ADVERTISEMENT

As kids, we were naturally curious — and extremely impressionable. We absorbed the world like little sponges by observing and mimicking everything our parents did. Unconsciously, most of us also picked up some quirky behaviors along the way that turned out to be... a bit weird.

Believe it or not, we may even glide through life completely unaware of these silly rituals, but hey, it's just a thing we do. Only as we grow older and start to create meaningful relationships with people around us, sharing our childhood memories — which we believed were perfectly and totally normal — inevitably leads to confused looks and a few raised eyebrows.

So without further ado, let's dig into this viral thread from humor writer and editor Kristen Mulrooney that took us on a hilarious rollercoaster where this phenomenon was laid out on the table. Turns out, thousands of friends and spouses privy to their loved ones' presumed ordinary behaviors gathered the courage to tell them that, in fact, they’re anything but. We at Bored Panda have gathered some of the most entertaining responses to share with you all, so continue scrolling! Be sure to upvote your favorite tales, and share your own experiences with us in the comments.

RELATED:

    Apparently, Kristen’s tweet was inspired by two recent conversations she had with her husband: "When I was in elementary school, one of the best parts of the day was when the whole class walked across the school together for a big group bathroom trip," she said in an interview with BuzzFeed. "And he was like, '...that's not as normal as it sounds like you think it is.'"

    "Then later that day, something came up about school dances, and my husband said, 'I'm not sure if this is normal for public schools, but we always had a random priest show up to chaperone our middle school dances.' I was like, 'I am very sure that is NOT normal.'"

    The responses to Kristen's tweet were filled with similar tales where people gladly exposed their spouses’ quirky behaviors, from peculiar eating habits to outright odd phrases like "don’t forget to chirp the car" — which is a totally normal thing clearly everyone says.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #4

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    utaheconomist Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Tactical Taco
    Community Member
    2 years ago

    Where my seasoning?

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #6

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    mamustacci Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Joshua Russell
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to love watching the fighter jets blast by over my house, I was sad when they closed the local AFB.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu

    Kristen’s viral thread only goes to show how universally relatable this topic is. It looks like virtually everyone has some weird habits from their childhood that just stuck with them for the rest of their lives. On top of that, it proves they inevitably bubble to the surface with adulthood, and often in hilarious ways.

    Unsurprisingly, bizarre behavior patterns especially become visible when we find that special person with whom we can create a long-lasting relationship. Of course, relationships are a beautiful thing that makes you feel loved and adored by someone close to your heart. But they also teach you about the world, life, and, most importantly, yourself.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Anyone who’s been with their partner long enough has seen them at their best and their worst and knows the ins and outs of their behaviors. In some cases, however, these little habits seem cute at first but may morph into giant, annoying, frustrating patterns with time. They are hard to break, after all, no matter how pointless or silly they actually are.

    When this seems to be the case, experts suggest taking a step back and thinking about what’s truly important. "The weird things your partner does are a part of who he or she is, and some of the reason why you fell in love," Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D., psychotherapist and author of How to Be Happy Partners: Working It Out Together, told Women’s Health.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Tessina pointed out that in any healthy relationship, couples learn to accommodate each other's quirks. Sometimes that means secretly finding them endearing, even if they're still slightly irritating, she said.

    #12

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    TiaraMainHell Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Dillon McNichols
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not gonna lie, my favorite is a night time shower with just a candle for light. It helps my eyes get used to the dark and is relaxing before bed

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu

    But how come so many people move through life completely oblivious to these unbreakable and utterly weird childhood habits? Turns out, many of us realize obvious things only later in life because we’re wired to move common patterns into the background to look out for more novel things.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    "This happens because things that are not obvious, that are not common, that stand out, could pose a threat to our well-being, or could be something really rewarding," Joshua Klapow, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist, performance coach, and creator of Mental Drive, told Bored Panda in a previous interview. He stated that we humans "pay more attention to those actions and interactions that grab our attention. The obvious goes in the background, so we reserve brain bandwidth to notice the novel, standout occurrences in our life."

    ADVERTISEMENT

    But as we all know, fewer things feel different and unknown to us through the course of our lives. As adults, we can finally look at the seemingly common in a more detailed way. "And when we do, we often discover that that obvious has so much more to it that we missed earlier on," the psychologist added.

    "Another reason we miss the obvious is that we sometimes are not ready psychologically to handle [it]," Klapow said. "A relationship that is toxic, a love interest that is too intense, a realization that we don’t have a skill or strength we believe we have." These things may be crystal clear to the outside observer, but "our own psychological defenses go up and protect us from seeing the obvious. Because to do so might overwhelm us emotionally and psychologically."

    "This pattern can go on for years, until which time we either have the psychological maturity or our life circumstances change such that we can look at the obvious which once posed a psychological threat in a more mature, less defensive way."

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #18

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    popsplanett Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Donkey boi
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There were whole generations that thought it was normal. I remember the day that the cane/switch/crop/yardstick disappeared from the classrooms. I think it was in November because I remember we were already talking about Christmas but it was still a little ways off. We walked into the classroom in the morning and it was literally the first thing we noticed when we walked in! That little hook on the wall had nothing hanging on it. Was it broken? Was it hidden for a surprise lashing? Someone had to find out! And what with me being the arsehole hero that I am, I decided I would be the one to do it. I can't remember exactly what I said but, as it was about God, I was guaranteed a wallop. Instead, I was sent outside the classroom and told to stand in the corridor! That night my parents confirmed that, although it was already illegal, the teachers themselves were not liable for prosecution... until now!!!!

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu

    Once we realize we lived our whole lives believing our weird childhood habits are perfectly ordinary, it’s easy to feel a bit uncomfortable and self-conscious. Perhaps that’s why, according to Klapow, we feel embarrassed — "the obvious is often simple and clear to everyone else."

    The creator of Mental Drive explained we feel this way for several reasons. First, we simply overlooked what others saw: "We may have made mistakes, hurt others, missed out on opportunities because we didn't see the obvious. Lastly, we have to acknowledge to others and ourselves that despite how we think of ourselves or how we are seen by others, we have missed something."

    #19

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    ElleLynn18 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Lesley Relph
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In the UK pigs in blankets are sausages wrapped in bacon. A favourite around Christmas time.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #21

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    NicDeMasi Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADJ
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My mother often made us a rectangular pizza because that is normal shape of the baking dish, like this: https://www.sweetdecor.pl/blacha-do-ciasta-gladka-nieprzywieralna-czarna-40cm-x-25cm-x-6cm.html BTW typical american pizza is not the same as traditional italian pizza.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu

    But if seeing your silly beliefs laid out on the table makes you blush, remember that laughing off the embarrassment will surely help. Moreover, it can help you strengthen the bond you have with your spouse, and even help you grow as a person.

    Whenever you feel flustered about your quirks, turn the internal dialog around and tell yourself: "I now see things differently, more clearly, and that is going to help me from this day moving forward," Klapow suggested. "Then, the initial embarrassment and frustration can transition into gratitude and excitement for arriving at the discovery of the obvious," he concluded.

    #23

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    betsygriebs Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    BannedFromABoatShow
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I (f43) had a gym teacher in high school who had a rule that we had to put our school issued swimsuits in the bin before we could walk across the shower room to get a towel from her. She’d also walk around the locker room naked, even though she didn’t swim with us. I remember thinking it was weird but not enough to tell my parents. If that was happening with my daughters now though you better believe I’d get that pedo arrested.

    bob van wijk
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Eeeww. Our gym teacher was nice then. At least he had clothes on and he threatened that he'd come check if we showered, so you always had to hurry up like an idiot. Told my brother, who's 8 years older. He said that when he was in school the girls in his class complained about the same thing with that teacher. Noone said anything and he just worked there until he retired.

    Load More Replies...
    Wondering Alice
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At high school (UK, ages 11 to 16) in the 80's we had to strip at a bench and hang clothes neatly before queuing patiently - while naked- for a freezing shower after every PE lesson. Boys had it a worse, they were expected to pile in together. All while a teacher watched. I complained to my mum, she said is was because some children had bad things happen to them, and this was a good chance for teachers to check for bruises and marks. It was a terribly humiliating thing though.

    Stephanie Paich
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Anything that requires your child to be naked in public is not okay, especially if you aren't even there. Sickos.

    Belle Miles
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They used to make us take showers in 4th grade after P.E. Naked Nine year olds at school. And you would be punished if you didn't. You would have to try to dry off with a paper towel and get back into your clothes dripping wet. Fat girls, skinny girls all at the time our bodies were changing. It was humiliating. Should have been criminal.

    Apatheist 62
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Growing up in the 70s in the UK, we never heard the p-word...my parents used to say "funny men". Fortunate, given how many it seems were around at the time.

    Load More Replies...
    Mike Firth
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At Iowa State University in the early 60s, the boys pool was nude swimming. This became really awkward when I messed up a back dive and cut my shin nearly to the bone on the corner of the diving board and had to be taken to the infirmary, which I believe was done by wrapping me in a couple of towels to walk over. While I attended, they built a fancy new “natatorium“ which had a viewing space and no longer had nude swimming. A women’s pool which was much smaller always had swimsuits and actually had a men’s dressing room as some teams practiced there. I was on the synchronized swimming performance team.

    Chris Keller
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Standard in the 70s for boys, I think. But the girls wore bathing suits, odd.

    Stephanie Paich
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, no. No way would I be comfortable with my kids being required to be naked in public with adults who aren't family around. Unfortunately there are sickos who get off on kids, no way would I give them the chance to ogle mine.

    Load More Replies...
    Lady Lava
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Agree! I regularly do it at the sauna / wellness center. But it shouldn't be forced on anyone, especially kids.

    Load More Replies...
    mamafrog
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I vaguely remember that being a thing when I was in school, back in the dark ages. I never had to take gym so I don't know.

    Mrs S
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    High school girls' PE, mandatory shower, but first get naked and file past the teacher (think "Pat" from SNL) for a teeny towel and then into the showers. Very uncomfortable. I think I knew we were being leered at.

    Seabeast
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This was common in the days before synthetic fabrics were affordable. Wool and cotton swimsuits took forever to dry.

    GB
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OMG! I can't believe I'm reading this! My husband is from Milwaukee and he told me the same thing. He didn't think it was weird until I helped him see it that way. Lol

    Greymom
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My dad, who is 79 remembers going to the “big city “ as a boy to swim at the YMCA. The whole facility was males only and swimsuits were indeed optional in the pool.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #24

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    davidgobrrrr Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    E
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well it was fairly normal (at least here in the UK) that children weren't at the table for dinner with the grown-ups. BUT they would have eaten earlier with Mum in the kitchen or in another room with the nanny if you were really posh. Not defending your grandparents but maybe they sort of remembered the 'no children at dinner' thing but didn't really think it through.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #28

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    dabizomb Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    AndThenICommented
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My partner does lemon juice and sugar…there was lots of confusion around this until I realised it was, in fact, a cultural thing.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #30

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    KatenCheyenne Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    John Carr
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I still do. But then again I use a lot of ketchup in cooking and hate wasting any of it so a bit of water helps get the bottle empty

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #34

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    RASnyder7 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Phendrena
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As A British person I don't find buttering Sandwiches to be odd at all. It's different if you are using chocolate spread though - that would be odd. I figured it would be the same in most countries - butter the bread and slap in your filling.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #35

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    fake_nic Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Alexej Dvorak
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I loathe these kind of discussions. Everybody is entitled their own taste and you should always be allowed to say you don't like something. But arguments about the "correct" recipe for a meal are just tiresome.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
    Unlimited content
    Ad-free browsing
    Dark mode
    #37

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    SamanthaApfel Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Eunice Probert
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I must be wrong as well then as I keep my vitamins, supplements and medication in the kitchen.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #38

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    DuncanLamont2 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Tobias Reaper
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    looking back now makes you realise in my primary school if you forgot your PE kit they made you do it in your pants

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #39

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    BareFacedStitch Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Karl Baxter
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My wife thinks “heel” is a weird term (common in N.Ireland) for what she calls “the crust” or “end bit”

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #43

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    smacked_gob Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Trish Batson
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My mom used to do that, but only when she was disappointed. That was the one thing she could do that actually affected me.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #45

    People-Didn't-Realize-Weird-Childhood-Habits

    ElisabethWillm3 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda