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30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids My parents are Mexican immigrants but my dad became a us citizen along the way anyways. They raised me to cook and clean a was the middle child of two brothers. They always hated when I would focus on school work outside of school and would scream at me to stop. They said women are only good for cooking and cleaning. Currently I’m in school for my masters I’m working as a RN. My two brothers are working customer service jobs and both decided not to go to college after high school.

Snausage-Time , Joshua Hoehne Report

Final score:

182points

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BetterBitterButter 1 year ago

Looks like the one only good for "cooking and cleaning" is cooking her own recipe of life while cleaning her obstacles.

87points

"We are all flawed humans and parents, with most of us committed to improving on what we ourselves experienced at the hands of our own parents," Vicki Broadbent, the woman behind Honest Mum and the author of Mumboss: The Honest Mum’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving at Work and at Home, told Bored Panda.

"Every generation hopes to evolve for the better. It must be noted, however, that we are the first generation of parents as Gen X and Millennials who have embraced therapy without stigma, yielding positive results on our families, and hopefully our kids' kids."

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids My mom found Christianity and made us all find it. Secular (non religious) cds got thrown away, we had to have angel television (only religious shows), we were forced to go to church/youth group/and church camp. Reading material was the Bible. We had no choice in the matter and were forced to be religious. If we questioned anything we were going to hell and grounded. Shocking that both my sister and I have zero to do with Christianity. Do not force your beliefs on your children. You can guide them but let them make their own choices. My daughters know I don't buy into any of that but I told them I will support whatever they believe as long as you don't use those beliefs to hate others.

Irondaddy_29 , Arina Krasnikova Report

Final score:

145points

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Billy Harrelson 1 year ago

This is one that kept me from Christianity for so long. Turns out you can be Christian and listen to secular music (just be aware of what you're listening to), watch secular TV and even have things like tattoos and piercings (I have neither). You don't become perfect for being Christian. You're only trying to live as Christ did, but only he was 100% perfect. We as humans still fall short everyday but having the salvation that comes with knowing Christ died for our sins, that is what true Christianity is about.

70points

I had bowel issues from age 2 years to about 8 years of age that required multiple surgeries. I physically couldnt poo due to my colon having issues.
My parents locked me in the toilet room from lunchtime until bedtime once (8.5hrs) to try and force me to do a poo. Of course I couldnt as my body would not allow me to.
They put soap up my bottom and would often bash me to try scare me into pooing. My mother overdosed me on my bowel medications, as she was sick of dealing with my issue.
They treated me as if I was purposely holding onto my poo just to be 'naughty'.
Looking back now and having my own kids, I realise how messed up their behaviour was. How could they do that to someone they are supposed to love and protect?

nicoleg58 Report

Final score:

138points

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JelliTate 1 year ago

They didn't want to deal with it. Even though it wasn't happening to them! Azzholes.

30points

Professional help can be really valuable to people who have gone through these things. "Therapy is a privilege, of course, and not accessible to all but where possible, my advice is to start therapy to heal generational trauma, your own childhood trauma, and thus understand who you are," Broadbent said.

But as she pointed out, many of us are lacking in self-worth and self-love. "It took me until 40 and after, years of therapy to deeply understand myself and feel good in my skin (and I'm a work in progress)," Broadbent revealed. "Parenting is triggering for everyone so understanding what your triggers are and how you can consistently parent positively is vital."

"If you can't access therapy, speaking candidly to close friends in a safe space and way to work through those formative negative experiences can be useful. Harnessing self-awareness is the building block to accountability and transformation."

My father was absent until I was 11. He returned and my siblings and I went from neglect to extreme abuse.

We weren't allowed to win anything that involved my father.

Didn't matter if it was a board game, trivia, or a video game. If you won, he would beat you to prove that, "he really won". He was shocked and angry that no one wanted to play with him after the first week.

I wasn't allowed to wear shorts in the house because, "men have urges" and I was "causing a reaction". I didn't realize until last year what that meant. I was 13, which makes my skin crawl.

Everything I did was viewed as sexual. His way of telling me goodbye was, "don't come home with a wet a*s" and that I didn't need to work because I was "sitting on a gold mine".

I'm in my late-30s now and I'm still scared that I'm only good for sex. I've been working on it for years in therapy but the shame lingers.

LDubs9876 Report

Final score:

120points

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Susie Elle 1 year ago

That man is extremely disturbing and should be put away

105points

My mother got an internship three hours away from where we lived when I was 11 and my sister was 13. My mom moved there temporarily for six months. So every Friday for six months, my dad would put us on a Greyhound bus and we would ride it alone for three hours and my mother would pick us up and then send us home the same way. My sister was in her "cool teenager" phase, so I got to sit with a lot of weird adults for six months who told me their life stories.

As a teacher now, I cannot fathom putting two children alone on a Greyhound bus one time, let alone for six months over and over again.

After my parents got divorced when I was 14, my mother got a promotion on the East coast (we lived in Arizona). She needed to go to three months of training in Virginia before her job actually started. So she left my sister and I alone for three months. And then she came back and we packed up and moved. She never called to check in, she never had friends stop by to check on us. It was up to me to get me and my older sister fed and to school every day.

Great mother. Haven't spoken to her in almost a decade. I hope she rots.

Blergsprokopc Report

Final score:

119points

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Mila Preradović 1 year ago

I won't go in other parts of the post that are messed up, but putting the kid on the bus and set them on their merry way was fairly common in the 80s and 90s Europe. I was 11.5 when I was put on the bus from Croatia to my uncle in Frankfurt, Germany (15+ hours ride) with a walkman and some sandwiches. My mum gave the bus driver 20 DM (Deutsch Marks) to keep an eye on me from time to time and that was it. We all travelled like that - to grandma/grandpas in the country, or at the seaside, or to another country. 🤷‍♀️Nothing traumatic about that.

74points

However, the good news is that many moms and dads care about their children's emotional well-being. According to a new Pew Research Center survey, about four-in-ten U.S. parents with kids younger than 18 say they are extremely or very worried that their little ones might struggle with anxiety or depression at some point.

In fact, mental health concerns top the list of parental worries (followed by 35% who are similarly concerned about their children being bullied).

Although it's worth mentioning that quite a few parents probably would have at least some criticism for their own folks, as 44% claim they are trying to raise their children differently from how they were raised.

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids I was never an acceptable weight. If I was 115 pounds, I looked anorexic. If I gained five pounds, I was told my "a*s looked six axe handles wide." Consequently, I am still unable to tell what I actually look like.

I was also accused of "sleeping with half the Western hemisphere"...before I had even received my first kiss.

MerelyWhelmed1 , i yunmai Report

Final score:

111points

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BetterBitterButter 1 year ago

Sh**** parents!

53points

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids Mine were champions of mixed messages. To the point I still doubt my first instincts, or initial decision, At 47 years old!

They would complain I wasn't dressing nice enough, for school or other events,, then refuse to let me wear a silk shirt out, as if it was something reserved for the queen. I have snuck out a nice blouse on several occasions.

Dad would tell me there must be something wrong with me because I wasn't "going out" like other teenagers. Then tell me by going out somewhere when I don't know everyone, I'm going to get myself raped.

That's just 2 examples

So I second guess *everything *.... still

Eureka05 , Laura Chouette Report

Final score:

108points

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Black Cat 1 year ago

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. My mother was similar, she'd tell me to be friendly and then when I initiated conversation with someone tell me I was being bold.

40points

"Putting the hard work in evolving, be it therapy or understanding how to manage your own emotions and stress levels, is critical as a parent," Broadbent added. "You can then model that behavior to your own children. Prioritizing self-care where possible (I know it's not easy) will make you a more compassionate parent. Exercise, eating well and healthily, and taking up yoga/ mindfulness will make the world of difference."

Luckily, when KidsHealth.org and TIME for Kids asked more than 9,000 children ages 8 to 14 about their family relationships, 85% said they have fun with their parents and 79% said they feel close to their parents.

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids These are probably small things in comparison but the older I get, the more they upset me. They wouldn't pay for glasses for me even though I literally couldn't see the blackboard at school. My dad took me for an eye exam and when I was perusing frames afterwards, he came up to me and said "what are you doing? I never said I was buying you glasses" in this aggressive, angry tone. My dad wasn't usually like that and it still confuses me to do this day. Idk why he was angry at me over needing glasses (which I finally got at 23 when my state insurance actually covered them, which they do not any more and only did so for about a year). I wear glasses 24/7, I obviously needed them. They also would not pay for braces and now my teeth are screwed up. They never taught me how to drive but they did teach my 3 siblings. My dad is a software engineer, he has always made decent money. So it wasn't bc we couldn't afford it.

WifeofBath1984 , Bud Helisson Report

Final score:

101points

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Betsy Ray 1 year ago

Get DNA testing. Alan Cumming, the actor, was treated horribly by his father. His brother was not.

85points

Condensed_Sarcasm , Ayla Verschueren Report

#10

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids My dad demanded my sister and I put our dogs outside in a lightning storm to pee with their invisible fence collars on. We didn't do it and they were in the house when he got home. The storm was even worse at this point.

In response, he put them outside himself, then locked me and my sister in the dogs' crates in the garage to "show us how the dogs felt" for a few hours.

I'm not losing any sleep about him being gone.

Final score:

100points

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BetterBitterButter 1 year ago

What's wrong with people?

47points

#11

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids I would stay up until 3am working for my parents business. When I was 13. And it was a smoking establishment.

I would deliver food to sketchy parts of town by myself. As a 16 year old girl.

My mom started s**t shaming me at 12 for what seemed like everything.

This doesn't include the physical, emotional and sexual abuse. I didn't know why but I felt so ashamed even as a kid and I thought it was my fault.

Needless to say, we don't speak anymore.

Criticalfluffs , Manuel Will Report

Final score:

100points

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BetterBitterButter 1 year ago

Not your fault! And they don't deserve OP's time.

33points

#12

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids I would get accused of being pregnant at 16. I had heavy periods that would be every 32-35 days instead of 28. She would monitor my period and then accuse me of being pregnant if I didn’t have a period on day 29.

At one point I was anorexic and missed a period and she went mad insisting I was pregnant.

VixenRoss , Sora Shimazaki Report

Final score:

95points

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BetterBitterButter 1 year ago

Poor child was having health issues and mum was being like this?

57points

#13

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids My mom giving me the silent treatment if I said something she disliked or did something that pissed her off. Half the time I didnt even know what Id done wrong!

As a mom now, I cant imagine ignoring my kid the way she did me or not outright correcting the issue.

dewihafta , Quino Al Report

Final score:

94points

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Black Cat 1 year ago

My mother gave me the silent treatment until her death. Don't miss her one bit. The silent treatment is just a silent tantrum and one of the hallmarks of a female narcissist.

39points

#14

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids They would take my phone when I was a teen and text my friends pretending to be me to intentionally break up friendships. I’m talking 40 year old people texting 13-16 year olds saying they’re worthless and should give up or leave “me” alone. I used to just be mad and think it was a normal adult punishing me because it was their property. Now I look back and think of how much enjoyment they got bullying children and saying the most awful things.

ummmchef , Porapak Apichodilok Report

Final score:

91points

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BetterBitterButter 1 year ago

Again people who don't deserve kids.

43points

#15

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids Hearing my mom say to me and my older sister she can't wait for us to grow up and move out the house since I was 7yo. When I finally gained some independene and tried to move out with my bf, she kept nagging for me to delay the move or come visit frequently after I was no longer living in her house. Similarly, as a teen, I would often go visit friends across the country for several days at a time. Kept calling to ask where I was and when I'm coming back, guilt tripping me to not stay long because that was poor guest etiquette(??), even though I was invited. When I finally got back, she and my dad viciously asked when is the soonest I can go away again. Havent spoken to them in two years, best decision ever.

marble-polecat , Michal Balog Report

Final score:

87points

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Billy Harrelson 1 year ago

My sister-in-law did this to my nephew. From the time he was 10 she started counting down the days until he turned 18 and would have to leave and get his own place. Told everyone who would listen that the day after his 18th birthday he would be out on his rear and fending for himself. He's about to be 21 now and still living with her and helping with bills. My niece, on the other hand, was thrown out of the house at the age of 17 (she's 18 now) by the same sister-in-law. Was constantly shamed on her weight and how she dressed (any skin showing was simply WRONG). Her 13 year old sister, though, is praised for her weight and allowed to dress however she likes.

35points

#16

I never received any recognition for the good things I did. Only greif when I messed up.

As a result, I (now 40) still have trouble recognising when people do or don't like me. I also have very little confidence in myself. I also struggle with motivation to do things.

Now, my problem is that even though I can see what the problem is, and where it came from, I don't know what to do with it. I have repeatedly asked the NHS for help, as going private (for therapy) isn't financially viable. As of now (4 years into asking for help), I have received 6 50 minute sessions, of therapy. Which, in my own words, is like showing up to an earthquake with a dust pan and brush.

H16HP01N7 Report

Final score:

86points

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DennyS (denzoren) 1 year ago

I really hope you get the help you need very soon.

22points

#17

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids Having to eat soap or hot sauce when one of us lied/said a bad word/backtalked. Didn’t matter who did it, I was punished too. And if one of my siblings broke a major rule, I MUST have also done it so would get grounded and lectured, but the sibling that did it would get a minor punishment.

Basically my parents confessed that they thought by showing my siblings that I could be punished, it would deter them from breaking more rules.

pizzasauce85 , Sincerely Media Report

Final score:

83points

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JelliTate 1 year ago

Your parents are idiots.

59points

#18

I'm nowhere near the level or even same universe as many here. My mom was just... inattentive. I realize now looking back that she was terribly depressed, so she would often sleep the day away while young me would putter around the house, watch TV, eat cereal for every meal until she'd finally get up just before my dad got home. She still jokes about the time I locked myself in the refrigerator as a toddler and she couldn't find me for almost an hour. By the time I was 12, we got Internet in our house (this was the late 90s) and I basically just set my own schedule, stayed up all night on chatrooms if I wanted. My room and the computer were on the opposite end of the house so nobody ever bothered me.

They were lucky that I was a "good" kid with crushing anxiety of my own that prevented me from taking advantage of their laissez-faire parenting style because I honestly can't remember my parents ever... parenting me. Never had hard rules, never had a curfew. I raised myself.

TrustyBobcat Report

Final score:

78points

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Girl Bear 1 year ago

The fact you parents didn't physically harm you doesn't mean your hurt was less.

61points

#19

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids I was obsessed with buttoning the top button on casual shirts. It felt safer to me to be buttoned up tight, probably because bodily autonomy was non-existent in my family. My mother HATED this habit. It got to the point where whenever she caught me with the top button closed, she would reach in with one finger, hook it behind the button and yank hard enough to pop the button off the shirt. It hurt like hell and usually caused bruises on the back of my neck along with a scratch from her fingernail in front. More than once she had to pull so hard, she backhanded me in the chin when the button finally popped off. She would always say, "That's one collar you can't button anymore".

Now, I can't stand to have anything around my neck.

Thanks mom, you saved me from walking around with my shirt collar closed.

Philosemen69 , Taisiia Shestopal Report

Final score:

76points

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Betsy Ray 1 year ago

Insane mother. How do you get over this?

43points

deanna woods 1 year ago

Some parents are more interested in controlling their children rather than loving them.

6points

A Happy Doggo 1 year ago

Why did she want your collar open? Usually with parents it’s the opposite

3points

the_harbinger_of_doom s/t/h 1 year ago

my mom did this too, she"didnt want me to look like a boy" im afab, but jokes on her im ✨genderfluid✨

8points

kansasmagic 1 year ago

Hey, this one actually is kind of weird!

2points

Krillins_Shiny_Head Report

#20

Basically my dad locking me in the house and never letting me leave outside of taking me to school. And sleeping in the same bed as my dad until I was 14. He only let me have my own room when he remarried. And he made me shower with him too.

Final score:

76points

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Betsy Ray 1 year ago

No words. Just a feeling of horror.

87points

#21

First few weeks of 1st grade in a new town, I met a fellow little girl on the school bus. We hit it off and somehow a playdate was arranged. I had younger siblings so my dad was the one to drop me off for the playdate at their little 1 story bungalow. My little friend's mom was single and she invited my dad in for coffee.

Next thing I knew, we looked up from playing Barbies on the floor and my dad and her mom were running back and forth from her bedroom to the only bathroom across the hall, taking turns wearing the mom's pink bathrobe.

When we left my dad told me not to tell my mom about anything that happened because if I did she would leave us and I'd never see my mom again. That's how the affair that broke up my parents marriage started, and eventually both my parents blamed me. "If you hadn't insisted on playing with that trashy little girl" etc.

Own_Instance_357 Report

Final score:

76points

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DennyS (denzoren) 1 year ago

Oh yeah, cause it's her fault...my goodness, people can be delusional.

61points

#22

My male parent was horribly paranoid about everything. If I was allowed to spend time with a friend, he would obsessively call their house to make sure I was "really there". One time we left to a half block for some ice cream. He called when we were out, and that turned into a massive eruption. This particular behavior lasted until I moved out at 24yo.

If it were a movie, he'd find out exactly what time the movie started and ended, then camp out in a parking lot across from the theater to make sure we didn't leave the theater. And EVERYTHING was like this.

A scumbag who was mad that I wasn't interested in him convinced his mom to call my male parent and lie to him, saying I'd come by his house to have sex. That was the absolute worst thing I could possibly ever do in his eyes, even though he was an atheist. I had every avenue of communication with the outside world taken away, and was treated like I was the worst person in the world. My best friend at the time was good enough to call the b***h and convince her to call back saying she'd made a mistake. But since it was more fun or something to be hateful, he didn't believe her THAT time.

I pretty much wanted to be unalive for a far back as I can remember. I moved 1000 miles away, and despite my now ex being a jerk, I was much happier with his type of abuse. And once I was free of HIM, I've loved my life ever since, and am very happy. And still 1000 miles away from the crazy.

There's so much more of course. Being a child in a grocery store and being angrily yanked out of the way of someone because they happened to want to look at something where I was standing (even though I was just following HIM)? Made me pathologically terrified of being even mildly inconvenient to anyone, especially strangers. Just one little detail among many.

BotiaDario Report

Final score:

73points

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Betsy Ray 1 year ago

This is so awful.

28points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

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#23

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids One summer, my mom took away all my toys because she said I wasn’t taking care of them by leaving them on the floor. She told me she threw them away. That year for Christmas, all I got was a garbage bag of my old toys. My sister got a new bike. I was I’m my thirties before I realized how messed up that was. She didn’t even wrap them!

Pikersmor , Nareeta Martin Report

Final score:

71points

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Mochi 1 year ago

My mum says that she'll throw it away if we leave it in the hallway, floor, etc. She just kept them until you forgot about them and you'd earn them back by doing extra chores. Usually my siblings would understand how much I wanted it back and the lengths I would go to get it back, and would have me do THEIR chores so that they didn't have to do anything. I'm sorry that you had to go through this.

18points

#24

My mom threatened to kill me and herself by driving into oncoming traffic.... I was twelve.

Tractorhash Report

Final score:

70points

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Jules 1 year ago (edited)

Jesus Christ... No child whatever age should have to hear rhat

20points

#25

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids Not having locks on doors I used.

Now when I go to their house I always lock the door when I use the bathroom or change. I’ve gotten into screaming matches with my mom about it.

Saxobeat28 , Dan Smedley Report

Final score:

66points

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StrangePenguin 1 year ago

that’s normal for me, no locks and random inspections

21points

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

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#26

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids Mother told me to always keep a blanket covering my bottom “in case someone is watching you while you sleep”. Also, when changing clothes, “remove panties last and put them on first”.

As I’m typing this, I wonder if it had to do with growing up with tons of siblings in the house. Seems pretty creepy to me, though.

Pluke1865 , Kristin Vogt Report

Final score:

65points

POST

GirlFriday 1 year ago

I grew up with tons of siblings in the house (12 brothers), and was never told anything like this. We were told to always lock the door when we were changing and to knock and wait to be allowed in if any door in the house was closed.

33points

#27

The difference between how my stepmom raised me, compared to how she is with my half sister. My sister can do no wrong. I have seen my sister get in my mom's face and scream at her, yet I couldn't even "backtalk". All I could say was yes ma'am or no ma'am, anything else and well... Let's just say my cheeks hurt. The huge 180 difference between how we were raised, still amazes me to this day

Shot_Ad5445 Report

Final score:

60points

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Mrs Irish Mom 1 year ago

Sounds like a Cinderella story with the evil step mom

32points

#28

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids I was repeatedly informed that they’re spending a lot of money on me and that other parents don’t do so. So I should feel obliged. It took me more than a decade to realise what she said was problematic, and I could not shake of the feeling of being indebted to her till the day she passed.

Royal_Anteater7882 , Jp Valery Report

Final score:

58points

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Lizz 1 year ago

My mom made me pay her car back ( which I accidentally totaled) "forgot" to tell me she had full insurance coverage....

12points

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

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#29

My mom was a super clean freak growing up. To the point that i could never clean my room to her standards. Even if my dad help cleaned it. She would even start vacuuming in the middle of the night at times. She also would repose my action figures and models. Then yell at me if i complained or changed them bacl

azurezeronr Report

Final score:

52points

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Betsy Ray 1 year ago

Mom was consumed by guilt of some sort. Dad tried in this case..

17points

#30

Making me comfort her when things were stressful instead of comforting me. I had to be her emotional support person as a child. A few times she'd get angry and call me 'mom' like it was an insult. And she was oddly competitive with me for no reason, I just wanted my mom to love me

terriblyrealgirl Report

Final score:

52points

POST

Ken Beattie 1 year ago

I get the "mom" one. That's normally in response to a kid saying "Mom" for the fiftieth time in an hour. Frustration is a thing and occasionally it creeps out in a response. The rest is pretty strange though.

7points

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#31

My sister was 29 and 9 months pregnant when she died in a really bad car accident. She was very much My mother's favorite, could do no wrong (but was in trouble a lot, including that time my parents went looking for her when she sneaked out once; My mom ended up falling and puncturing a lung, then spent a month in the hospital).

My mother was a raging alcoholic and bipolar. She did not believe in psychiatry, so I got to get the brunt of it. She told me it should have been me that died, not my sister, and I was a fat waste of space. We didn't speak much after I moved out. She would call me occasionally and threaten to drown herself in the pond until one day, I said, fine go jump in. Make sure you put a weight in your pants so you properly sink. Probably not the kindest thing to say, but she was looking for sympathy and attention, and once I started doing that, she never brought it up again.

When she died, I kind of understood her. I got what a hard life she had. She never should have had children.

MelissaA621 Report

Final score:

27points

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Becky Samuel 1 year ago

So many of these stories revolve around poor mental health. It was drummed into people that it was shameful or weak to seek help for their mental health problems.

18points

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

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#32

My mom put my brother and I on a local ski bus to go skiing for the day. She gave a high school kid $10 to make sure we got off and got our passes. Here's the caveat....I was 6 years old and my brother was 5. We lived in Central Oregon and the bus went from Prineville 35 miles to Bend (Bachlor ski resort). We skied all day and made it home safely no concept of how. I'm 57, you do the math. Yes, it was a different time, but looking back on it and after having kids of my own, this was absolutely insane!

MT160 Report

Final score:

24points

POST

#33

My adoptive parents were mostly pretty great but two things stand out.

I wrote a suicide note back in middle school. I didn’t go through with it but didn’t throw the note away. My dad snooped through my stuff in my room (which is something he did A LOT, and I still have privacy issues from it. I HATE having people even in my apartment if I’m not dating them) and found it. And they gave me a lecture about it and grounded me for it. Didn’t ask why I wanted to kill myself or attempt to get me help. Just chewed me out for it.

A few years later when they actually put me in therapy, they found out I’d been lying to my therapist because I was scared of what he’d tell them if they ever asked cuz I was still a minor. Which you’d think would be a sign I needed more therapy, but no, they pulled me out of therapy completely because “clearly i don’t want it if I can’t be honest”

They did eventually come around and do some actual research on mental health issues after I moved out and stopped talking to them for a few years. Never apologized though.

negativeGinger Report

Final score:

23points

POST

Lara Verne 1 year ago

Well, at least they educated themselves. Still f****d up, though, they should apologize

3points

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

See Also on Bored Panda

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

#34

My mom messaged random boys from my middle school on MySpace to “make (me) some friends”. She lived vicariously through me and desperately wanted me to get a boyfriend.

A couple times she made me message the boys I actually knew and invite them over. 😓 Heck, the boy who lived next door was a jock she was so maternally in love with (she only ever wanted sons) she wanted us to date so bad and would constantly tell me he was in love with me.

LunarRabbit18 Report

Final score:

22points

POST

Abby Palmer 1 year ago

That's f****d up...

8points

Miserable-Note5365 Report

#35

They made my sister do extremely intense exercises for four hours as a punishment for lying

Final score:

21points

POST

Elchinero 1 year ago

Are you telling the truth? /s/

1point

KeiseiAESkyliner , Christian Erfurt Report

#36

30 People Share Weird Family Things That They Didn't Realize Were Not Normal When They Were Kids Oh, the hypocrisy and double standards usually come to mind. When you do something, you get treated as if you were a murderer by them, but "haha oopsie woopsie my bad uwu" whenever they do the exact same thing.

EDIT: A specific example also being, whenever you are doing something the correct way, and they do it the wrong way, you're still wrong, and they're always right.

Final score:

18points

POST

Con O Cuinn 1 year ago

OP needs to look up "specific"

18points

See Also on Bored Panda

"I Didn't Start The Dryer": Karen Gets Taught A Lesson After Throwing Out Neighbor's Wet Clothes

Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

#37

My dad never got me or my interests (geeky kid whom finally fit in during age 12-16 with alternative and skater kids), nor had any intention of even trying. I was on a day-to-day basis asked 'why I couldn't be normal like my brother and sister', got called a freak or judged based on what music I liked, books I'd read, or had big interests in computer/console/science related stuff etc. I already felt outside of my home that I never belonged somewhere but at home there was no escape from it either. Messed up my self-esteem badly, among other things.

33 now and I did confront him a few years back and told them how his behaviour towards me messed me up so bad that even at my parental home I never felt welcome. He just doesn't get it and honestly, I can't blame him too much. My dad grew up in a farm family where kids were nescessary employees and there was no room for feelings or to think things through before outing some thoughts to avoid hurting unbeknowningly others. Not really a defence, but he always provided, worked extremely hard and that sometimes got the better of him and I ended up as the unfortunate collateral damage in these outings since he just didn't understand a sensitive kid with interests that didn't align with his. He did sort of change though once I started putting up boundaries, which is nice to see and I ended up okay, so all worked out. Having that conversation really did put things in perspective for him though!

MijnheerIJsThee Report

Final score:

18points

POST

StitchIsCuteAndFluffy 1 year ago

I like to see ones with happier endings!

3points

See Also on Bored Panda

“All Three Shot Out Pink”: Triplets' Baby Shower Turns Sour, Pregnant Wife Wants A Divorce

College Student Does Exactly As Told After Roommates Demand They Keep Their Stuff In Their Room

#38

I found $100 on the ground and told my family. My mom told me she would give me $5 in an exchange for the $100. I happily said yes. Now I'm older, I'm like smfh! This isn't a bad experience but it was funny thinking about it. 🤣🤣🤣

MythicalMoomoo Report

Final score:

17points

POST

ThatBlackNightingale 1 year ago

A wholesome one here!

13points

#39

My mom has an obsession/envy/clingy relationship with me compared to my siblings. She believes I should be more responsible, need less sleep, and cook most meals while my brother sleeps all day and my sister is ignored. If I am not at work, I need to be with her, but I shouldn't want any time to myself. I know it is weird, but I love her enough to put up with it. She has always been like that since I can remember.

Motowndiva_slots Report

Final score:

15points

POST

Betsy Ray 1 year ago

Move out. See a therapist. This isn't good.

20points

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, I indulge in the joy of curating delightful content, from adorable pet photos to hilarious memes, all while nurturing my wanderlust and continuously seeking new adventures and interests—sometimes thrilling, sometimes daunting, but always exciting!

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What do you think ?

POST

Miriam L 1 year ago

These are stories of child abuse. Not weird family quirks or that one obnoxious thing your otherwise loving parents do. Bored Panda, this shouldn't be mined for content. This isn't entertainment. At the very least, change the **** title so people have a better idea of what to expect. I work with kids. I'm friends with people whose "parents" should be in prison for crimes like these. Yeah I'm angry. I know BP is 90% Reddit reposts, and I've read some nasty stuff on here. I don't know if this crosses some kind of internal line or if expecting stuff like the blurb (the silk shirt story, not that the mixed messages and unreasonable expectations aren't their own kind of abuse) and then getting hit in the lungs with the violent and multifaceted abuse of the most upvoted story.

53points

arthbach 1 year ago

I was coming here to make exactly this post. This is abusive. There's nothing quirky about it.

24points

Pamela24 1 year ago

I was hoping these were going to be quirky things. :( Not stories of horrible abuse.

21points

BetterBitterButter 1 year ago

I couldn't finish the list. Not every parent deserves to be a parent. Don't give trauma to kids. I know how it sticks with you even when you're a grown up.

15points

Becky Samuel 1 year ago

It's easy to point fingers from a pedestal, but at least half of these stories are parents that were suffering from untreated mental illness. If you're raised to believe that seeking treatment for mental illness is weak or shameful then the rage, fear and guilt become internalised and those around you suffer too. Better interventions for families with mental health issues and better access to treatment are absolutely vital.

-3points

GirlFriday 1 year ago

In my family, you had to pin your dirty socks together before you put them in the hamper. If mom found a pair of unpinned socks in the laundry, she would make us all sit at the table while she showed us AGAIN how to pin socks. I did not know that pinning socks together was not standard laundry procedure until I was in college and my roommates looked at me like I was crazy. However, I am the youngest of 13 children, so I understand the need for the procedure. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A WEIRD FAMILY QUIRK. Abuse is not a weird family quirk. BTW - I still pin my dirty socks together before washing them.

11points

Brocken Blue 1 year ago

Thank you! This was exactly the kind of story I was hoping for when I first opened this list and did not find. While I’m sure it was annoying for you kids, your mom is low-key genius for outsmarting the hungry gremlins who live in laundry machines and eat loose socks 😂

9points

Diolla 1 year ago

Oh dear. I went into this list thinking it would be about funny/ silly family habits. But turned out to be a list of examples of parents who should not be parents. Really. How can you even think of doing such horriffic stuff to you own children? OK not all of them but the majority makes me feel blessed that I had a normal boring childhood. Life is not fair.

9points

Stardust she/her 1 year ago

Got threatened with a knife by my dad because I was suicidal. Got dangled from a balcony 4 storeys high by my dad because I wasn’t talking nicely with my mum, I was 7.

8points

Strawberry Pizza 1 year ago

Move out of there the instant you're able to. Are there any other relatives/friends that could safely take you in? Can you report your dad for abuse? Nobody should have to stay with someone like that. Sending love.

6points

Miriam L 1 year ago

Stay safe. Stay strong. I hope that you can get out soon. You have a bright future ahead of you and you do not deserve this. Internet hugs

4points

BetterBitterButter 1 year ago

That's criminal and wrong in so many ways. Stardust are you Indian?(if you don't mind me asking)

3points

ThatBlackNightingale 1 year ago

Most of these were straight up abuse and disgust to read, I can't help but think about all the selfish people who do this to innocent kids. People need to understand the value of marriage and pregnancy, not everyone's gonna be parents so don't let your stupid family force you too!

7points

Silre 1 year ago

These are not weird things. Weird things are you can only walk on the plastic runners, not the carpet. These things are abuse.

6points

Lara Verne 1 year ago

These are stories about many forms of child abuse. Only things that seems unusual, but not abusive, are stories about parents putting kids on the bus or train and letting them travel by themselves when they were visiting friends or relatives. It was pretty normal just a few years ago

5points

Seabeast 1 year ago

Had to stop reading. This was too upsetting.

4points

MushroomHead22 1 year ago

the first one is not "weird family things" like wtf?

4points

Singing Panda 1 year ago

Sending everyone love after reading this list. Hope everyone is alright ❤️

4points

kansasmagic 1 year ago

Dear internet, "weird" is not a synonym for "neglectful" or "abusive." A "weird" thing parents might do is insist on wearing matching suits to every social function. It's quirky and harmless.

4points

kansasmagic 1 year ago (edited)

Ok, here's an example: My FIL once gave my wife a head of cabbage for Christmas. She wanted a Cabbage Patch Doll. And he gave her a head of cabbage. It wasn't a joke (like "haha, here's your real present!"), and it wasn't some bizarre attempt to teach her a lesson about materialism or commercialism. It was just a weird and s****y present! She still talks about that more than 30 years later.

3points

Kohaku Yamashiro 1 year ago

I think what would categorize as werid/quirky things a family does is like share a bath towel, not use toliet paper things like that. Not this post, this are instances of abuse, neglect etc. BP do better please.

3points

The Dentist 1 year ago

This entire post was... depressing. I feel sorry for all those involved.

3points

Tomato Froggo 1 year ago

Dude this was f*****g abuse not a “weird” or “quirky” trait.

3points

Biofish23 1 year ago

These are not "weird family things", this is all child abuse.

3points

Jared Robinson 1 year ago

all of these are just abuse, not really weird things parents did. title your threads better please.

3points

birdhouse 1 year ago

I was told I was a mistake and reminded multiple times. My brother was the golden boy. My brother would get introduced a his athletic son. I would be introduced as the "fat son." Even my grand father laughed and learned to introduce me to his friends the same way. Beaten, shamed, belittled just because he was ashamed of me. He's not so scarry now that he is old and crippled up. My brother went missing years ago and he doesn't understand why I don't stop by and visit.

2points

Headless Horseman 1 year ago

BP, this isnt "weird", "quirky" or entertaining in any God damned way. How could you use this content to get upvotes 😧. This was absolutely horrifying to read, I couldnt even get past the first few, because the flashbacks started coming back. Please delete this or whatever you need to do, just f*****g do it.

2points

Joxiana 1 year ago

I remember being signed over to the carnival at age 16 by my mom. I couldn't be kept because I would disgrace her. I remember having a large pore on my forehead all my life which got dirty when I played as a child. My mom would constantly pick or pinch at it and tell me she was getting the demons out of me.

1point

KimB 1 year ago

I remember once my stepdaughter having a fight with her bio mom. She said her bio mom didn't love her or know how to love. Bio mom said then how do you have such a good life then? My stepdaughter replied because Kim (me) loves me and showed me what REAL love is. I had to tell her that what she said wasn't fair to her bio mom that her mom was doing the best she could (had her at age 18) but I could not help feeling proud of myself at the same time. Bio mom and I have a fairly good relationship for the sake of the kids. She told me about a year ago (kids are 27 and 26) that she couldn't have done it without me that I'm definitely a better parent than she is because I'm so patient and calm. Life is weird sometimes!

1point

KimB 1 year ago

Ugh this was a very tough read....again makes me appreciate how wonderful my mom is and dad was (he passed in 2018). Hugs to all who didn't or don't have good parents...I'd adopt you all if I could!

1point

Aubrie Allen 1 year ago

Being scared of dad. Hiding when he came home. Him constantly screaming and cussing at nothing.

1point

bbfa 1 year ago (edited)

My father would have an anxiety attack in the middle of the night and come into my room screaming he was going to die and force me on my knees to pray for him while he screamed at me. I was 6-8 years old. Other times he would keep us up screaming at everyone in a narcissistic rage, especially if you didn't give the exact amount of gratitude at Christmas (and you never did). He also beat my little poodle in a rage and permanently twisted her back. I cry even now 60 years later when I think about that little dog. Tears in my eyes right now. He was a "pillar of the community". I get sick inside thinking about Christmas, and hate religious proselytizers with a passion. My mom was even worse, because she didn't stop him. Edit: Addendum.

1point

Moon 1 year ago

These are not 'Weird' these are child abuse change the name man

1point

Skulls.N.Succulents 1 year ago

None of these people deserve to breathe

1point

POST

Miriam L 1 year ago

53points

arthbach 1 year ago

I was coming here to make exactly this post. This is abusive. There's nothing quirky about it.

24points

Pamela24 1 year ago

I was hoping these were going to be quirky things. :( Not stories of horrible abuse.

21points

BetterBitterButter 1 year ago

I couldn't finish the list. Not every parent deserves to be a parent. Don't give trauma to kids. I know how it sticks with you even when you're a grown up.

15points

Becky Samuel 1 year ago

-3points

GirlFriday 1 year ago

11points

Brocken Blue 1 year ago

9points

Diolla 1 year ago

9points

Stardust she/her 1 year ago

Got threatened with a knife by my dad because I was suicidal. Got dangled from a balcony 4 storeys high by my dad because I wasn’t talking nicely with my mum, I was 7.

8points

Strawberry Pizza 1 year ago

6points

Miriam L 1 year ago

Stay safe. Stay strong. I hope that you can get out soon. You have a bright future ahead of you and you do not deserve this. Internet hugs

4points

BetterBitterButter 1 year ago

That's criminal and wrong in so many ways. Stardust are you Indian?(if you don't mind me asking)

3points

ThatBlackNightingale 1 year ago

7points

Silre 1 year ago

These are not weird things. Weird things are you can only walk on the plastic runners, not the carpet. These things are abuse.

6points

Lara Verne 1 year ago

5points

Seabeast 1 year ago

Had to stop reading. This was too upsetting.

4points

MushroomHead22 1 year ago

the first one is not "weird family things" like wtf?

4points

Singing Panda 1 year ago

Sending everyone love after reading this list. Hope everyone is alright ❤️

4points

kansasmagic 1 year ago

Dear internet, "weird" is not a synonym for "neglectful" or "abusive." A "weird" thing parents might do is insist on wearing matching suits to every social function. It's quirky and harmless.

4points

kansasmagic 1 year ago (edited)

3points