final score:
22points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#72

I tried to teach my kids (11 and 15) the dangers of alcohol after they commented how cool it must be to drink “whiskey” on tv and in movies. I told them if they actually tasted it, they’d be sick. The challenge was on. I poured them small amounts of every type of alcohol I had. They enjoyed every single one of them, ranked them favorite (cognac) to least favorite (tequila) and asked for seconds of several. I had to swear them to secrecy.

ramos1969 Report

Final score:
22points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#73

My mother tried to teach temper tantrums out of me as a child. Once, in a desperate attempt, she said under her breath to me in public "Get up, or Ill sell you in the parking lot." I dont hold her accountable for this reaction, I was a terrible child.

A different day, and another meltdown later, she was trying to get me to act right. I looked dead into her eyes in front of everyone there and screamed: "Why dont you just sell me in the parking lot?"

thespiansincorsets Report

Final score:
21points
Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom: "Because I don't have enough money to pay someone to take you!!! "

Vote comment up
25
25points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#74

My little brother refused to eat while my gf and I were baby sitting him. My gf decided to explain the concept of food as an energy source to him. Which he then proceed to use an excuse to not do sh*t. Anytime you told him to do something, he said he couldn’t because he would run out of energy and die.

MagicansaurusRex Report

Final score:
21points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
#75

I bought cool window decorating markers for Christmas and let the kids decorate the windows and write their names all over them. For the next year or so I found stuff written on the windows with regular permanent markers. I didn’t really think through the concept of teaching them to write on windows very well.

jardiniere1 Report

Final score:
21points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#76

Taught them to read early. My son could read by age 4, and my daughter by age 3. This leads to some unwanted conversations as they will read things over your shoulder when you aren't expecting it. Or even just signs on the road. "You're going to fast, Daddy. It says 55 mph and you're going 70."

cadomski Report

Final score:
20points
Add photo comments
POST
arushimahadeva avatar
Arushi Mahadeva
Arushi Mahadeva
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I learned to read early because my mom read to me when i was little like parents usually do, and now i'm obsessed with reading and the fandoms that come with them, my teachers and parents have to sometimes tell me to stop reading. whoops.

Vote comment up
3
3points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#77

My parents use to tell me things like "They didn't call to inform me" or "I don't know, I don't work there" when I started asking "Why?" a billion times. Bit them in the butt when they started asking me why my toys were broken, why I got bad grades, or why I got in trouble. "I don't know, Mom! I was not called and informed!"

Anonymous Report

Final score:
20points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#78

My folks tried to teach me to do chores with financial incentives. They made a chart with stickers to track chores done and amounts earned. Then they'd put the money I'd earned in my bank account. That I couldn't touch. I didn't end up doing chores.

Alewort Report

Final score:
20points
Add photo comments
POST
lilymoon avatar
eimipet
eimipet
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too, i now have a 10 dollar account, and now the money I earn goes into... buying things that I want.

Vote comment up
7
7points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#79

That sharing was good. Now he gives away his stuff at the drop off a hat.

"I got a new bike!"

"That's cool, can I have it?"

"Sure!"

mrgmc2new Report

Final score:
20points
Add photo comments
POST
samanthanobles avatar
yosemity sam
yosemity sam
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a habit of buying candy and just... giving it away to people I know. Don't know how it started but I would give you my life force if you asked for it.

Vote comment up
19
19points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#80

Nanny not a parent. 2yr old was refusing to wear her hat. It was hot. I told her if she didn’t put her hat on she would have to wait in the car. She started walking away from me, ‘Where are you going?’ ...’car’

wisteriahaze Report

Final score:
19points
Add photo comments
POST
anabelleferree avatar
Bewarethenargles
Bewarethenargles
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had all this crud and old shreds of paper on the floor and my mom said “If you don’t put that away, I’ll throw it away.” I responded “Be my guest.”

Vote comment up
10
10points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#81

I have two boys. School doesn’t like potty words so I tried to go along with it and redirect them from using them. It just made them more interesting and now every other word out of my five year olds mouth is “booty-butt.” He sings entire songs about butts.

143cookiedough Report

Final score:
18points
Add photo comments
POST
kccleaver2006 avatar
Gon Freecss
Gon Freecss
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My little brother does the same thing (5)! My grandma will call to say hi every couple days and he'll say "Hi booty-butt!"

Vote comment up
11
11points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
#82

Taught my two year old to put leftover food/empty packets etc in the bin. Didn't realise she was also putting her bowls, plates, spoons etc in the bin till we started running low.

GBrook-Hampster Report

Final score:
18points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#83

I warned my daughter that I would take back he presens if she was naughty because "...I still have the receipts". She goes straight to the carrier bag, takes out the receipt and throws it in the bin.

aukondk Report

Final score:
18points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#84

Every time I refused to eat my food my mom would show me a picture of a starving African child. Therefore I thought everyone was white and turned black upon not eating.

ventscalmes Report

Final score:
18points
Add photo comments
POST
melanieking avatar
Melanie King
Melanie King
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

thats funny and sad, but kids dont know unless theyre taught so you cant really blame the kid

Vote comment up
10
10points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#85

A friend of mine was trying to teach his son not to hit his daughter, so any time the son hit the daughter, he started hitting the son in the head. Not hard, but enough to hopefully jog some sense of empathy.

Actual result: the son would cover his head with one hand and smack his sister with the other.

Hartastic Report

Final score:
17points
Add photo comments
POST
ishma-in008 avatar
S.
S.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why communication is important; that's when they'll know why they shouldn't do the things they do. <3

Vote comment up
19
19points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#86

We taught our 1 year old daughter to throw her dirty diapers in the trash can and she says "good girl." Now everything gets thrown in the trash and she says "good girl."

SkittleCar1 Report

Final score:
17points
Add photo comments
POST
allenk03 avatar
JustAWeirdoGirlChild
JustAWeirdoGirlChild
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my brother did this when he was 1, and still does it at the age of 2

Vote comment up
6
6points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#87

My stepkids were afraid of bugs, so I tried to reassure them that ants and ladybugs are harmless. Now every time they see a bug of any kind they try to pick it up with their bare hands. Ladybugs are one thing, black widows are another.

alicornpig Report

Final score:
17points
Add photo comments
POST
camipotter avatar
Cami
Cami
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bruh I have a friend who's been bitten by a black widow TWICE and yet he is still alive. He's a freaking cat.

Vote comment up
8
8points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#88

To teach me a lesson about playing video games too much, my parents took away all my video games but one.
I became a video game completionist who spends hours upon hours more with games than a typical player.

Bike_shop_owner Report

Final score:
17points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#89

I tried the whole "have your kids quote chores for pay and bid against one another". It's supposed to teach them about working for their money and not expecting handouts like an allowance.

It turned into every time I asked them to do something I got "how much will you pay me"?

BobSacramanto Report

Final score:
16points
Add photo comments
POST
earloflincoln avatar
Martha Meyer
Martha Meyer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You taught them capitalism instead of solidarity and reaped what you sowed.

Vote comment up
30
30points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
#90

I gave my 5 year old a quick intro to climate changes, and how we need to change in order to stop our race from going extinct. Now, he’s convinced that he’s going to “die soon” and having the world’s biggest freak out. Nothing I can say afterwards is working to make him forget our impending doom!!

xTETSUOx Report

Final score:
16points
Add photo comments
POST
camipotter avatar
Cami
Cami
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Similar thing with me. When I was six they taught us at school about how we need to "take care" of the environment. The next weekend, we went on a hike, and I broke a rock. I brought it home and glued it back together to help "save the earth". It was a rock.

Vote comment up
18
18points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#91

Tried to teach my 6 year old manners at the table. Now he still eats sloppily but learned to comment others’ manners at the table.

mphix Report

Final score:
15points
Add photo comments
POST
#92

Trying to keep.my 4 year old in bed. He gets up 4 or more times saying he has to go to the bathroom. Most of the time he doesn't have to go and we send him back to bed. 5 minutes later, he does it again. He knows that he can get out of bed this way. My wife decided to make tickets. He could use the tickets if he got out of bed. Once the tickets were done, so was he. If he could stay in bed the rest of the night he got rewarded with stickers. The first night we tried it, he [pooped] himself.

BigODetroit Report

Final score:
14points
Add photo comments
POST
henrycheves avatar
Henry Cheves
Henry Cheves
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To the person that said a 4 year old can't count to 3, my 3 year old can count to 30.

Vote comment up
9
9points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#93

Taught my one year olds that if they drop something off off their high chair they say uh oh. Now they throw everything they can and say uh oh every time because it's a fun game to them.

zeratul5541 Report

Final score:
14points
Add photo comments
POST
View more commentsArrow down menu
#94

When I was young, I asked my mother why some humans are darker than others. My mom kept trying to explain that we are all humans, it's just like different flavors of ice cream. Still good, and still ice cream, equal but different :)

Well next time at the supermarket, I was sitting in the childrens part of the cart and I yell out "hey mom, would he be chocolate ice cream"?

clem82 Report

Final score:
13points
Add photo comments
POST
camipotter avatar
Cami
Cami
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a really good way to explain race to a little kid.

Vote comment up
13
13points
Vote comment down
reply
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#95

That he could hang out with people I didn’t like, but that it was because I trusted him to stay true to who he was.
Sounded good and accepting in my head... til he hung out with friends who he got in trouble with at school for weed, and whether you like weed or hate it, it’s still illegal on school grounds and he got expelled. Guess he didn’t heed my lesson, or maybe it was just a bad message.

MadMadGirl Report

Final score:
12points
Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You need to differentiate between "People I don't like" and "Future criminals". There's nothing wrong in adjusting the rule if your child's future is at stake.

Vote comment up
12
12points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t want to see ads?
#96

Not mine, but a friend has a son who she was potty training. The first time he poo'd in the toilet, she made a celebratory cake. The next day and for about a week after, every time he poo'd he wanted a cake. Lots of tears ensued.

vicomtedemoulliac Report

Final score:
12points
Add photo comments
POST
terawdon avatar
Tammy Rawdon
Tammy Rawdon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And you'd think that walking around WITHOUT feces in your pants would be a good enough reward.

Vote comment up
5
5points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
#97

My child asked about sex because he heard it at school so the wife and I had an age appropriate discussion with him (10yo). Informed him that it's something that men and woman do when they are in love and want a child.
He then got angry accusing us of having sex even when we don't want more children.

Hubey808 Report

Final score:
9points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu
#98

Eat what we make or dont eat. He doesnt eat. Come bed time he pukes. Now we are cleaning up PUKE and trying to get him to eat something ... anything ... Kid won that battle.

Dad365 Report

Final score:
8points
Add photo comments
POST
ishma-in008 avatar
S.
S.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope he doesn't have a disordered relationship with food anymore.

Vote comment up
19
19points
Vote comment down
reply
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#99

My kids were overweight (ex wife's doing) so I began to take them to a nutritionist. The nutritionist said that all foods were fine in moderation, including soda. So my daughter on the way home said she was going to start drinking regular soda because the nutritionist said it was okay. They didn't drink soda before that.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/9mebpv/parents_of_reddit_what_lessons_have_to_tried_to/e7elv6r/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 Report

Final score:
6points
Add photo comments
POST
View More Replies... View more commentsArrow down menu

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!