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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.

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    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.

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    #4

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

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    Tactical Taco
    Community Member
    2 years ago

    Where my seasoning?

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    #6

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    Joshua Russell
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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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

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    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.

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    "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."

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    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."

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    Donkey boi
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    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!!!!

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    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

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    Lesley Relph
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    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.

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    #21

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    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.

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    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.

    #24

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

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    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.

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    #28

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    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.

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

    Peanut butter on pancakes/waffles/French toast isn't something everyone does?

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

    This is how we'd have pancakes when I was growing up. My mom used to say it was to balance out the sweetness

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

    Whenever we had breakfast with pancakes, biscuits, crepes, or beignets, mom would get out everything. Peanut butter, butter, every kind of jelly we had, apple butter, syrup, condensed milk, powdered sugar, evaporated milk, cinnamon sugar, brown sugar and after it became a thing, nutella. But she was like that with almost every meal so we could see what was there and she could make sure nothing was going to waste.

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

    Guilty of the same, maybe this comes from children who never got to choose anything for themselves.

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

    Strawberry jam on pancakes..slather it on and roll up the pancake. Yum 😋

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

    Drain some of the water off plain cottage cheese. Soak some sultanas in brandy or whisky till they plump up. Add them to the cheese with sugar and vanilla. Roll it up in your pancakes (crêpe type) then serve with warm chocolate sauce on top. My Hungarian father’s speciality. 😍

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

    The same in Poland, you can even buy them in shops served like that, really tasty. To make them even more naughty, after filling them with quark cheese, raisins etc and folding in triangle-fry them up with butter. Sweet quark will melt a bit, heaven!

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

    My Mum, being British, put lemon and sugar on her pancakes. The rest of the family, being Canadian, used Maple 🍁 Syurp.

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

    I grew up eating peanut butter and maple syrup on waffles and thought it was normal until I met my husband

    RafCo (he/him)
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I make coconut banana pancakes for my kids. I serve them with a drizzle of condensed milk.

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

    Peanut butter on pancakes with syrup. It’s like a peanut butter and maple syrup sandwich but better.

    Chris K
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Actually peanut butter on pancakes is good really. On waffles it's even better. Still put it on while warm so the PB kinda melts a tiny bit... Still use syrup... Yum

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

    In the Navy we never had syrup so we used peanut butter.

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

    Peanut butter and applesauce on waffles is a staple in my family!

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

    Pancakes, with peanut butter, slices of banana and chocolate sprinkles.

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

    Oh, yes! Peanut butter is a must on pancakes!! My hubs thinks my entire family is deranged for this, but we all love it!

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

    Lemon and sugar on thin pancakes, maple syrup for thick ones. Jam/ jelly okay for both.

    WhatISaidWas
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i've done this all my life and i'm 53.....PB goes on the waffles too

    elcee
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    well after this whole bunch of new ways to eat pancakes, I'm REALLY GLAD I DONT LIKE THEM!!!

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

    I had a really fun conversation with an ex when she realized I put peanut butter in my oatmeal. Apparently, that's weird. But I'm still putting my peanut butter in my oatmeal.

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

    I've lost count how many things my wife puts peanut butter on.

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

    my dad likes peanut butter on his pancakes i like chocolate chips or peaches

    A. Starhawk Hunt
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As I don’t like syrup, a little vanilla flavoring and peanut butter is great. Vanilla pancakes are also good with sliced bananas.

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

    Hey now. PB on pancakes is a family thing for us. Except for me. I don't like it. My sister did manage to bring my Canadian wife into the PB on pancakes fold though.

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

    I love peanut butter and Karo syrup on both pancakes and waffles! ❤

    JuniorCJ82
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not weird at all. Not everybody does pancakes with butter and maple syrup. Some do peanut butter, while other do Nutella, and so on...

    wv10014
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When we had pancakes for breakfast, my mom would make us eat the first one with peanut butter ("healthy" and protein) and the second one we could eat with maple syrup.

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

    Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with nice crispy waffles as the bread. 🤤

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

    Tastes yummy and a great way to add some extra protein to a lighter meal.

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

    Peanut butter and maple syrup on pancakes is the bomb!!! It tastes like Crispy Crunch chocolate bar.

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

    I loooove peanutbutter on pancakes:)) Or cheese and candied ginger, or bacon and syrup... darn, now i gotta bake me some pancakes....

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

    I get weird reactions when I don't put maple syrup on my pancakes. I just don't like the stuff. I'm fine with just butter. I've been known to put peanut butter on them once in a while.

    Linda van der Pal
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hmm, never considered that combination, but it doesn't sound too awful...

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    John Carr
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    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

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    #34

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    Phendrena
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    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.

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    #35

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    Alexej Dvorak
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    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.

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    #37

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

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    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.

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    #38

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    Tobias Reaper
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    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

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    #39

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    Karl Baxter
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    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”

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    #43

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    Trish Batson
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    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.

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    #45

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