The strange family habits you thought were normal
Every family does certain things a certain way that might be considered strange to the outside world. The funny thing is that you often grow up thinking it’s completely normal, or at least common; that is until you bring it up in conversation with a non-family member and their response is to look at you with a mixture of bemusement and amusement. It’s a moment everybody has faced: the moment you realise your family is a bit strange (but that’s ok because being strange together is one of the whole point of families, isn’t it?).
We asked you, the Over60 community, to reveal your weird family habits. If you do anything of the below, prepare for the normality of your world to be shattered or alternatively, be reassured that your weird family habits are not so strange after all.
- “Our family ‘sighs’. My grandmother did it, my mother did it, I do it and now my daughters do it. People are always asking us 'What’s the matter?' when we draw in a big breath and then let it out. We don't even realise we are doing it… and nothings the matter.” – Robyn Thomas
- “When one of us is touching on a subject which may start an argument, someone will yell, ‘Pineapple!’ That means you’re supposed to shut up.” – Philomena Lear
- “Fruit cake with a slice of tasty cheese… seriously, try it” – Janice McCallum Wensrich
- “Eating spoonfuls of Vegemite to ease ulcers and other pains in the mouth! It works too!” – Peter McDonald
- “Burning a match after a bowel motion. Both my folks are gone now but occasionally I still smell a match burning. Letting me know they around I guess.” – Natalie Meyle
- “Vinegar in homemade vegetable soup and on mushy peas.” – Patricia Clarke
- “We keep our gladwrap in the fridge.” – Elaine Smith
- “This is dreadful but as a kid, if I was caught wasting time, I was told that I should stop playing fiddinanny. That meant picking your naval with a bobby pin.” – Toni MacKinnon
- “My favourite food when recovering from illness is mashed potatoes (no butter) with very soft boiled eggs all mashed together. Delicious.” – Lyn Pride
- “Christmas pudding with both brandy custard and whipped cream.” – Fay Cameron
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