When you’re a kid, your parents make you do things that seem completely pointless, annoying, or just plain weird.
Whether it was a rule they enforced, a habit they drilled into you, or something they insisted was “for your own good,” you probably rolled your eyes more than once. But now that you’re older, some of those strange things actually make a whole lot of sense. Looking back, they weren’t just being strict for no reason; they were trying to teach you something. As an adult, you can finally appreciate the point and benefit of doing these things in particular.
1. Writing thank-you notes for everything
As a kid, having to sit down and write thank-you notes for every birthday present or Christmas gift felt like unnecessary homework. Why couldn’t a quick “thanks” in person be enough? It seemed like a chore designed purely to make your life more difficult. As an adult, you get it — showing appreciation matters. People remember when you take the time to acknowledge their kindness, and a thoughtful message goes a long way. These days, when you receive a heartfelt “thank you,” you realise how much it actually means.
2. Eating dinner at the table instead of in front of the TV
Nothing was more frustrating than being deep into a TV show, only to be dragged away because “we eat at the table in this house.” You didn’t understand why it mattered — you could eat and watch TV at the same time, right? Now, you see the value in sitting down for a proper meal without distractions. It’s about being present, having real conversations, and actually enjoying your food instead of mindlessly shovelling it in. It turns out those forced family dinners built the habit of meaningful connection.
3. Turning off lights when you leave a room
As a kid, it felt like your parents had a sixth sense for knowing when you left a light on. They’d shout from another room, “Are you paying the electric bill?” and you’d roll your eyes because, obviously, you weren’t. Now, when you see your own energy bill, you completely understand. Leaving lights on when no one’s in the room is just throwing money away, and suddenly, you’re the one grumbling about wasted electricity.
4. Wearing layers “just in case”
It didn’t matter if the sun was shining — your parents always insisted you take a jacket with you. “You’ll thank me later,” they’d say, even though you were convinced you wouldn’t. Today, you know they were right. Weather changes fast, and being unprepared is the worst. That extra layer has saved you from unexpected chills more times than you can count, and you’ve officially become the person who tells others, “Bring a jacket, just in case.”
5. Doing chores on the weekend
Saturdays should have been for cartoons and video games, but your parents had other ideas — cleaning, tidying, and endless chores. It felt like unnecessary torture when you just wanted to relax. Now, having a clean space actually makes you feel better. You realise they were teaching you to maintain a home, not just making you suffer. And let’s be honest, nothing beats the feeling of fresh sheets or a spotless kitchen.
6. Being forced to greet visitors properly
When guests came over, there was no escaping the requirement to say hello, shake hands, or make polite conversation. It felt awkward and unnecessary. After all, why did you have to stop what you were doing just to say hi? Fast-forward a few decades, and you realise those little interactions built confidence and social skills. You understand the importance of making people feel welcome, and you’ve probably noticed how some adults never quite learned that skill.
7. Having a strict bedtime
As a kid, bedtime felt like an unfair punishment. Why did adults get to stay up late while you had to be in bed when it was still light outside? It felt like they just wanted to ruin your fun. These days, you crave sleep. You’d give anything for a solid eight hours, and you finally understand that going to bed early actually makes life easier. Turns out, your parents weren’t just being mean — they were setting you up for better habits.
8. Being told to “just try a bite” of new foods
As a kid, you were convinced that certain foods were disgusting before they even touched your tongue. Your parents, however, wouldn’t let you leave the table without at least trying them. Now, you realise they were right. Your taste buds have changed, and half the things you refused to eat as a kid are now your favourites. They were trying to save you from missing out, not torturing you with vegetables.
9. Being made to apologise, even when you didn’t want to.
Nothing felt worse than being forced to say sorry when you didn’t feel like it. It seemed pointless — if you weren’t actually sorry, what was the point? These days, you understand that apologising isn’t just about you; it’s about acknowledging when you’ve hurt someone and taking responsibility. Learning how to apologise properly is something a lot of people struggle with, but thanks to your parents, you’ve got it down.
10. Being forced to put your phone away at the dinner table
If you grew up in the era of mobile phones, your parents probably made a big deal about keeping them away during meals. At the time, it felt unfair. Why couldn’t you text and eat at the same time? As an adult yourself now, you see the difference between people who are present and those who are glued to their screens. You appreciate the rare moments when people actually talk, and you might even find yourself enforcing the same rule with friends or family.
11. Saving money instead of spending it all at once
Birthday money, Christmas money, or your first pay cheque — whatever it was, your first instinct was to spend it immediately. But your parents always told you to save some for later. Of course, you get it now. Having money saved for emergencies, big purchases, or unexpected expenses is a lifesaver. They weren’t trying to ruin your fun — they were preparing you for real life.
12. Being told to stand up straight
“Stop slouching!” If you heard that phrase growing up, you probably ignored it, assuming posture didn’t really matter. It seemed like a pointless thing for them to nag about. As an adult, you’ve seen the long-term effects of bad posture. Whether it’s back pain, a hunched-over look, or just the confidence boost that comes with standing tall, you finally understand why they kept correcting you.
13. Waking up early, even on weekends
Saturdays were supposed to be for sleeping in, but your parents had other ideas. Whether it was for chores, errands, or just “not wasting the day,” they made sure you were up early. Now, you see the benefit of an early start. Sleeping all morning means losing half the day, and there’s something satisfying about being productive while everyone else is still in bed.
14. Double-checking everything before leaving the house
“Do you have your keys? Your phone? Your homework?” Your parents’ constant reminders before leaving the house were annoying at best. You knew what you were doing… until the one time you didn’t. These days, you do the same thing to yourself. There’s nothing worse than getting halfway to work or school and realising you forgot something important. Their habit of double-checking actually saved you from a lot of unnecessary stress.
15. Not letting you quit something just because it got hard
Whether it was a sport, a musical instrument, or a school project, your parents didn’t let you quit the second things got difficult. At the time, it felt unfair because if you didn’t enjoy it, why did you have to keep going? Since you’ve grown up now, you see the value in perseverance. Learning to push through challenges builds resilience, and you probably appreciate that skill every time you have to deal with something tough in adult life.
