What are habits you picked up from your parents?

[cleo29]

Not sure if habits is the right word. And perhaps it is something that would seem odd to others.

When I drop a friend off at their house, especially at night, I wait to make sure they get in the house before leaving. Definitely something my mom used to do. 

What are yours?

[spindle92]

Anytime I have to suddenly hit the breaks, I always put my right arm out to "protect" the person in the passenger seat - which is usually just my purse.

eta: My mom ALWAYS did this growing up and still does.

[rondonalddo]

I store chocolate chips in the freezer.

[TR]

This may not be exactly what you mean, but I've realized that putting dishes directly into the dishwasher is a household by household thing. It makes me nuts that H leaves dishes in the sink instead of putting them in the dishwasher that is INCHES away. But then I spent some time with his family and realized that's what they do and that's just what he grew up doing. I've never found out if he would just put them all in at once at night because I can't stand looking at them and I put them in there lol.

[gardengal]

Irrationally worrying about everything

[cleo29]

spindle92, I do the same thing. lol

[calamity]

Feeling startled and stressed out by loud noises.

My dad used to always tell us to 'turn it down a notch'

I get it now and I find myself saying it to the kids.

[TR]

Using sarcasm as a defense mechanism is definitely something I got from my mom lol

[joy]

I ask my daughter’s opinion on things that affect her. My parents asked me at six whether I wanted to go to first grade or T-1 and they listened to me. They also asked me at seven whether I wanted to switch schools or stay where I was. Again, they listened to me. It gave me agency at a very young age and built trust between my parents and I. They didn’t always go with my choice, obviously, but they cared what I thought and took it into account.

Often times on here when someone asks a q concerning their kid, one of the first things I ask is what the kid’s opinion is.

[joy]

Aug 26, 2021 13:46:42 GMT -5 TR said:

This may not be exactly what you mean, but I've realized that putting dishes directly into the dishwasher is a household by household thing. It makes me nuts that H leaves dishes in the sink instead of putting them in the dishwasher that is INCHES away. But then I spent some time with his family and realized that's what they do and that's just what he grew up doing. I've never found out if he would just put them all in at once at night because I can't stand looking at them and I put them in there lol.

Lol. There are no dishes in the sink here. No, ma’am. Dishes go directly in the dishwasher or set on the side to soak. Nothing drives me more nuts than needing the sink (collander for pasta, handwashing) and I cannot use it without removing dishes first. Eff that.

This is 100% from my parents.

[TR]

Aug 26, 2021 13:56:18 GMT -5 joy said:

Aug 26, 2021 13:46:42 GMT -5 TR said:

This may not be exactly what you mean, but I've realized that putting dishes directly into the dishwasher is a household by household thing. It makes me nuts that H leaves dishes in the sink instead of putting them in the dishwasher that is INCHES away. But then I spent some time with his family and realized that's what they do and that's just what he grew up doing. I've never found out if he would just put them all in at once at night because I can't stand looking at them and I put them in there lol.

Lol. There are no dishes in the sink here. No, ma’am. Dishes go directly in the dishwasher or set on the side to soak. Nothing drives me more nuts than needing the sink (collander for pasta, handwashing) and I cannot use it without removing dishes first. Eff that.

This is 100% from my parents.

When we stay with his parents I'm constantly putting dishes in the dishwasher lol. They just pile them up in the sink!

[mysteriouswife]

Aug 26, 2021 13:42:37 GMT -5 spindle92 said:

Anytime I have to suddenly hit the breaks, I always put my right arm out to "protect" the person in the passenger seat - which is usually just my purse.

eta: My mom ALWAYS did this growing up and still does.

H’s grandma did this. Even as a passenger she would throw her arm over the driver.

[mysteriouswife]

Aug 26, 2021 13:53:15 GMT -5 TR said:

Using sarcasm as a defense mechanism is definitely something I got from my mom lol

Oh wait that’s not normal...

Yeah, that’s me. I get it from my dad.

[eddy]

Instantly asking for the air to be turned on when I get in a car that I am not driving lol.

It is my mom's most classic mom move. She is gone, but now I do it.

[tacokick]

This isn’t a habit but my parents were really good about boundaries and not doing things out of a sense of obligation or that made you uncomfortable or that you just didn’t want to do. My dad’s family was a lot of drama and we just stopped going to get togethers and holidays with them when I was around 8 or 9. It was like a weight was lifted.

My mom always said that if you got invited to something you didn’t want to do, it was always polite and fine to say you had other plans even if your “plans” were painting your toe nails.

It really has served me well as an adult! I don’t keep toxic people in my life and am happy in my bubble of people I like and doing what I want. I didn’t have to drop Trump supporters or anti-vaxers because I don’t know them.

I take care of my people but it’s not out of guilt or obligation.

On a lighter note, I’m really good at shopping grocery sales and cooking all my meals which really came in handy this past year! We always had a tight budget and never got take out or restaurant food so it was easy to fall back on that.

[Deleted]

Recycling - we've been doing this since the 80's, down to recycling things like what the toilet paper is on (not the holder, the cardboard thing - what is that called?!)

[k3am]

Aug 26, 2021 13:46:42 GMT -5 TR said:

This may not be exactly what you mean, but I've realized that putting dishes directly into the dishwasher is a household by household thing. It makes me nuts that H leaves dishes in the sink instead of putting them in the dishwasher that is INCHES away. But then I spent some time with his family and realized that's what they do and that's just what he grew up doing. I've never found out if he would just put them all in at once at night because I can't stand looking at them and I put them in there lol.

I think DH tried this once or twice once we first moved in together and I put a swift stop to it. Why touch something twice when you can put it straight in and be done with it?!?! I have a couple friends who leave dishes in the sink (their sink, so really none of my business) and I can't stand it. 

[agnes]

No outside shoes on in the house

[wildrice]

Planning things like vacations/visits waaay in advance. I'll be like "hey H, do you want to go to visit my family in May?" and he'll be like "I have no idea - that's 8 months from now. Can we decide later?".

I also have way too many condiments and things in jars in our fridge. I blame my mom.

[wildrice]

We mostly leave our dishes in the sink until the evening. We also don't do them immediately after dinner - it's more of a "before bedtime" activity. My parents are not like that at all - they would sooner die than sit down for the evening before doing the dishes. Actually, there are a lot of little housekeeping and cleaning things that I do that would drive my parents bananas. My dad would probably have a heart attack if he could see my 4 pairs of shoes in front of our front door right now.

[W.T.Faulkner]

Like my dad, I am not a spender, to say the least.

Like my mom, I need a relatively clean and organized home or I absolutely lose my shit.

[gardengal]

Cleaning the house & emptying dishwasher before you go on vacation. This is not a thing for my H & he’s still kinda “Whyyyyyyyy?!??!” after 15yrs.

Who want to come home to a mess? So not relaxing

[mccallister84]

Honestly I feel like my entire adult life has been an exercise in developing habits completely opposite of my parents. I’m sure H could come up with a few though….

[icedcoffee]

I use my parking break (aka hand break or emergency break) every time I park. It’s a PITA though when someone borrows my car because they never know how to turn them off.

[macmars45]

I'm a saver, not a spender (like my dad). Good thing H is an accountant so he can spell it out for me in detail how making expensive purchases work in our short & long term plans and finances.

[mrsd2006]

Aug 26, 2021 14:39:31 GMT -5 gardengal said:

Cleaning the house & emptying dishwasher before you go on vacation. This is not a thing for my H & he’s still kinda “Whyyyyyyyy?!??!” after 15yrs.

Who want to come home to a mess? So not relaxing

We call that leaving the house "funeral ready"  

Washing and reusing ziploc bags- def from my mother. 

[pooh8402]

Kind of a funny one

When I'm agreeing with someone, I say "yeahyeahyeah" then move on with the rest of my sentence. Picked it up from my mom.

[pooh8402]

Aug 26, 2021 13:42:37 GMT -5 spindle92 said:

Anytime I have to suddenly hit the breaks, I always put my right arm out to "protect" the person in the passenger seat - which is usually just my purse.

eta: My mom ALWAYS did this growing up and still does.

Don't all people do this? My parents and grandparents did it, my H's parents do it, H does it, and I do it. I do it mostly out of the habit of trying to stop my purse from sliding to the floorboard and dumping all my crap, but I do that move.

[spindle92]

Aug 26, 2021 15:20:50 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

Aug 26, 2021 13:42:37 GMT -5 spindle92 said:

Anytime I have to suddenly hit the breaks, I always put my right arm out to "protect" the person in the passenger seat - which is usually just my purse.

eta: My mom ALWAYS did this growing up and still does.

Don't all people do this? My parents and grandparents did it, my H's parents do it, H does it, and I do it. I do it mostly out of the habit of trying to stop my purse from sliding to the floorboard and dumping all my crap, but I do that move.

I know lots of people who don't do it and laugh at me when I do.

[tacokick]

Aug 26, 2021 14:39:31 GMT -5 gardengal said:

Cleaning the house & emptying dishwasher before you go on vacation. This is not a thing for my H & he’s still kinda “Whyyyyyyyy?!??!” after 15yrs.

Who want to come home to a mess? So not relaxing

And clean sheets/towels! Who doesn’t want to come home to that?