JOIN
OUR EMAIL LIST!
SIGN UP

People Reveal The Strangest Things They Did As A Kid

Pixabay

Kids do some pretty strange things as they get used to the way the world works. It takes a while for them to figure out what should and shouldn't go in their mouths, for example.

No two kids are the same, either. Some can't seem to stand wearing clothes, others want to wear all of their clothes at once.

The strange things we did as kids are always good for a laugh (and often a healthy dose of cringe), so why not share?

Reddit user u/jaronnn asked:

"What are some strange things you did as a kid?"

20. Aspiring Artist

For a short time as a four or five year old, I loved taking a blades of grass and making tiny sculptures for the insects.

-SwatchQuatch

19. Time For You Kibble

I would play cat with my little sister. I was roughly 6 or 7 and she was 2 to 3. Anyways, she was the cat and I would always convince her to eat cat food because I thought it was funny. Also, she is extremely smart nowadays and I tell her it's because of this. You're welcome. Lol

-BeanieBabyBoogie

18. Aspiring Necromancer...Or Cleric?

Dad sold medical equipment. We had a gurney and a defib crash cart in the garage. Plenty of play time reviving the dead.

-SharkoJester

17. "The Great Migration"

"The Great Migration". All of my hundreds of plastic dinosaurs would slowly migrate from the family room, through the kitchen, dining room, and front hall into the living room, and back again. Naturally, they were determined to migrate in the middle of the walkway.

-Admiral_Dermond

16. Every Family Needs A Jaguar

​When my Aunt would babysit us, we would play "family", where my sister played a baby (she was like 5) and i would always, without fail, play a Jaguar. Because you know, all functioning households own a Jaguar. So i would meow and beg for pets while crawling atop the couches etc.

-TBurkeulosis

15. Mmm, Charcoal

When I was about 1-2 years old, I apparently used to take of all my clothes. That's not the strange thing. Lots of kids like to run around naked. The strange part is that I would then climb into the fireplace and eat charcoal.

My older siblings all love to remind me of it.

-boysenberryblues

14. A Proper Send Off

I used to hold funerals for dead insects that I would find...

-HoopsMcKenzie

I did that too!

Did you give them names?

-NeedsMoreTuba

13. Just An Enterprising Salesperson

I used to sell Gummy Vitamins to the other kids in school as candy. I got in trouble from the teacher and they were confiscated.

-Unlikely_Substance

12. Animals Are Awesome

When I had alone time I would go for walks in the woods. I loved nature and biology and read a lot if books about different animals. I would go out and try to find some. My family would kill any snake they found on property, we lived on a farm. I would find a snake and help it get to a better place of cover. Edge of the gully or stuff. I had caught every non venomous snake in Arkansas, and several venomous ones. I was kicked out of the cub scouts for catching a copperhead on a hike. I was told I was a liability. Three copperheads and one water moccasin are the venomous ones, the only snake to bite me was an rat snake as it was a full grown adult and very fast.

I have lots of fun stories from being out in nature. I didn't like being around people expect for my Granna and teachers as my direct parents were abusive. Animals and I just seem to get along. I have the fortune of rescuing a hummingbird trapped in our porch. It landed on a stick in my hand and we walked outside the enclosed porch had high ceiling and was basically lost trying to find the exit. Neighbors(about a quarter mile away) shot a mother fox whose pups needed a little longer looking after but were no longer nursing. Granna and I housed them in the old barn until adulthood and they left to find their own territories.

I was swimming once and was underwater(love to be underwater) and and water moccasin was just casually swimming parallel to me about 5 feet away. We had an understanding.

I was 8 and there was caves not far from relatives we were visiting near devils den campground. I went over to the campground and found some biology students that were studying the bats in the caves. I followed them and we got to observe the bats as they connect various photos and bat guano samples. They also explained the dangers that bats carry on then like rabies and the like. They were awesome. I am so fortunate that as a child so many random people were nice to me. I don't know if people could tell a child had a bad home life or they were just kind people. But they gave me a lot of good memories. Didn't plan to shed a tear this morning. I've had a fun life.

-Tedbastion

11. Whatever's Comfy.

I used to hold onto my mother's earlobe for comfort. Wtf. She told me when she noticed I stopped she was relieved and also kinda sad.

-Wackydetective

10. Just Suckin' Rocks

when we had tornado drills in school we would all go into the new tornado shelter under the cafeteria. It was dark and had really encrusted limestone gravel. I'd suck on the rocks because I liked the taste of the limestone dust/concretions. It was a rare event because we didn't have a lot of tornado drills.

Suckin rocks in the dark surrounded by hundreds of kids.

-dirtymoney

09. Wear All The Clothes

I used to put on somewhere between 5-10 pairs of shorts and go visit an elderly couple that lived a few houses down. Upon arriving, I'd get them to guess how many pairs they thought I was wearing. Then I took each pair off one-by-one (except for the last) to reveal the final count. They usually gave me powdered donuts afterwards. Then I'd be on my way.

-WilliamBullock0

8. Stuck On Repeat

For whatever reason, I always used to repeat things immediately after I said them but in a whisper.

"I'll have chicken tenders!"

I'll have chicken tenders

Years later, even my mom said it was really creepy.

-lacriox_daddy

7. Friendly Neighborhood Orb

You know how light reflects on the tile floor to create a glowing orb? I used to be best friends with that little guy till about 5th grade. When I'd see him in the school auditorium or in class I distinctly remember whispering "Hey buddy" or something like that. I kind of miss the times where you could just personify inanimate nonsense. I miss my light buddy.

-ObLaDi

6. Never Alone

I used to sleep with every single one of my plush toys on either side of me. Logically i would have to turn sides midnight so those on my back wouldn't get offended.

-chinchuberry

I did this too, but they also had specific assigned placement. By morning they would all be strewn all over my bedroom.

-lydmeister

5. Teeth?!

My sister and I pretended to be teeth.

-wernickeysayswhat

Please give us more details. I can't stand the suspense.

-Missat0mic0mbs

We pretended that we lived in the mouth of a boy named Johnny. Basically, we'd wrap a thick blanket around our legs (to represent the gums), and shout with excitement when Johnny brushed his teeth or drank milk, or scream in horror when he ate chocolate or other sugary foods.

No idea how this started. There are no dentists in our family...

-wernickeysayswhat

4. Lucky That's Over

My mom told me I had a habit of lowering my pants in public. Just for the kicks of flashing my weenie I guess

I'm glad I have dropped that by now

-CHEESE_BASTARD

Which? The habit or your pants?

-JesusIsMyZoloft

3. Just A Little B&E

I used to break into my neighbours homes when I was 7 or 8 maybe. Never stole anything of value, just wandered around. Had a neighbour who had a massive house but didn't appear to live there. The stairs leading from the parking pad into the home was just surrounded by bars, I was able to squeeze through the bars to enter the home. A few other neighbours didn't lock their doors. I remember one instance of being in someone's home and walking around and found a box of cookies on the kitchen counter. They were sprinkle cookies, very delicious. I remember being upstairs and I heard someone in the shower. They came out before I could get down the stairs. I spent a long time trying to escape unseen.

-zoomie12

2. The Stink Is Real

I'm the 2nd of 4 kids in a military family.

When I was still a preschooler, one day, my mother notices I stink. Not dirty, not sweaty, but full on rolled in garbage stink.

So I get yelled at for playing in the garbage and bathed and made to put on new clothes and a little while later I stink again.

So I get yelled at and bathed and made to put on new clothes and a little while later I stink again.

This went on until my mother had (the first of many) mini nervous breakdowns.

She took me to the doctor. She was crying and sobbing and explained the insanity of what was going on and begged him to find out what was wrong ... because even then I stank like garbage.

It took him a few minutes but he did sort it out.

I had been taking small bits of white bread from my sandwiches, rolling them into little balls and shoving them up my nose.

My sinuses were full of rotting bread.

He pulled out as much as he could, I sneezed out the rest over a couple of days and then I stopped stinking.

Side Note : I have no memory of this, only my mother telling the story every chance she gets.

-jeffohrt

1. Next Best Thing

There was moment in time where I carried around a porcelain cat statue in a basket because my friend had a stuffed animal cat and I didn't yet, so I found the next best thing.

-sunset_cruiserr

What was your strangest habit as a kid?

kids

People Describe The Most Traumatizing Thing They Ever Experienced As A Child

Image by Anemone123 from Pixabay

Life is hard. It's a miracle to make it through with some semblance of sanity. We are all plagued by grief and trauma. More and more people of all backgrounds are opening up about personal trauma and its origins. Finally! For far too long we've been too silent on this topic. And with so many people unable to afford mental health care, the outcomes can be damaging.

All of our childhoods have ups and downs and memories that can play out like nightmares. We carry that, or it follows us and the first step in recovery is talking about it. So who feels strong enough to speak?

Redditor u/nthn_thms wanted to see who was willing to share about things they'd probably rather forget, by asking:

What's the most traumatizing thing you experienced as a child?
Keep reading... Show less
childhood

People Divulge The Real Reason Why They're Still Single

Image by klimkin from Pixabay

Being single can be fun. In fact, in this time of COVID, being single can save lives. But the heart is a fickle creature.

And being alone can really suck in times of turmoil. None of us are perfect and it feels like that's all anyone is looking for... perfect.

Now that doesn't mean that all of us are making it difficult to partner up. Sure, some people are too picky and mean-spirited, but some of the rest of us are crazy and too much to handle. So one has to be sure.

The truth is, being single is confusing, no matter how much we try to match. So let's try to understand...

Redditor u/Mcxyn wanted to discuss some truths about love and our own issues, by asking:

Why are you single?
Keep reading... Show less
being single

Chefs Divulge The Most Important Tips That Amateur Cooks Need To Know

Tiard Schulz/Unsplash

Whether you're an at home parent, a college student just leaving the nest, or a Food Network junkie, there are a few basic tips that everyone should know.

Chef's gave us some of their top tips for amateurs and beginner at home cooks that will really make a difference. They are trained professionals with years of experience in the kitchen, so they definitely know what we're all missing.

If you're looking to improve some of your cooking skills and techniques, but you're still learning how to boil water correctly, this list is for you.

Redditor BigBadWolf44 wanted in on the secrets and asked:

"Chefs of Reddit, what's one rule of cooking amateurs need to know?"

Let's learn from the masters!


What a common mistake!

"A lot of the time when people add salt to a dish because they think it tastes flat, what it really needs is an acid like lemon juice or vinegar."

- Vexvertigo

"Instructions unclear I drugged my dinner party guests and now they're high on acid."

- itsyoboi_human

"Yes! Or tomatoes. They're pretty acidic too and go with so many things. Our dinners are so much better once the garden tomatoes are ripe. Or if a dish is too acidic, oil/butter or a little sugar can help add balance to it."

- darkhorse85

"Like tomato and eggs. Every Chinese mom makes those slightly differently and I haven't had a tomato egg dish I didn't like yet."

- random314

"There's a book called 'Salt Fat Acid Heat' that comes highly recommended to amateur cooks."

- Osolemia

"Reading even just the first chapter about salt made a lot of food I cooked immediately better, because I finally understood salt wasn't just that thing that sat on the dinner table that you applied after the meal was cooked."

- VaultBoy42

"Salt is important for sweets. A batch of cookies without that little hint of salt doesn't taste quite right."

- Osolemia

Unfortunately, this tip might not be accessible to everyone. Many people who contracted COVID can no longer use their sense of smell the way they used to.

"Have a friend that lost his smell from COVID, and now he only recognizes if food is salty, sweet, sour or bitter."

- AlphaLaufert99

"Just wait until he gets his sense of smell back and a ton of foods smell like ammonia or literal garbage now. Yeah, that's fun... It's been 7 months for f*cks sake just let me enjoy peanut butter again!!!!!!!!!"

- MirzaAbdullahKhan

You can't take back what you've already put in.

"You can always add, but you cannot take away."

- El_Duende666

"I find people's problems usually are they're too scared to add rather than they add too much."

- FreeReflection25

"I see you also grew up white in the mid-west."

- Snatch_Pastry

Safety first!

"Not really a cooking tip, but a law of the kitchen: A falling knife has no handle."

- wooddog

"I'm always so proud of my reflexes for not kicking in when I fumble a knife."

"If I drop anything else, my stupid hands are all over themselves trying to catch it (and often failing). But with a knife the hardwired automatic reaction is jump back immediately. Fingers out of the way, feet out of the way, everything out of the way. Good lookin out, cerebellum!"

- sonyka

"Speaking of KICKING in. On first full time cooking job I had a knife spin and fall off the counter. My (stupid) reflex was to put my foot under it like a damn hacky sack to keep it from hitting the ground. Went through the shoe, somehow between my toes, into the sole somehow without cutting me. Lessons learned: (1) let it fall; (2) never set a knife down close to the edge or with the handle sticking out; (3) hacky sack is not nearly as cool as it could be."

- AdjNounNumbers

"Similarly, NEVER put out a grease or oil fire with water. Smother with a lid or dump baking soda in there (do not use flour, as it can combust in the air making things worse)."

- Metallic_Substance

How else will you know it tastes good?

"Taste the food."

- OAKRAIDER64

"Also don't be afraid to poke and prod at it. I feel like people think the process is sacred and you can't shape/flip/feel/touch things while you cook them. The more you are hands on, the more control you have."

"No, this does not include situations where you are trying to sear something. Ever try flipping a chicken thigh early? That's how you rip a chunk out of it and leave it glued to the pan until it's burnt."

- Kryzm

Here's one just for laughs.

"When you grab a pair of tongs, click them a few times to make sure they are tongs."

- Kolshdaddy

"People really overlook this one. You've gotta tong the tongs a minimum of 3 times to make sure they tong, or else it can ruin the whole dish."

- BigTimeBobbyB

If you're looking to get into cooking or to improve you technique, pay attention to these few tips.

Salt generously, add an acid to brighten things up, and don't forget to taste your food!

If all else fails, you can always order take out.

Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

cooking

People Describe The Most Inappropriate Thing They Ever Did As A Kid

Victoria_Borodinova/Pixaba

As part of the learning process, children often do embarrassing things before they learn a little more about the world and all the different implications therein. While the inappropriate moment is usually minor and ends in laugher some instances are truly mortifying.

One such instance involved a little sister who was around 6 at the time. It was the 90s and at the height of the youth-focused PSAs (think the frying egg representing your brain). One type was a safety PSA about stranger danger. The speaker would remind the children that if a stranger tried to take you anywhere to yell “Stop, you're not my mommy/daddy" to raise the alarm.

Keep reading... Show less