The Wheel Turns: 12 Truisms Your Parents Used to Say
These timeworn parental classics are set to run and run... and are now to be heard coming from your own lips each day
Yes, you’re boring even yourself. Yes, you know you’ve basically turned into your mum/dad/Auntie Sue/Grandpa David – but you can’t quite stop yourself saying the following things on a semi-regular basis, even if all they do is fall on a succession of deaf ears.
2. “Tidy your room”
This is one of those things that every parent is duty-bound to repeat, and every child is duty-bound to protest about (or simply ignore). It’s obviously a Sisyphean task, because even if, by some miracle, they do tidy their room, by the day’s end it will have descended into the usual chaotic maelstrom of dirty socks, ‘craft’ projects and discarded toys.
Nonetheless, you can’t help yourself. If you’re an interiors lover, it can be particularly painful to bear witness to what was once a lovely pastel-hued nursery becoming a cluttered disaster zone. Plus, surely children need to learn to respect their home and take responsibility for their own space?
Rather than nagging, perhaps you could explain how having a tidy room can help you feel happier and more in control? However, never stoop to using that other well-worn phrase, ‘tidy home, tidy mind’, unlikely to change any hormonal teenager’s mind.
All In: 5 Ways to Guarantee Your Family Shares the Housework
This is one of those things that every parent is duty-bound to repeat, and every child is duty-bound to protest about (or simply ignore). It’s obviously a Sisyphean task, because even if, by some miracle, they do tidy their room, by the day’s end it will have descended into the usual chaotic maelstrom of dirty socks, ‘craft’ projects and discarded toys.
Nonetheless, you can’t help yourself. If you’re an interiors lover, it can be particularly painful to bear witness to what was once a lovely pastel-hued nursery becoming a cluttered disaster zone. Plus, surely children need to learn to respect their home and take responsibility for their own space?
Rather than nagging, perhaps you could explain how having a tidy room can help you feel happier and more in control? However, never stoop to using that other well-worn phrase, ‘tidy home, tidy mind’, unlikely to change any hormonal teenager’s mind.
All In: 5 Ways to Guarantee Your Family Shares the Housework
3. “Don’t use up all the hot water”
If you grew up in a house with a hot-water tank, you were no doubt familiar with having a freezing cold – or, if you were very lucky, tepid – shower after everyone else had got to the bathroom first. And your poor old parents were probably desperate to have a long, hot soak in the bath – as you are now.
These days, many of us have water heaters that provide gloriously hot water on demand, but if you do still have an old-fashioned heater or a really small tank, then this is a phrase that everyone in your house will be well-versed in.
If you grew up in a house with a hot-water tank, you were no doubt familiar with having a freezing cold – or, if you were very lucky, tepid – shower after everyone else had got to the bathroom first. And your poor old parents were probably desperate to have a long, hot soak in the bath – as you are now.
These days, many of us have water heaters that provide gloriously hot water on demand, but if you do still have an old-fashioned heater or a really small tank, then this is a phrase that everyone in your house will be well-versed in.
4. “I can’t believe how expensive bread/bedlinen/heritage paint is these days”
Adults, and your parents specifically, were so dull when you were growing up, always reminiscing about how much cheaper pints of milk and pork scratchings were in the good old days.
Well, the shoe is on the other foot now, because it’s you who’s flabbergasted by the unearthly cost of practically everything, and you can’t help verbalising your awe and outrage at every turn. With the price of eggs not looking likely to fall any time soon, prepare your family for this catchphrase to keep on running.
(Also see “money doesn’t grow on trees”.)
Adults, and your parents specifically, were so dull when you were growing up, always reminiscing about how much cheaper pints of milk and pork scratchings were in the good old days.
Well, the shoe is on the other foot now, because it’s you who’s flabbergasted by the unearthly cost of practically everything, and you can’t help verbalising your awe and outrage at every turn. With the price of eggs not looking likely to fall any time soon, prepare your family for this catchphrase to keep on running.
(Also see “money doesn’t grow on trees”.)
5. “Did you lock the front door?”
There’s a moment, usually just after you’ve turned onto the motorway without another exit for 50 kilometres, where you ask your partner/friend/offspring if they’ve locked the front door.
They won’t be able to remember, so you’ll then have a 100-kilometre round trip to discover the answer was “yes”. It will no doubt bring back happy memories of similar childhood car journeys, with your own parents squabbling in the front seats.
If you have offspring who’ve recently started high school and been gifted the front door keys and adult responsibility for the first time, you may also find yourself asking this question by text, phone and WhatsApp daily, especially if you leave the house before they do.
There’s a moment, usually just after you’ve turned onto the motorway without another exit for 50 kilometres, where you ask your partner/friend/offspring if they’ve locked the front door.
They won’t be able to remember, so you’ll then have a 100-kilometre round trip to discover the answer was “yes”. It will no doubt bring back happy memories of similar childhood car journeys, with your own parents squabbling in the front seats.
If you have offspring who’ve recently started high school and been gifted the front door keys and adult responsibility for the first time, you may also find yourself asking this question by text, phone and WhatsApp daily, especially if you leave the house before they do.
6. “Clear your plates off the table”
Finally, you can understand your own mum’s frustration at those soggy plates being left to languish on the table. Removing your dirty dishes after someone else has cooked a meal for you is hardly arduous, and only polite. It takes a few seconds, yet makes a big difference to the person/general dogsbody in charge of meal-making.
Unfortunately, nobody else in your household ever seems to manage it. Which is why you still find yourself issuing this reminder robotically at the end of every family mealtime.
See more beautiful mid-century-style dining areas
Finally, you can understand your own mum’s frustration at those soggy plates being left to languish on the table. Removing your dirty dishes after someone else has cooked a meal for you is hardly arduous, and only polite. It takes a few seconds, yet makes a big difference to the person/general dogsbody in charge of meal-making.
Unfortunately, nobody else in your household ever seems to manage it. Which is why you still find yourself issuing this reminder robotically at the end of every family mealtime.
See more beautiful mid-century-style dining areas
7. “You treat this place like a hotel”
Even as you’re saying it you feel as if you’re ageing by about 20 years, or starring in a 1970s BBC sitcom. And yet, if you have young adults in the house, you probably can’t stop yourself. Because like so many parental clichés, there’s a hard kernel of truth at its core.
(Also see “I’m not your slave”, and “You’re not going out dressed like that”.)
Even as you’re saying it you feel as if you’re ageing by about 20 years, or starring in a 1970s BBC sitcom. And yet, if you have young adults in the house, you probably can’t stop yourself. Because like so many parental clichés, there’s a hard kernel of truth at its core.
(Also see “I’m not your slave”, and “You’re not going out dressed like that”.)
8. “Turn off the tap”
You’ve explained at length how lucky we are to be able to have a source of clean, safe water on demand, rather than having to walk three hours to the nearest well. Plus, we all know that brushing your teeth with the tap running will kill at least three baby polar bears (or something), and that the only thing worse is using face scrubs containing evil, ocean-life destroying microbeads.
So why on earth do your nearest and dearest still insist on wasting water in such a cavalier fashion? To save your voice, you could consider laminating one of those signs usually seen in public toilets warning you that the water is so hot, it will take off a layer of your skin.
You’ve explained at length how lucky we are to be able to have a source of clean, safe water on demand, rather than having to walk three hours to the nearest well. Plus, we all know that brushing your teeth with the tap running will kill at least three baby polar bears (or something), and that the only thing worse is using face scrubs containing evil, ocean-life destroying microbeads.
So why on earth do your nearest and dearest still insist on wasting water in such a cavalier fashion? To save your voice, you could consider laminating one of those signs usually seen in public toilets warning you that the water is so hot, it will take off a layer of your skin.
9. “Turn off the lights”
When you were growing up, it might not even have occurred to you that your parents had to pay for things like electricity, water and gas – if your dad hadn’t told you to turn off the lights around 80 times a day, that is. Which, of course, you never, ever did. Now, as a grown-up, in retrospect you can feel your parents’ pain.
Yes, the amount of electricity and bulb life you’re using probably only costs a few cents each time, but these things add up, and it’s a colossal waste of energy.
If you’re the partner or adult who goes to bed first, there’s also nothing more irritating than coming downstairs in the morning to find the whole house lit up like a Christmas tree yet again.
When you were growing up, it might not even have occurred to you that your parents had to pay for things like electricity, water and gas – if your dad hadn’t told you to turn off the lights around 80 times a day, that is. Which, of course, you never, ever did. Now, as a grown-up, in retrospect you can feel your parents’ pain.
Yes, the amount of electricity and bulb life you’re using probably only costs a few cents each time, but these things add up, and it’s a colossal waste of energy.
If you’re the partner or adult who goes to bed first, there’s also nothing more irritating than coming downstairs in the morning to find the whole house lit up like a Christmas tree yet again.
10. “Don’t use too much loo paper”
If you grew up in a house with dodgy plumbing, this parental refrain may be embarrassingly familiar. Now, as an adult, you’re probably mortified to find yourself saying the very same thing to your nearest and dearest.
Not only are toilet rolls shockingly expensive nowadays, using too much paper is bad for the planet, double-flushing is a waste of water and, worst of all, there’s always the risk of blockage.
If you have a small child, you’ll no doubt already have experienced the joys of having to fish out an entire roll of loo paper from just around the U-bend. Your mum and dad need to be told – sorry, you were right.
If you grew up in a house with dodgy plumbing, this parental refrain may be embarrassingly familiar. Now, as an adult, you’re probably mortified to find yourself saying the very same thing to your nearest and dearest.
Not only are toilet rolls shockingly expensive nowadays, using too much paper is bad for the planet, double-flushing is a waste of water and, worst of all, there’s always the risk of blockage.
If you have a small child, you’ll no doubt already have experienced the joys of having to fish out an entire roll of loo paper from just around the U-bend. Your mum and dad need to be told – sorry, you were right.
11. “Make your bed”
If you have children, there are fairly strong odds they rarely make their bed themselves – even though these days, all making your bed really entails is two seconds of straightening a doona and pillow.
When your parents used to say it to you back in the day, on the other hand, you had to perfect a hospital corner on a top sheet and three woollen blankets (before possibly having to arrange a nylon quilted bedspread with a disturbing geometric or floral pattern on top).
You have no doubt explained to your offspring that not only does a made bed make you feel much better, it also makes your room appear a lot more stylish for very little effort. However, as with most other things on this list, it doesn’t really matter how many times you say it, as you’re really only ever saying it to yourself.
The Pros and Cons of Making Your Bed Every Day
If you have children, there are fairly strong odds they rarely make their bed themselves – even though these days, all making your bed really entails is two seconds of straightening a doona and pillow.
When your parents used to say it to you back in the day, on the other hand, you had to perfect a hospital corner on a top sheet and three woollen blankets (before possibly having to arrange a nylon quilted bedspread with a disturbing geometric or floral pattern on top).
You have no doubt explained to your offspring that not only does a made bed make you feel much better, it also makes your room appear a lot more stylish for very little effort. However, as with most other things on this list, it doesn’t really matter how many times you say it, as you’re really only ever saying it to yourself.
The Pros and Cons of Making Your Bed Every Day
12. “Don’t waste the day”
Remember when double maths seemed to last a year, and the summer holidays felt infinite? Sadly, for many of us, those days are long gone, as modern life seems to whip by at the speed of light. Hence your mum and dad’s implorings to not languish in bed till past noon, and to make the most of the day – especially those precious hours of morning sunlight during darkest winter.
Now you find yourself parroting the same phrase to your children, while simultaneously knowing that it’s only when time has gone that anyone really appreciates it. (“Youth, eh, wasted on the young” etc etc.)
Tell us
What things do you find yourself repeating that your parents used to say? Share all in the Comments section.
More
Read more fun lifestyle stories
Remember when double maths seemed to last a year, and the summer holidays felt infinite? Sadly, for many of us, those days are long gone, as modern life seems to whip by at the speed of light. Hence your mum and dad’s implorings to not languish in bed till past noon, and to make the most of the day – especially those precious hours of morning sunlight during darkest winter.
Now you find yourself parroting the same phrase to your children, while simultaneously knowing that it’s only when time has gone that anyone really appreciates it. (“Youth, eh, wasted on the young” etc etc.)
Tell us
What things do you find yourself repeating that your parents used to say? Share all in the Comments section.
More
Read more fun lifestyle stories
It isn’t just children who are guilty here. A surprising number of partners, flatmates and other adult human beings seem to think it’s perfectly acceptable to just leave a soaking-wet towel to moulder on a bedroom carpet or in a dank corner of the bathroom.
Perhaps they’ve forgotten they don’t live in a five-star hotel and a maid won’t be along in a moment to magic it away and replace it with a fluffy new one. Perhaps they don’t mind their towel being a microhabitat in which bacteria, fungi and other pathogens can thrive (one which, incidentally, they will rub all over their face the following morning).
Either way, you’re totally justified in saying this, before huffing and putting it back on the rail yourself, as per usual.