Some of the rules our parents made us follow are just good, common sense: always look both ways before you cross the street, don’t talk to strangers, eat your vegetables.
Others, well, arbitrary at best. And in hindsight, pretty funny considering it seems like they drew a line in the sand for absolutely no reason at all.
We rounded up some of the best ad-hoc parenting on Twitter, enjoy these 17 hilarious examples:
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I sure tell my family, "Don't blame me, I dont make the rules" a lot for someone that makes literally every single rule in this house.
— The Salty Mamas (@saltymamas) December 4, 2019
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When I was a kid I used to get mad because so many of the rules my parents made seemed so arbitrary.
Now that I’m a parent I realize that I was absolutely correct to be mad.
— Couper Moorhead (@CoupNBA) June 17, 2020
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anyone else's parents have arbitrary rules about what food in the fridge is for eating, and what's for saving? no? just mine, then.
— jess ✨ (@quellajesska) December 18, 2012
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“We don’t eat candy we find in the public restroom” is a rule I had to make for 3 today.
— Marissa 💚❄️💛 (@michimama75) May 30, 2020
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No more French fries until you eat a chicken nugget is my personal favourite
— Joe Williamson (@thatnerddad) March 4, 2021
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I had my oldest son convinced for years that I didn’t have any control over the rules. When he’d question something, I’d shrug and say, “Well, that’s the rule.” He was about 7 when he caught on.
— Rebecca Sears (@Rebecca73400901) March 4, 2021
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I was raised in an era when parents cld apply arbitrary rules. I wasnt allowed to watch 'on the buses'. Not sure if that was a good thing
— rob smith (@grumpypostie) November 22, 2012
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As a parent I enjoy making up arbitrary rules about things like breakfast.
“No you can’t have macaroni n cheese for breakfast. Here, have some chocolate Coco Puffs and a side of chocolate milk instead. Much better.”
— Janina Maria (@dontlosethekids) June 18, 2018
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Me: “Kids, there will be no Covid schooling tomorrow in observance of Mother’s Day.”
Husband: “But Mother’s Day is today, not tomorrow.”
Me: “My school, my rules. Also, you’re fired.”
— Faux Ma (@Faux_Ma) May 10, 2020
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The neighbor girl brought her Halloween candy when she came over to play with my kids.
She didn’t know that made her candy subject to a 2nd dad tax.
Sorry, I don’t make the rules.
— Robert Knop (@FatherWithTwins) November 2, 2019
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I need to enforce a new rule here. No random children talking of Iron Man and roller coasters until I've had at least a sip of coffee
— Jen Good (@buriedwithkids) March 15, 2011
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Are anyone else's parents so inconsistent with the strict rules that you get whiplash cuz same
— Nicole (@heyitisme16) August 2, 2016