We are developing a reward system in our household for the children’s behavior. They have a material item they want and we told them they had to work towards earning that item rather than being given the item. With this, we are developing a new reward system.
Of course, we need established rules for our reward system and it got me thinking of some of the crazy ass rules I had when growing up…
No dating until I was 16. Growing up, I was boy crazy and I hated this rule, but I can see the reasoning. It’s not like I wanted my parents driving me around on dates anyway so waiting until I was 16 and driving myself, I guess that’s okay.
No dating until I was 16 also meant no phone calls from boys until I was 16. That was horrible! (I mentioned above that I was boy crazy, right?)
Phone calls have a 5 minute limit. No longer or she just might hang up the call on you.
Every Saturday was cleaning day. No joke. Every Saturday we were woken up early (there is no sleeping in at my mother’s house) to clean the house top to bottom before we were allowed to do anything else. And if you perhaps got the chance to spend the night at a friend’s house on Friday night (a rare occurrence anyway) you had to be home by 8-9am so you could help clean (and trust you me, pushing that time to 10am was not something you got away with!)
Every Sunday was family day. Yep, every Sunday. Unless of course the grandparents were out of town. Again, if you got the chance to spend the night at a friend’s house on Saturday night (another rare occurrence) you had to be home early to go out to the grandparents house. Every Sunday morning for two to three hours minimum. Every. Sunday.
As an adult and mother myself, I look back and chuckle at some of these.
I do not know how I feel about the dating at 16. I’m not there yet (thank God) so I’m not sure how I feel.
Talking to boys on the phone? I’m open to that. What’s the harm, right?
Five minute phone limits? I have two words – call waiting.
The cleaning every Saturday morning? Not a fan. (A) I hate cleaning. (B) I’m not so anal that it has to be done every Saturday. We do usually have a cleaning day every couple of weeks where everything gets cleaned thoroughly and I’m happy with that. So long as my house is presentable at other times, I don’t care.
Personally, I’d like to keep Sunday as family day, but it’s not feasible for our family for several reasons, but that is one thing I miss about being back home!
What crazy ass rules did you have growing up? If you’re a parent now, have you kept those same rules or abandoned them?
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Oh my goodness!!! We did the Saturday cleaning too! Drove me CRAZY!
I agree with the dating at 16. I was actually 20 when I started dating and that was my choice. Of course, I am leaning more towards courtship anyway.
The phone rule? Maybe not quite five minutes, but there need to be some boundaries. It’s not so much tying up the line as talking on the phone too late or ignoring other obligations to talk on the phone. (I remember receiving phone calls at 1am. My parents were not so happy.)
I’ve been thinking about having a family dinner on Sundays. I really want to start setting some traditions in our family.
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I remember the 8PM bedtime when I was really young… but then as I got older I don’t remember many rules, but I wasn’t a push the envelope kind of girl. My sisters and brother did that for me, in advance of me, and after me (I’m 3rd). I graduated HS at just turning 16 and married at just turning 17. The no boys till 16 rule really wouldn’t have worked for me. I dated my husband from when I was 15 – till we married. But still married and he is my soul mate – who’s to know when you’ll meet that special someone to complete you?
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That’s kind of my thought too… you never know regardless of age who that one might be. I’m telling you, I had crazy ass rules! LOL
No crazy rules that I can remember while growing. The one rule I didn’t like was our bedtime being at 8pm. Ugh, I hated that, especially during the summertime.
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I hate early bedtime! Although, that is one rule I have with my kids. During the school year anyway. Bedtime is 7pm (only because we have to be up at 630am and they don’t fall asleep for an hour or two after bedtime anyway) but weekends are free (Fri and Sat nights) and summers are free except when summer activities (bible camp and music camp) are happening.
hmmm….growing up it seemed like I had the super-strict parents, but now that I am a parent I am having a hard time thinking of all the rules of our house….shhh, don’t tell my mom! our kids are young so the only rules we have right now are no hitting, talking back, and make sure you pick up after yourself.
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We had a ten minute phone rule and no dating till 16 , too!
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I don’t remember any crazy rules growing up. I was the oldest of 3 girls so I didn’t get to do as much as my younger sisters when they got older. The only thing I can think of is my mom did EVERYTHING for us (cleaning, laundry, cooking). She didn’t want a mess in her house so she did it all. When I moved out at 18, I didn’t have a clue how to do anything. I’m trying to make my kids more responsible for their stuff.
I feel you on the oldest of 3 girls business. I hated that! Shit, who am I kidding, I still hate that and I’m 29! LOL
I can see growing up having my mom do everything would be nice, but I could see how that would hinder someone in the long run. I think we need a happy medium of shared chores!
We didn’t have that many rules growing up, but one rule I remember in my tween years was that we had to be in the house once it got dark.
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I wish! Bedtime was like 9pm for-ever! My curfew was 10pm until I was 18 – then it got moved to midnight! Craziness!
I am doing the same when we move. But mostly not behavior (although some will be in there). I am in the midst of developing a routine for everyone too! Lots of changes, but good!
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I think there comes a time when they need structure and organization and a goal to work for. My kids want a new video game which is not cheap so we told them they had to work together to work toward the goal of the game. Hoping that will reduce some fighting that has been occurring and get them to help out more around the house!