Resident voices – What house rules did you have?

Every household has rules, and we recently asked our residents to share what rules their parents had for them growing up… or what rules they laid down for their own children. Here are some of our favorite responses.

“We had to have all our meals with our parents at the dining room table. There was no arguing – that was the rule. No questions!”

D.K., Garden Terrace at Fort Worth

“My husband set a curfew, and he would always give our kids a nickel when they left the house so they could use a payphone if they needed to get home safely.”

H.H., Life Care Center of Blount County in Louisville, Tennessee

“I was a good little girl. I didn’t have rules. When I was bad, my grandma said she would take care of it at home.”

H.M., Life Care Center of Sparta, Tennessee

“Be home before the streetlights come on.”

D.O., Life Care Center of Stoneham, Massachusetts

“Shoes always had to be taken off before coming into the house.”

R.L., Life Care Center of Sierra Vista, Arizona

“At bedtime: Shut the door – you don’t live in a barn.”

S.H., Life Care Center of Burlington, Kansas

“Clean up your room before going to school.”

R.W., Westside Village Health Center in Indianapolis

“One of the rules I had in the house was, ‘no barking.’ It was mostly for my two dogs. The kids I had were two dogs and two cats.”

K.D., Life Care Center of Kennewick, Washington

“Always eat what was on your plate.”

L.S., Life Care Center of Crossville, Tennessee

“Don’t play ball in the house.”

L.C. Life Care Center of Athens, Tennessee

“Conversations at the dinner table – everyone had a right to be heard. Respectful listening, good table manners and no elbows on the table!”

S.H., Garden Terrace at Houston

“Don’t drink out of the milk carton. Clean up after yourself.”

B.T., Westside Village Health Center in Indianapolis

“As children, we were always told we had to have a blessing before every meal and always say our prayers at bedtime.”

C.H., Life Care Center of Centerville, Tennessee

“Never call your siblings stupid.”

B.H., Garden Terrace at Fort Worth

“I had a rule for my sons that they have a job for six months before they got their driver’s license.”

M.L., Life Care Center of Sierra Vista, Arizona

“Look after your siblings.”

A.B., Life Care Center of Estero, Florida

“I always had to make the bed first thing. We were not allowed to do anything until after our beds were made.”

Y.E., Life Care Center of Pueblo, Colorado

“No door slamming.”

P.R., Life Care Center of Melbourne, Florida

“Don’t smart off was the major rule I had in my house.”

F.B., Life Care Center of Hendersonville, North Carolina

“No dating until 14.”

R.C., Life Care Center of Crossville, Tennessee

“Be kind. Always. Before you open your mouth to talk, be kind. Think.”

S.O., Life Care Center of the South Shore in Scituate, Massachusetts        

“No elbows on the table was a strict rule.”

M.M., Life Care Center of West Bridgewater, Massachusetts

“My parents’ rule was if you took something out, you have to put it away when finished.”

J.S., Life Care Center of Pueblo, Colorado

“Always kiss my mama goodnight.”

E.B., Life Care Center of Athens, Tennessee

“Excuse yourself when you burp.”

J.S., Life Care Center of Burlington, Kansas

“Always be honest and true.”

J.B., Life Care Center of Hendersonville, North Carolina

“Do as I say, not as I do!”

T.A., Life Care Center of Athens, Tennessee

“Wash your hands before you eat. Don’t eat too many sweets. Don’t drink too much pop.”
N.W., Westside Village Health Center in Indianapolis

“I had a curfew growing up. My mother was very strict. I didn’t dare stay out past curfew!”

J.M., Life Care Center of the South Shore in Scituate, Massachusetts

“Behave yourself when we go out to eat.”

J.K., Life Care Center of Melbourne, Florida

“One of my rules was, ‘No smoking.’”

W.J., Life Care Center of Estero, Florida

“We had to brush our teeth every morning and be cleaned up before going to school. Our mom made us have our hair brushed and ready before we could sit down for breakfast.”

M.W., Life Care Center of Blount County in Louisville, Tennessee

“One of the rules I had in the house growing up was, ‘Don’t talk back to your elders.’”

C.D., Life Care Center of Kennewick, Washington

“No talking in church.”

C.C., Life Care Center of Crossville, Tennessee

“We must act nice at the dinner table. No laughing, talking and carrying on.”

B.G., Life Care Center of Sparta, Tennessee