Rearing Rules

What one rule from your childhood do you not agree with now that you're an adult?

Unreasonable childhood rules... I really tried to think of a time I stomped my feet or threw myself on the ground in protest of something I really found unreasonable.  It didn't happen.  First of all, if I ever attempted to throw myself on the ground, I would have had my ass tanned faster than I could protest. Second of all, I didn't grow up with unreasonable rules.

• Come home when you are asked, and we never had an unreasonable curfew.  I don't even remember having a curfew. 
• Keep yourself presentable.  Shower, brush your teeth, comb your hair, wear appropriate clothing. Pretty simple. 
• Help when asked, and sometimes even when you aren't.  (Mom's "I shouldn't have to ask rule...") 
•  Okay - side bar.  As a mom I get what she was thinking here.  If the sink is full of dishes - do them.  If the bathroom is unkempt - clean it.  We should not have to have been asked to do chores that blatantly needed to be done.  But kids are dumb.  Let's be honest here.  No kid will ever see the bathroom as so untidy that they would have to clean it.  The problem with the "shouldn't have to ask" rule is carrying it into adult hood - which, my mother has done like a Boss.  She will do EVERYTHING that needs to be handled ALL THE DAMN TIME!! - and never ask for help.  This IS NOT HEALTHY! Do you hear me mom?   Does every single person out there attached to my mom hear this?  Let me be very clear... She will not ask for help.  She will wear herself down to exhaustion and manic behaviour trying to make sure everyone else's needs are met, and everyone else is happy before she will ever afford herself the respect she deserves.  So, if you see my precious mother working on something you should be paying attention to - and you know you should, but aren't because she's handling it and you think that's good enough - STOP IT! If you have asked if she needs help and she says "ummmm no, it's okay..."  It's not okay, you should help, and yes, folks, she shouldn't have to ask if you see her struggling,  Should she ask for help more often?  YES! A million times YES! But she won't.  So help a girl out.   
• Be respectful.  Use respectful language. don't talk back, don't be an ass. 
• Clean your room, make your bed.  Don't stuff everything you have under your bed and call it clean. 
• Don't attempt to bake bread in the microwave.  (But it made for years of great stories!)
• Be a joiner.  I played volleyball, basketball, badminton, baseball, I took dance, I was in Girl Guides, I was the lead of every school play, I was on student council for years.  It was never acceptable to do nothing.  I love that. 
• Don't leave a campsite in the middle of British Columbia to go visit a "new friend" without telling a soul.  And when you are found after an hour or so of sheer parental terror, be smart enough to keep your mouth shut when told to do so.  
• Feed the dog, walk the dog, love the dog. Never believe your dad when he says it's the last dog.
• Show up on time, and do your best. 
• Treat people fairly and be kind. 
• Love unconditionally. 

I really didn't have any unreasonable requests of me.  I was raised exactly right. Really, the only rule, one I call Old School, that I don't obey now is the "no hats at the table" rule - with exception.  If I have been out in the yard all day, or lazing around on a baseball hat kind of day, I see no need to remove it from my head in order to eat.  It's not rude, it doesn't offend anyone - it's a hat.  So if I am at MY OWN TABLE in MY OWN HOUSE, I will happily wear a hat.  Disclaimer: This excludes any family meal, meals not in my own house, or family gathering (but I wouldn't be wearing a baseball hat to that, now would I?).  I remember once, in my own house, at lunch, my dad knocked a baseball hat off my head after staring at it for too long in cue for me to remove it.  I defiantly picked it up, put it right back on and said "Welcome to my kitchen table.  Your rule doesn't apply here."  Pretty sure I broke a few childhood rules just in that sentence, but, as an adult, I made a point.  It was received - just not well.  My hat then remained on the floor for the remainder of lunch. 

• Parents are normally right - don't correct them.