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People Describe The Things Their Parents Did That They Won't Repeat With Their Own Children

We're just past Father's Day at time of writing, and hopefully people took to social media or visited with social distancing involved to show how much they appreciate their dad. Unfortunately, not everyone had a solid male, or female, role-model in their life, someone to watch over and help guide them through childhood in a positive way. Thankfully, some people learn from their parents' mistakes and can become better from it.


Reddit user, u/sidarth23, wanted to hear about:

[Serious]What are the things your parents have done to you which you wouldn't do to your child?

Don't Slam

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We've never taken the doors off of our kids rooms (old house, old doors, a big pain in the neck) but every time they slammed their door, I calmly walked back to their room, stood inside their room with them, and had them close it softly 5 times. I would say 'It's OK to be angry but it's not OK to have a fit. Slamming the door is having a fit." And then I would leave the room so they could calm down.

It didn't take very long for them to learn. When they got angry, they would stomp and huff and puff back to their rooms and then... softly close the door.

themamajo

No Excuses

My father always compared me to my siblings and made me feel like sh!t, and when I didn't do well he would hit me and punish me but he never put in the effort to find the problem or help me. It was only when I went abroad for a year in high school that I found out I have learning disabilities and that I could get help and improve! I felt like he didn't care (which in retrospect was probably accurate) and that he only paid attention so he would have an excuse to hurt me.

Savannah_P_Frost

Thankfully he's an Ex

My ex step dad had no issues punishing me and my brother in questionable ways. I have a scar on my back from when he took a branch that was on fire from our fire pit and would whack the hell outta me with it. One time he also pinned me down and would let my sister repeatedly punch me in the nose because I apparently had upset her. I remember one time our deep freeze got left open and all the meat dethawed and he would whip me and my brother until one of us confessed. Turns out it was him after all during a drunk night and he wanted something to eat.

Jaymzz2

I'm not having kids

Hmm let's see

-neglected me in a crib for days in the hot sun to the point where I had maggots in my diapers

-sent me to school with scratches and bruises

-hit me directly in the head with things

-threaten to kill me

-treat me like a complete failure in my teen years without questioning WHY

Oh and when I got taken away and put in a foster home?

I'm not having kids. But that's because I'm unstable and tend to isolate.

ToothShavings

Gossip Gal

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I hate when my mom gossips about my private life to literally everyone. And then she gets upset when I wont tell her things, like bawling extremely heartbroken kind of upset. She can act pretty entitled to my emotions and information about me with out actually earning it. It's so draining.

OopsDroppedMyWeasel

The Basics

Not explaining to my 12 yo daughter about woman period.

f011593

My mom gave me an American Girl book about puberty and left the rest of my education about women's health to the school system. I only recently learned discharge is normal and your body cleaning itself. Health class is a joke.

hiphillbert

be better

Physical abuse, mental and verbal abuse. My mother and step father commented on my body a lot.

I am better now! It took a lot of years of healing and therapy, but I've accepted it as part of my past. Thank you for asking. (:

Faeriefarts

~my awful awful parents~  

Refusing to accept that my child has feelings, every damn time I'm criticized for playing games and enjoying my time. My parents seem to enjoy pulling similar stunts, whenever I lash out because I'm mad it's always, "must be those damn games you play"

~my awful awful parents~

Sparkzdontfly

$$$$ Issues

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Ask for Money, especially now knowing how much my mother spends on pointless things and then wonders why they don't ever have money. Just annoying and I don't feel bad any more. My father bust his @ss to make money and she just blows it all.

BigMouthBillyBass07

Be There For Me

Chose drugs over me, left me with a babysitter that abused me for years, choke slammed me to the ground, dropped a knee in my chest fracturing my sternum, tried to fight me for my smart mouth. Those are just a few gems of my wonderful childhood. Oh yes and now I am the perfect picture of mental health.

obscenobite

My dad was not a good dad

Stop talking to them over a woman (twice), and let them forget I'm here for them and I love them.

My dad was not a good dad.

I remember when I was little after my parents got divorced, I would sit on our front steps with my little suitcase waiting for my dad because he'd tell me he was coming to get me. My mom would get a call from my dad making some excuse as to why he couldn't come get me. She told me she would break down and cry because she was the one that had to tell me he wasn't coming, and she knew I'd be upset and likely cry. This happened a lot.

I also remember when they made us start dialing area codes. I was probably 7. I didn't know, so I'd dial the 7 digit number and it just gave me a busy signal. I tried to call him for months. I would sit there and cry because I wanted my dad to just be my dad and I didn't know if he was even alive. Turns out he was alive, he just didn't care to give his son a call.

Growing up without a dad sucks. My son will never experience that. I hug him, and kiss him, and tell him I love him all the time. Maybe too much, but I don't care. He's 5 and he'll be pushing me off him before long. I'd rather him be spoiled than go through what I went through.

ElGuapoBurro

the hard way

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Teach them that the only acceptable way to live is the way they do. Grew up with some serious judgmental thoughts about people different from me that are still hard to drive out.

purplety9

Get Up

Moms an absolute psycho so basically everything different. If I didn't wake up for school at a specific time, she would beat me up and throw me out the house with no lunch.

So yeah, childhood at home was no fun. TuggeTargaryen

"ok you've cried enough now stop."

My mom never allowed me to express my emotions in a healthy way. Whenever I would cry, there would be a time limit like "ok you've cried enough now stop." Same thing with every other emotion as well, especially negative ones.

My dad was the "fun" parent to me until I grew up and realized he emotional and mentally abused my brother and my mom. I never got the brunt of any of it because I was his favorite

I was the favorite for everyone and always needed to be a mediator because no one could communicate properly. You shouldn't force a 15 year old to be a messenger

In the end my mom realized that she needed to stop hindering my emotionally maturity but still slips into really bad habits of "ok that's enough here is advice."

My dad is still a piece of crap. He stopped the abuse mostly but even so he's the type that has given up on himself and won't try to get better than he was. He's disappointed me too many times

I won't tell my kids it's not bad to cry. I won't hold grudges against them. I won't play favorites. Both me and my husband had bad parents and I know I'll be doing mistakes too but I'll own up to it and do my best to learn.

Izuku_Urameshi

Who's There?

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KNOCK. Please always knock. Also don't just knock while you're in the midst of opening the door, that doesn't count. Knock, wait for a response, then come in. Not only for when you're doing things you don't want your parents to do, but also just allows the kid to feel a lot more private in their room, knowing you respect that boundary.

fireiidrag

Restrictions

Severely restrict video games.

My parents didn't grow up with them, so they viewed video games as dumb, or at worst, bad for you. Why they'd be worse than watching TV, I don't know.

It just killed me to not be able to even use my own money to buy an NES. Still stings today
when I think about that. My kids & I have a blast today.

Pac_Eddy

early zzzz's.....

Make me go to bed every single day at 7:30pm. Well, I'm 16 (almost 17) right now and my bedtime is 9:15 (even in the weekends/vacation, which is still ridiculous IMO), but I take my phone with me and go to sleep at around 10:30 which is more reasonable to me. :)

Mr_BananaPants

forever mine

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My parents disowned me, 7 and a half years ago. I WOULD NEVER EVER DISOWN MY 2 BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!

aneela30

so not beautiful... inside

Make my daughter feel insecure about her looks or feel that her entire worth is tied to her looks. My mom's an attractive woman. I took a lot of my looks from my dad's side of the family and she made it no secret that she felt they weren't attractive people. She would compare my looks to other girls. I was an awkward teen. She didn't like how my hair is more Afro textured, or how I put on make up. It took my husband to help me to realize that I didn't need make up to be pretty. Girls go enough insecurity about their looks. I won't be the one to make it worse.

OctoberBlue89

Running to College

Threaten to put your kid in an insane asylum for just crying a lot. Tell your teenage daughter she should dress up like this more often so she can get a boy to like her. Tell your suffering kid who is crying from pain that they will be homeless if they can't clean up their act. Tell your kid they are broken. Tell your kid to suck it up. Scold your kid for getting a 'C' and a threatening look at a 'B' with a comment of "you really should try harder" despite all other grades being an 'A' Call your kid a drama queen. Make your kid cry so much they start keeping track.

All things told or done by my father who I call Scrap, as recently he showed he cares more about getting his donuts than a human life. I can't wait to leave for college again.

ABlindArtist

none of your business

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Stay out of my kid's business. My parents weren't controlling at all, but they were nosey and I've always been a very private person. I felt like I couldn't live any kind of life when I lived with them, because they'd pry and ask me questions. If my kids don't feel like sharing some detail of their life with me, in not going to pry unless I think it's hurting them in some way.

Digibollocks

boomer mentality

They would never and still never apologize. Even if they did something wrong. They are always right and will argue tooth and nail. The sky is not blue it's green, so stop arguing with me right now.

Boomer mentality that you can't appear weak and being or admitting you're wrong makes you weak.

lil_adk_bird

Awkward

When I was a kid I rarely was allowed to see friends outside of school. Could be part of the reason I'm socially awkward sometimes now. If it's someone I've known for awhile I don't have a problem holding conversation but first dates are a little rough sometimes.

teven_with_an_S

I Can Hear You

They put hidden microphones all over my room, basement and probably some other places too. I discovered them when my mom kept on calling me when I used the family computer. probably suspecting me of watching inappropriate stuff. She also searches my phone every night when she thinks I am sleeping. I don't have kids yet but when I do I would never do that and teach my kids to respect their kid's privacy too. and If you are wondering I am 15 only a few more years until I move out. Other than this my mom is pretty nice so yeah she just needs to respect my privacy.

MrBigfoot9537

How 'Lady Bird' of Me

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Fight in front of them.

My parents fought a lot around me and I hated it growing and do not want to subject my kids to that. Like sure it's important show them how to handle disagreement, but not get into screaming matches like my parents.

I remember one time when I was about 8 years old, I was in the car with my parents. They were arguing like always, but being trapped in that metal box with both of them screaming back and forth became too much. We stopped at a red light and I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car and started running. My mom, who was in the passenger's seat ran out after me and after he pulled over the car my dad did as well. They caught up to me and their attitudes completely changed.

They promised me they wouldn't fight in front of me again, a promise they broke time and time again until their divorce. I'm hoping I can do a better job of keeping my promise.

-eDgAR-

avoiding life

Socially isolate them or avoid family get togethers. I wouldn't tell them not to do something or to do something without explaining to them why, I wouldn't scream or shout at them over the pettiest of things.

Auserna

Out of the Bubble

They didn't give us the freedom to develop our own thoughts. I think my mom thought of us as little human molds to form into her worldview and beliefs, instead of letting us have the freedom to figure it out on our own.

I didn't learn it until years later. To this day I still feel pretty isolated from my parents. I can't have open discussions with them because of the bubble they're in. I get jealous of my friends who can have really engaging adult talks with their parents.

I want to teach my kids how to critically think and not what to think. Ask them what their opinion is on different topics. I never had those kinds of thought provoking discussion.

VincentStonecliff

"too old"

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Not having kids, but tell them it's bad to like the same gender or tell them they have to grow up and stop watching cartoons/playing with toys.

Forget you both, I live with my boyfriend and all the toys I missed out on because I was "too old."

CabbageGolem

minimal guidance

Only giving minimal guidance on adult skills & major life choices - budgeting, taxes, college applications, how to buy a car, etc.

I don't regret how my life has turned out so far, but I got so little help that I ended high school with no financial intelligence, got myself started on the wrong foot, & am only just now able to consider going to college.

If my folks had taken a couple weekends to sit down and go "let's figure out FAFSA and student loans together" or "now that you're paying for things, do you want us to help you build a budget", my life might have turned out very differently.

(To be fair, I'm also stubborn when it comes to asking for help, so I don't blame them or think they did it "wrong", I just wish they'd done it differently.)

MeesterPepper

I'm sorry... I'm Broken

I wish I could say I did not repeat any of the horrible stuff my "care givers" did to me. My son was taken away from me by the state, with just cause, and raised in foster care. What I did not do was gaslight him or blame the victim. I let him know what I did was very wrong and he did nothing to cause being treated that way. I told him that telling his teacher was a good, healthy thing and I was proud of him for doing it. I let him know that I did love him very much but I was broken in a way that means I can not be the very good mommy he deserves. That was the very least I owed him, to not play with his mind and make him think it was his fault.

rozina076

Once they're 18

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When I was in college, I stayed out late with some friends. We were at my friend's place and a storm hit. We chose to wait it out before going home.

Mom was mad and took my car away for a week or two. The problem is, it was my car purchased entirely with my own money. I felt she didn't have the right to take it, especially since I was over 18.

I did still live at home, and I don't care that she was mad I stayed out late. I just felt that taking my car was wrong. I would not do that to my own kid in the same situation.

Marise20

I'm Just Me.. not Lisa

Compare me to my sister. We were and are vastly different through every stage of life. Just because you preferred her way of life growing up (she was a straight A, smart, mostly obedient child. I was a go fast, impulsive, later pot head). I don't know, being compared rather than loving me for who I was hurt. My mom later apologized for doing this after we got older, but I won't forget feeling like "oh.. she doesn't like me, but would if I was like *Lisa".

Never tell your children "why can't you be more like your sister/brother?"

yeticonfette

Unnecessary Viewing

My parents thought that all cartoons were for kids. They rented some studio Ghibli (moving castle and spirited away) films for me once and I had nightmares for days. They also let me watch YouTube religiously which didn't help either. I had gotten so deep into ghost and celebrity clones celebrities I was even afraid of flushing the toilet at one point. I used to sleep with a nightlight until I was like 11 or 12. At least the good thing that came out of this is that they didn't have any problems with me watching South park.

AutisticDalekOnSpeed

They Were Learning

My parents are really great, but they took many wrong cues from their old school parents :

  1. Beating us to discipline. They would hit us for any little infraction, from things like spilling food, getting homework questions wrong, etc.
  2. Yelling and screaming. Instead of getting to the root of the problem, my parents would constantly yell at us if we misbehaved. I lived with constant anxiety that I would be yelled at. When I became an adult, I vowed never to raise my voice at any child and approach with patience and understanding.
  3. Sending us to catholic school. Enough said.
  4. Not taking us seriously. My parents never believed we were sick or in pain or had mental health issues.
  5. Not understanding that my life is different than theirs.

Edit: I want to reiterate that my parents are great people. They were always supportive and they're good people. The point of my comment was to express that their child rearing practices were outdated and I don't agree with them. I was never abused and my parents never hit us or yelled out of anger or for no reason. They just believed firmly in discipline and I don't think they realized that their approach wasn't the best. smoothjazz1

Anger Issues

I live in India and we are made to strictly follow the course of school ...... So I was a seventh grader arrogant and ignorant and I don't complete my notes got a small fall in my grades and my teachers call my mom.

My mom is a hot headed single mother and basically has anger issues as well which I as well inherited.

So back to the flow she got to know and I get beaten by a badminton racquet If that wasn't enough I was made to stand naked on my front door and people saw me ..... A lot of them I wouldn't let my anger issues ruin my kid and give them insecurities like this.

aReYoUfOrReAl-_-

"We never said that."

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Gaslighting. All the other bull that happened aside, the blatant gaslighting. "We never said that." "We don't know what you're talking about." "Sorry, don't remember that." It lingers and builds resentment and kills any respect that's left. I hate to say it, because I honestly hate gaslighting, but once in a while I will do it back to them if and when we talk and I feel no remorse.

rebelwithoutaloo

'my baby'

Ooh, off the top of my head:

- tell my child they are poison and will amount to nothing for not putting clothes in the laundry basket
- fake an overdose on a family holiday to teach children a lesson
- play favorites and pick the pathological liar because he's 'my baby'
- split my daughter's lip and later insist this is a false memory
- blame therapy for dredging up the past

(Writing this list I was actually questioning myself, but these are the things that have affected me the most).

PassOnTheCallaLily

Everything is not ok

In case anyone is scrolling through the comments and reevaluating the impact their childhood had/continues to have: r/CPTSD

Sometimes a person's sense of normal can be very, very skewed due to outright physical abuse or less visible emotional neglect. Suddenly realizing everything wasn't as hunky-dory as you thought can be tough. The CPTSD community can help you through it.

thunderbundtcake

One too Many

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Have too many kids and expect the older kids to take care of the younger kids instead of being able to have an actual childhood.

vinnymcapplesauce

Promises. Promises.

My mother did two things that bother me. First, she'd become irrational if she got angry and cannot to this day admit when she's wrong. Second, she'd do things like tell me not to lie... and then I'd catch her in a lie. So she did not practice what she preached.

Promised myself I'd never do either of those if I had a kid.

Promise kept.

CrazyOkie

It's Literally All Around Us

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Mine is pretty mild.

My mom used to severely limit my media intake. I get where she was coming from, trying to protect me from sexual ideas and violence when I was young. The problem was that it limited my knowledge of literally everything. I had a hard time fitting in because of it. I remember leaving my friend's birthday sleep over because going to see the Titanic was part of the party (I still have never watched it).

Being raised vegetarian certainly didn't help. I was always invited to my friends houses for cookouts and always had explain that my mom won't let me eat anything. One time she grounded me for eating grapes at a friends house, claiming it would spoil my dinner when in reality I was really just trying to be polite to the woman who was trying extra hard to accommodate a snack for me.I feel like my life could have gone in a completely different direction if I had been able to explore ideas more. To consider different lifestyles and be inspired from conflicts. Idk.

LumpySh-tstring

Dance For Us, Monkey

Make fun of me in front of company. It wasn't malicious just thoughtless. Now my mom always complains that I don't tell her anything. I literally told her once "this is why I don't tell you things" and it was like she'd never considered that I might not want everyone and their brother to know my personal business.

corinini

It's Becoming An Outdated Mode Of Discipline

Spank me with a wooden spoon until I'd give in to whatever they were asking. Never will I ever.

TheKappaChrist

Spanking never once made me reconsider or regret my behavior. It just made me more careful to hide it in the future, and eventually made me great at fake-crying and lying to my parents in general. And since it was the go-to punishment for everything, the punishment was never proportionate to the misdeed. All indiscretions were punished the same so they all seemed equally bad, which is a sh-t lesson to teach.

It's 100% just adults relieving their anger in a physical manner, but instead of punching a pillow or going for a jog, they hit the thing that they think is causing the anger. No better than kicking a dog.

Much_Difference

Act Like You're Always Open

If my dad found out I had a crush on a girl, he'd tease me and make me feel embarrassed about it. Made me feel like I could never go to him for advice on girls.

ladies-pmme-nudespls

Every Child Is Unique And Different

Comparing my grades/successes with my sibling's, I feel like it can be really disheartening and discouraging for the one that doesn't perform as well

xanderay

Listen To Your Kids

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My dad yelled at me for complaining about my broken arm. I didn't know it was broken at the time, and he just screamed at me to stop whining about the pain(i was 10 at the time).

Still mad about that, i would never be so short tempered with my kids, and actually listen to them when they say something is wrong.

Zombiehacker595

My whole life I've heard "there's nothing wrong with you!" Whenever I hurt. Broke my finger? There's nothing wrong with you. I even got into trouble for that one. So now I'm 34 and lived with acute pancreatitis for a year (unbearable pain) because I was afraid the the doctor would say the same thing my parents always did. I could have died.

AutomaticCable7

Act Like An Adult

My parents couldn't talk to each other after they got divorced so they used me as a message board.

"Tell you mother...."

"You tell your father...."

F-cking grow up and talk to each other

MarkF6

You'll Actually Get Some Privacy

When I was three I slammed my door. They took the door off the hinges and refused to ever put it back. We had to move to a different house before I got a door, over a decade later, and I had to move out before I had a door with a lock.

I would never destroy my kids's privacy like that.

ManCalledTrue

Give Them Some Space

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Control everything. I don't necessarily have a helicopter mom, but she's definitely controlling. I'm 20 years old and she CRIED and told me I was being selfish when I told her I wanted my SSC and my birth certificate when I moved a few states away. I don't know how to file my own taxes. I never did anything.

I would have preferred her tell me more things and help me do things rather than do it all herself and keep me out of the loop.

goofyghoul111

Wow...

My mom faked cancer for two years when I was in high school. Even shaved her head and everything. Haven't spoke to her in 12 years. She disgusts me.

Theoreticalmass1983

Just A Whole List Of Awful

Tell them to come/stay into the living room (even late in the evening) and argue in front of them to have them as "witnesses".

Have them stand and face the wall of my bedroom for 40 minutes while I lie in bed and watch some things on my laptop.

Drive dangerously in my car (sudden full stops on the highway, aggressively speeding and changing the gear aggressively) when the children are arguing in the backseat (to scare them? Idk really why my father did this.)


Stop allowing contact with my brother/brother-in-law because he's gay, and alienating the entire family with this; ensuring that my child has no family except parents and sibling.

Edit: Sorry I worded this weirdly, I tried to write it from the perspective of my parents I guess. My father forbid my mother contact with her brother because he's gay.

Locking them in a dark bathroom for at least 20 minutes.

Force my religion/belief on them.

nattuggla2608

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People Describe The Creepiest Things They Ever Witnessed As A Kid

"Reddit user -2sweetcaramel- asked: 'What’s the creepiest thing you saw as a kid?'"

Four mistreated baby dolls are hung by barb wire
Photo by J Lopez

For many childhood memories are overrun by living nightmares.

Yes, children are resilient, but that doesn't mean that the things we see as babes don't follow us forever.

The horrors of the world are no stranger to the young.

Redditor -2sweetcaramel- wanted to see who was willing to share about the worst things we've seen as kids, so they asked:

"What’s the creepiest thing you saw as a kid?"

Serious Danger

"Me and my best friend would explore the drainage tunnels under the Vegas area where we grew up. These were miles long and it was always really cool down there so it was a good way to escape the heat of our scorching hot summers. We went into this one that goes under the Fiesta casino and found a camp with a bunch of homeless people."

"Mind you we are like 11 years old lol. And we just kept going like it was nothing. It wasn’t scary then but when I look back at it we could have been in some serious danger. Our parents had no idea we did this or where we were and we had no cellphones. We could have been kidnapped and never have been found."

oofboof2020

Waiting for Food

"I was at a portillos once when I was 12 and I was waiting with my little brother at a booth while my parents got our food. This guy was standing with his tray kind of watching me then after a couple of minutes he started to walk over really fast not breaking eye contact with me."

"He was 2 feet from the table and my dad came out of nowhere and scared the s**t out of him. He looked so surprised and just said he wanted to see if I’d get scared or not. He left his tray full of food near the door and left. My folks reported him but we never went to that location again since we found a better one closer to home."

nowhereboy1964

Captain Hobo to the Rescue

"When I was a pretty young teen, my friends and I were horsing around in San Francisco and started hanging out to smoke with some homeless guys. Another homeless dude came up and began aggressively trying to shake us down for anything (money, smokes, a ride, drugs- all of it) and wouldn’t take no for an answer."

"We got in over our heads and could tell this guy was now riling the other 2 guys up and they were acting like they wanted to jump us. Some grandfather-looking old homeless man appeared out of nowhere and yelled at us to get the f**k out of here- nice kids like us don’t belong down here at this hour!!"

"Captain Hobo saved our lives that night. My parents sincerely thought we were at a mall all day lol."

FartAttack911

Survival

tsunami GIF Giphy

"I was 7 and survived the 2004 tsunami in Thailand. Witnessed the wave rise way above the already massive palm trees (approx. 40ft?) and my family and I watched/heard the wave crash into the ground from a rooftop."

faithfulpoo

These Tsunami stories are just tragic.

On the Sand

Scared The Launch GIF by CTV Giphy

"We were a group of kids who went to swim in a local lake. And there was a dead body on the beach with their hands raised and their legs bent unnaturally that local police just took out of the same lake. I've never put my foot in these waters again."

oyloff

Be Clever

"I was walking to school and I was about 5 or 6 years old and some guy pulled up beside me in his car and asked if I would get in. He also offered me sweets to do so. I said no. The creepy bit was when he calmly said ‘clever boy’ to me, then drove off. I’ve never even told my parents or anyone else about this as it would most likely freak them out."

OstneyPiz

Bad Jokes

"Dad's side of the family pranked me by burying a fake body on our back property and had me dig it up to find valuables. Was only allowed to use a lantern for light. They stuffed old clothes with chicken bones. Sheetrock mud where the head was... Random fake jewelry as the treasures... I was like maybe 10 or 11.. I remember digging up the boot first and started gagging because it became real at that point."

Alegan239

YOU

Who Are You Reaction GIF by MOODMAN Giphy

"Woke up to find my little brother staring at me in the dark, asking, Are you really you?"

PrettyLola2004

Siblings can really be a bunch of creepers.

No one should talk to others in the dark though.

Woman stressed at work
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

When we hear about other people's jobs, we've surely all done that thing where we make assumptions about the work they do and maybe even judge them for having such an easy or unimportant job.

But some jobs are much harder than they look.

Redditor CeleryLover4U asked:

"What's a job or profession that seems easy but is incredibly challenging?"

Customer Service

"Anything customer-facing. The public is dumb and horrendous."

- gwarrior5

"My go-to explanation is, 'Anyone can do it, but few can do it for long.'"

- Conscious_Camel4830

"The further I get in my corporate career, the less I believe I will ever again be capable of working a public-facing job. I don’t know how I did it in the past. I couldn’t handle it in the present."

"I know people are only getting worse about how they treat workers. It is disturbing, embarrassing, and draining for everyone."

- First-Combination-12

High Stakes

"A pharmacist."

"You face the public. Your mistake can literally kill someone."

- VaeSapiens

"Yes, Pharmacist. So many people think their job is essentially the same as any other kind of retail worker and they just prepare prescriptions written by a doctor without having to know anything about them."

"They are very highly trained in, well, pharmacology; and it's not uncommon for a pharmacist to notice things like potentially dangerous drug interactions that the doctor hadn't."

- Worth_University_884

Teaching Woes

"Two nuggets of wisdom from my mentor teacher when I was younger:"

"'Teaching is the easiest job to do poorly and the hardest job to do well,' and 'You get to choose two of the following three: Friends, family, or being a good teacher. You don't have enough time to do all three.'"

"We all know colleagues or remember teachers who were lazy and chose the easy route, but any teacher who is trying to be a good teacher has probably sacrificed their friends and their sleep for little pay and a stressful work environment. There's a reason something like half quit the profession within the first five years."

- bq87

Creativity Is "Easy"

"Some creative professions, such as designers, are often perceived as 'easy' due to their creative nature. However, they may face the constant need to find inspiration, deal with criticism, and meet deadlines."

- rubberduckyis

"EVERYBODY thinks they are a designer, up until the point of having to do the work. But come critique time, mysteriously, EVERYBODY IS A F**KING DESIGNER AGAIN."

"The most important skill to have as a designer is THICK SKIN."

- whitepepper

Care Fatigue Is Real

"Care work."

"I wish it could be taken for granted that no one thinks it's easy. But unfortunately, many people still see it as an unskilled job and have no idea of the many emotional complexities, or of how much empathy, all the time, is needed to form the sorts of relationships with service users that they really need."

- MangoMatiLemonMelon

Physical Labor Generally Wins

"I’m going to say most types of unskilled labor and that’s because there’s such little (visible) reward and such a huge amount of bulls**t. I’ve done customer service, barista, sales, serving, etc; and it was all much harder than my cushy desk job that actually can be considered life or death."

- anachronistika

Their Memory Banks Must Be Wild

"I don't know if I'd call it incredibly challenging, but being one of those old school taxi drivers who know the city like the back of his hand and can literally just drive wherever being told nothing but an address is pretty impressively skilled."

"Not sure if it's still like this, but British cabbies used to be legendary for this. I'm 40 and I don't think most young people appreciate how much the quality of cab service has gone down since the advent of things like Uber."

"Nowadays it's just kind of expected that a rideshare/cab driver doesn't know exactly where you're trying to get and has to rely on GPS directions that they often f up. Back when I was in college, cabbies were complete experts on their city."

"More even than knowing how to get somewhere, they could also give you advice. You could just generally describe a type of bar/club/business you're looking for, and they'll take you right to one that was spot on. Especially in really big cities like NYC."

- Yak-Mak-5000

Professional Cooking

"Being a chef."

- Canadian_bro7

"I would love to meet the person who thinks being a chef is easy! I cook my own food and it’s not only OK to eat but I make a batch of it so I have some for later. So, to make food that is above good and portion it correctly many times a day and do it consistently with minimal wastage (so they make a profit), strikes me as extremely difficult."

- ChuckDeBongo

Team Leading, Oof

"Anything that involves a lot of people skills and socializing. I thought these positions were just the bulls**t of sitting in meetings all day and not a lot of work happening but having to be the one leading those meetings and doing public speaking is taxing in a way I didn’t realize."

- Counterboudd

Not a Pet Sitter At All

"Veterinary Technician."

"Do the job of an RN, anesthesiology tech, dental hygienist, radiology tech, phlebotomist, lab tech, and CNA, but probably don’t make a living wage and have people undervalue your career because you 'play with puppies and kittens all day.'"

- forthegoddessathena

Harder Than It Looks!

"Sometimes, when my brain is fried from thinking and my ego is shot from not fixing the problem, I want to be a garbage man... not a ton of thinking, just put the trash in the truck, and a lot of them have trucks that do it for you!"

"But if the robot either doesn't work or you don't have one on your truck, it smells really bad, the pay isn't what it used to be, you might find a dead body and certainly find dead animal carcasses... and people are id**ts, overfilling their bags, just to have them fall apart before you get to the truck, not putting their trash out and then blaming you, making you come back out."

"Your body probably is sore every day, and you have to take two baths before you can kiss your wife..."

"Ehh, maybe things are not so bad where I am."

- Joebroni1414

Twiddling Thumbs and Listening

"Therapist here. I’ve always said that it’s pretty easy to be an okay therapist—as in, it’s not that hard to listen to people’s problems and say, 'Oh wow, that’s so hard, poor you.'"

"But to be a good therapist? To know when your client is getting stuck in the same patterns, or to notice what your client isn’t saying? To realize that they’re only ever saying how amazing their spouse is, and to think, 'Hmm, nobody’s marriage is perfect, something’s going on there'?"

"To be able to ask questions like, 'Hey, we’ve been talking a lot about your job, but what’s going on with your family?' And then to be able to call them on their s**t, but with kindness and empathy? Balancing that s**t is hard."

"Anybody can have empathy, but knowing when to use empathy and when and how to challenge someone is so much harder. And that’s only one dimension of what makes being a therapist challenging."

- mylovelanguageiswine

Constant Updates

​"For the most part, my job is really easy (marketing tech). But having to constantly stay on top of new platforms, new tech, updates, etc etc is exhausting and overwhelming and I really hate it."

"Also, the constant responsibility to locate and execute opportunities to optimize things and increase value for higher-ups. Nobody in corporate roles can ever just reach a point of being 'good enough.' More and better is always required."

"Just some of the big reasons I’m considering a career change."

- GlizzyMcGuire_

Performing Is Not Easy

"Performing arts and other types of art. People think it’s a cakewalk or 'not a real job,' not realizing the literal lifetime of training, rejection, and perseverance that it takes to reach a professional level and how insanely competitive those spaces are."

- ThrowRA1r3a5

All About Perception

"I suspect everything fits this. Consider that someone whose job is stacking boxes in a warehouse has to know how to lift boxes, how many can be stacked, know if certain ones must be easily accessible, know how to use any equipment that is used to move boxes around."

"Not to mention if some have hazardous or fragile materials inside, if some HAVE to be stacked on the bottom, if a mistake is made and all the boxes have to be restacked, etc."

"But everyone else is like, 'They're just stacking boxes.'"

- DrHugh

It's easy to make assumptions about someone else's work and responsibilities when we haven't lived with performing those tasks ourselves.

This gave us some things to think about, and it certainly reminded us that nothing good comes of making assumptions, especially when it minimizes someone else's experiences.

Left-handed person holding a Sharpie
Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash

Many of us who are right-handed never even think about how the world is designed to cater to us.

It probably doesn't even cross your mind that 10% of the world's population is left-handed.

Because of this, there tends to be a stigma for being left-handed since society tends to associate the left with negative things.

For example, the phrase "two left feet" applies to those who are clumsy and therefore, incapable of dancing.

Curious to hear more about the challenges facing those with the other dominant hand, Redditor johnnyportillo95 asked:

"What’s something left-handed people have to deal with that right-handed people wouldn’t even think about?"

If only manufacturers appealed to an ambidextrous world.

Furniture Obstacle

"Those desks or couch chairs that have a small desk attached. They do make left handed/sided ones but they are few and far between."

– Prussian__Princess

"And they’re only on one side of the lecture hall, and it’s never a good seat. There is ONE front row, lefty desk in the entire room and it’s in the far corner, obscured by an ancient overhead projector."

– earwighoney

Everyday Objects For Everyday People

"as a left-handed person myself, one thing we often deal with is finding left-handed tools or equipment. many everyday objects, like scissors or can openers, are designed with right-handed people in mind, which can make certain tasks a bit more challenging for us lefties. we also have to adapt to a right-handed world when it comes to writing on whiteboards or using certain computer mice."

– J0rdan_24

Dangerous Tools

"The biggest risk is power tools. I taught myself to use all power tools right handed because of risks using them left handed."

"Trivial, I love dry boards but they are super hard to write on."

– diegojones4

It's hard to play when you're born with a physical disadvantage.

Sports Disadvantage

"Allright, Sports when you are young. Every demonstration from PE teachers are right handed. You cant just copy the movements they teach you you need to flip them and your tiny brain struggoes to process it. As well, 98% of the cheap sports equipment the school uses is right handed."

– AjCheeze

No Future In Softball

"I tried to bat right handed for so long in gym class growing up because the gym teacher never asked me what my dominant side was and the thought never occurred to me as a child to mention it! Needless to say I never became a softball star."

– Leftover-Cheese

Find A Glove That Fits

"In softball and baseball we need a specific glove for our right hand that's often impossible to find unless you own one, and we have to bat on the other side of the plate."

– BowlerSea1569

"I was one of two left-handers in a 4-team Little League in the 1980s. Nobody could pitch to me. I got a lot of "hit by pitch" walks out of it."

– Jef_Wheaton

These examples are understandably annoying.

Shocking Observation

"Having right handed people make comments whenever they see us write, like we’re some kind of alien."

– UsefulIdiot85

"'Woah! You're left-handed????'"

"I find myself noticing when someone is a lefty, and sometimes I comment on it, but I try not to. I'm primarily left-handed (im a right handed wroter but do everything else left), and every single time I go to eat with my family, someone says, "Oh hey, give SilverGladiolus22 the left hand spot, they're left-handed," and inevitably someone says, 'Wait, really?' Lol."

– SilverGladiolus22

Can't Admire The Mug

"We never get to look at the cute graphics on coffee mugs while we’re drinking from them."

– vanetti

"I just realized…I always thought the graphics were made so someone else could read them while you drink. Hmmm."

– Bubbly-Anteater7345

"I'm right-handed and I often wondered why the graphics were turned towards the drinker instead of out for others to see."

– Material-Imagination

The Writing On The Wall

"Writing on whiteboards is a nightmare. I have to float my hand, which tires out my arm quickly, and I can't see what I've already written to keep the line straight."

– darkjedi39

"Also as a teacher, it means I'm standing to the left of where I'm writing, so I'm blocking everything I write. I have to frequently finish writing, then step out of the way so people can see, instead of just being able to stand on the right side the whole time."

– dancingbanana123

Immeasurable

"Rulers."

"How the f'k is no one talking about rulers? It's from 30cm to 0 cm to me, or I have to twist my arms to know the measure I want to trace over it."

– fourangers

Just Can't Win

"EVERYTHING. The world has always been based around people being right handed. As a Chef, my knife skills SUCKED until I worked with a Left Handed Chef. Then it all made sense."

"Literally, everything we do must be observed, then flipped around in our heads, then executed. This is why Lefties die sooner, on average, than Righties."

"I had to learn how to be ambidextrous, just to complete basic tasks (sports, driving a manual, using scissors, etc). I am used to it now, and do many things right handed out of necessity, as wall as parents and teachers 'forcing' it upon me."

"But, at least we are not put to death anymore, simply for using the wrong hand (look it up, it happened)."

"Ole Righty, always keeping us down."

– igenus44

The world doesn't need another demographic to feel "othered" for being different.

But if you're right-handed and tend to make assumptions about left-handed people, you may want to observe the following.

Ronald Yeo, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Texas-Austin told CNN:

"We shouldn’t assume much about people’s personalities or health just because of the hand they write with."
"And we certainly shouldn’t worry about lefties’ chances of success: After all (as of 2015), five of our last seven U.S. presidents have been either left- or mixed-handed."

Word.

Dog lying down on a bed
Photo by Conner Baker on Unsplash

Not all pet owners have the same relationship with their pets.

While anyone who decides to become a pet owner, or pet parent as some say, love their pets equally, some never ever let them leave their side.

Taking their pet with them to work, running errands, even on vacations.

Many pet parents even allow their pets to share their bed with them when going to sleep.

For others though, this is where a line is finally drawn.

Redditor Piggythelavasurfer was curious to hear whether pet owners allowed their pets to share their bed with them, as well as the reasons why they do/don't, leading them to ask:

"Do you let your pet sleep in your bed? Why/why not?"

The Tiny Issue Of Water...

"Absolutely not."

"I have fish."- Senior-Meal3649

Everyone Gets Lonely Eventually...

"I adopted an eleven year old cat the day before Halloween."

"She has mostly lived in my closet since I got her, and she hasn’t been too interested in coming out."

"Last night, she came out of my closet and jumped up on my bed, and crawled under my covers and curled up by my feet to sleep."

"I was so happy!"- YellowBeastJeep

The Comforting Reminder That You're Not Alone...

"I recently lost my Greyhound but I used to let him sleep on my bed with me."

"The company was nice and he was no trouble to have on my bed."- HoodedMenace3

Hungry Cookie GIF by De Graafschap Dierenartsen Giphy

What Do You Mean Allow?

"I have no choice."

"She is a cat, cats do whatever they want."- Small_cat1412

"He lets me sleep in my bed."- Poorly-Drawn-Beagle

Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way

"I carry my old boy upstairs to bed every night."- worst_in_show

Hug GIF by The BarkPost Giphy

Who Needs An Alarm Clock?

"I let my two cats sleep with me."

"They're so full of love and just want cuddles all the time."

"And so do I."

"We've all developed a lil routine."

"Get to bed, oldest sleeps on my feet to keep them warm, youngest lies in my arm while I lie on my side (she the little spoon), then when I snooze my alarm for work in the morning the youngest paws at my face and meeps loudly to wake me up."- GhostofaFlea_

Whose Bed Is It Anyway?

"Yes."

"They're also kind enough to let me squeeze into whatever space they've left for me."

"Although I do get a few dirty looks off them."- Therealkaylor

"I found this tiny kitten screaming her head off under a car."

"Would not come out."

"Got some food and some water in dishes."

"I stood by the tire so she couldn't see my feet."

"She got curious about the food and water and started gobbling it down."

"I thought she would bolt when I squatted down."

"She was too busy eating."

"I grabbed her by the nape of the neck and all four legs went straight out and she tried to scratch me to death."

"I got her in the door and tossed her toward the couch."

"She ricocheted off the couch as if she was a ping pong off a table and I lost sight of her."

"I put out food and water and a sandbox and did not see that kitten for three days."

"On the third day, I came home and she was on my bed pillow."

"I thought she would bolt when I came near, but she didn't."

"I wanted to sleep so I tried to scoot her little butt off my pillow."

"She would not go."

"I put my head down to sleep and that is the way it was from then on."

"She ran the roost."- Logical_Cherry_7588

sleepy kitten GIF Giphy

Sleeping Is A Prerequisite...

"No, he's a cat and he cannot keep still during the night."

"He walks across the headboard, opens the closet doors, jumps into the windows and rustles the blinds, etc."

"If he would sleep he could stay, but alas, he's a ramblin' man."- Spong_Durnflungle

Saying No Just Isn't An Option...

"'Let'."

"Lol."

"It's a cat's world and I'm happy to be on her good side."- milaren

Felines Only!

"The cat does, the dog doesn't and the horse certainly does not either."- Xcrowzz

Angry Tom And Jerry GIF by Boomerang Official Giphy

Is That My Hair On That Pillow?

"My dog is perfect."

"She comes up, cuddles til we start to fall asleep, then gets down to sleep on her bed so she doesn't get too hot."

"Jumps back up in the early morning for wake up cuddles."

"The hair everywhere is the only downside but she is so cozy, what can you do."- HoodieWinchester

It is easy to understand how some people are able to fall asleep more easily knowing their friend and protector is there, in bed, with them.

Though we can't blame others who don't want to run the risk of being scratched or bitten in the middle of the night either...