16 Myths Our Parents Told Us During Childhood

Welcome to the whimsical world of parenting! Parents are known for their creativity when it comes to getting their kids to behave, eat their food, or simply entertain them.

See if you recognize any of these stories from back when you were a child.

1. Hairball Myth

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As a child, one individual was told that their mother knew they would have a lot of hair because she would “cough up hairballs” during her pregnancy.

It wasn’t until a high school anatomy class that they realized there was no direct connection between a mother’s throat and her uterus. And no, women don’t cough up hairballs.

2. Runaway Goldfish

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Imagine being told that your pet goldfish didn’t die; it “ran away.” That’s right, a parent convinced their child that their aquatic pet had somehow managed to escape the fishbowl and venture into the great unknown.

3. Whistling Crust

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To encourage their child to eat the crust of their bread, one set of parents claimed that doing so would grant them the magical ability to whistle. The child believed this tale until they were 15 years old!

4. Swedish New Year

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One family celebrated “Swedish New Year” at 10 PM instead of midnight to get their young daughter to bed earlier. She believed in this alternative New Year celebration until she was old enough to piece together the truth.

5. Buried Treasure Hoax

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A father told his child that the previous homeowner had buried treasure in the yard. After hours of digging, the child discovered that the “treasure” was actually the septic tank.

Talk about a dirty trick!

6. Painful Chest Hair Growth

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A dad convinced his son that growing chest hair was an agonizing process. To sell the story, the dad would clutch his chest and scream, pretending that a new chest hair had just sprouted.

The son believed this until he grew his own chest hair without any pain.

7. Adopted from the Zoo

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A child was told they were adopted from the zoo because of their protruding tailbone. The entire family was in on it, leading the child to bring a zoo picture to school and share their “origin story,” much to the teacher’s confusion.

8. Ice Cream Truck Music

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One child was told that when the ice cream truck is playing music, it means they have run out of ice cream. This clever trick saved the parents from having to buy ice cream every time the truck passed by.

9. The Car Won’t Start

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A parent told their child that the car wouldn’t start unless everyone was wearing their seat belt.

The mom even went so far as to pull over on the side of the road and say the car broke down when she would catch the kids unlatching the seatbelts.

10. Seed Planting

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A father told their kid that if they swallowed a watermelon seed, a watermelon would start growing inside their stomach. This gave the kid so much anxiety about eating watermelons.

11. Brown Cow Chocolate Milk

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A child was told that chocolate milk comes from brown cows. This meant that black cows were empty and black and white ones were “filling.”

12. Toy Store Museum

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A child was told that the toy store is a crossover between a museum and a petting zoo. A museum because they could visit. A petting zoo because they could touch and play with the toys, but never buy them.

13. Puppy Son

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One parent shared how he led their son to believe that he was born a puppy that’s why he has a hairy birthmark on his arm. They told him that growing up, he eventually lost his bark, learned to walk on his hind legs, and enjoyed people food.

The son was visibly delighted to hear that he used to be a puppy.

14. Candy Witch

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To prevent their kids from eating a lot of candy on Halloween, parents told them the story of the nice candy witch. They said she would take some of the kids’ candy and would leave presents in exchange for the candy.

15. A Quiet Fishing Day

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For some peace and relaxation, a dad told his kid that they needed to be quiet when out fishing or else the noise would cause the boat to vibrate and scare the fish away.

16. Broccoli Trucks

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For the record, UPS does not deliver broccoli nor have any association with broccoli at all.

Unfortunately for one kid, they had to learn the truth in middle school when he pointed out that a “broccoli truck” was in the school parking lot.

The Impact of Fake Stories on Children

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Parents telling their kids fake stories to manipulate their behavior can have long-lasting effects on the child.

For example, a Psychology Today article discusses the double-edged nature of hope and how false hope can set a child on a collision course.

It raises the question of whether it is ever appropriate to lie or stretch the truth to influence a child’s behavior.

It suggests that parents telling fake stories to manipulate their children’s behavior can have significant and long-lasting impacts on the child’s mental health and decision-making processes.

It is important for parents to be aware of the potential consequences of their actions and to consider alternative ways of influencing their children.1

More from Viral Chatter

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Growing up in a dysfunctional family can be challenging, often leading children to assume specific roles within the family dynamics.

As described by family therapists Hawkins and Hawkins, these roles shed light on how children adapt to and cope with difficult circumstances.

Whether you were the responsible hero, the scapegoat, the lost child, or the class clown, each role uniquely shaped your childhood.

So, let’s take a closer look at these roles and reflect on your experiences.

Kicked-Out Kids Open Up About Parents Who Send Them Packing at 18

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Turning 18 is a significant milestone in many cultures, marking the transition from adolescence to adulthood. However, in some families, this age also signifies the time for the young adult to leave the family home.

But what drives parents to make such a decision? Here’s a look at the types of parents who might choose this path, based on the shared experiences of various individuals:

Sources

16 Myths Our Parents Told Us During Childhood » sources 1 2
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  1. psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/parent-pulse/201208/parental-lying
  2. reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/7cxabr/what_were_some_things_your_parents_told_you_as/

This article was produced and syndicated by Viral Chatter.

 

Martha A. Lavallie
Martha A. Lavallie
Author & Editor | + posts

Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.