Some ’80s kids had freedom. You? You had rules. If your house had laminated charts, dinner at 5:00 on the dot, and sassing was not allowed at all, well done surviving, being raised in a Strict ’80s Household™. Your friends thought your parents were intense, but you just called it “Tuesday.” These are the giveaway signs your family was on lockdown – with love, of course.
You Couldn’t Leave the Table Without Asking
“Can I be excused?” If you did not say this, then you weren’t going anywhere. Strict families operated dinner as if it were a military campaign. No elbows on the table, slouching was not tolerated, and no talking unless spoken to. Leaving without permission? That was sheer disrespect. You remained seated, even if finished, looking at cold peas and contemplating your entire life.
You Had to Ask Permission to Get a Snack
In strict ’80s households, the fridge was as good as locked. You couldn’t just waltz in and grab a slice of cheese. You had to ask, wait for the nod, and then maybe get a single biscuit. Eating between meals was basically a crime. Added trauma if your mum actually counted how much ham was in the packet.
No Sleepovers. Ever.
Parents in the ’80s were strict and did not play when it came to sleepovers. Either they did not trust other families, felt you were going to be kidnapped, or believed “nothing good happens after dark” – the answer was always a hard NO. And even you knew beforehand what your mum was going to say: “You don’t have to sleep at another house. You have your own bed here.”
Your Parents Said, “Because I Said So,” and That Was the End of the Trial
No negotiation. No questioning. No hope of victory. If you ever dared to ask why, you got hit with the ultimate legal shutdown: “Because I said so.” And to which you were not permitted to respond — unless you wanted to get grounded for “talking back.”
You Weren’t Allowed to Answer the Phone
You would freeze if the phone rang. You weren’t to answer it unless it was with specific permission. Why? Because your parents believed that you’d either say something dumb, reveal your address, or somehow bankrupt the family just by picking up.
You Had to Greet Every Adult in the Room Like Royalty
Walking into family get-togethers? You needed to greet every single adult in sight, kiss at least three aunties on the cheek, and respond to awkward school questions. Discreet entrance? Not in a strict family. Respect had protocol.
You Weren’t Allowed to Say “Shut Up” – That Was a Curse Word
“Shut up” wasn’t rude. It was just vulgar. Say the two words out loud, and your mother would gasp as if you’d just dropkicked the Pope. Added bonus if you got the “We don’t say that in this house” lecture and then were immediately exiled from the living room.
You Had a Bedtime… Even in the Summer
Nothing says “strict ’80s parent” like getting put to bed at 8 o’clock in July, while the sun’s still out and the neighbor kids are still zooming by on their bikes. You’d be lying in sweltering heat, fully dressed, listening to the sound of fun happening outside like some kind of punishment soundtrack. It was like being in jail. But in Care Bears sheets.
You Got Grounded for Rolling Your Eyes
Not slamming doors. Not back-talking. Just being with an attitude. A skillfully placed, well-timed eye-roll could get you in trouble for an entire week of TV restriction and an icy “I’m disappointed in your attitude” sermon. It wasn’t even punishment, it was a spiritual awakening.
No Cartoons on School Days – Just the News and Guilt
Weekday mornings weren’t for He-Man and the Care Bears if you grew up strict. You had them for the news and the weather and perhaps an obligatory reminder that “TV will rot your brain.” You trudged off to school with your lunchbox in hand and not the slightest idea what your classmates were talking about.
You Weren’t Allowed to Call Adults by Their First Names
All adults were “Mr.” or “Mrs.” – regardless of whether they were aged 23 and part-time at the corner convenience store. Addressing someone’s mum by her first name? That was rude. Strict parents didn’t care if it was normal for your mates — in your home, you’d do well to behave in “proper manners” or risk the slipper.
No Phone Calls After 7 PM – It Was Basically a Curfew for Your Voice
Calling somebody after 7 was akin to committing a federal crime. “You’re not calling people at this time of day!” And it was actually just dinner time. Your friends’ houses were pandemonium – yours had quiet hours. You were 10 years old, but your life operated on nursing home rules.
Chores Were Mandatory, Not Optional
Strict ’80s families ran on child labor. You had tasks, and doing them was not optional. Vacuuming and washing dishes, and mowing lawns — it was all your job. And don’t get it in your head that “homework” was a get-out. If you pull that stunt on them, they’d come back with, “You’re still having dinner tonight? Well then, you’ll still wash.” Boom.
You Had to Wear “Good Clothes” to Visit People
Strict parents got you dressed in miniature lawyer attire to see anyone. See Grandma? Better wear a collared shirt and polished shoes. Just dropping in on the neighbor? Jeans are out of the question. You were just a kid, not an emissary, but who cares? Heaven forbid anyone thought your family didn’t “raise you properly.”
You Weren’t Allowed to Question Authority
Strict households did not “negotiate.” Defying rules or saying “why?” was akin to rebellion. Even if the rule made zero sense (such as not wearing shorts after 6 o’clock??), then it was something to be accepted blindly. Logic was not the issue. The issue was control. If you pushed back on it, then they’d throw “This isn’t a democracy.”
Apologies Didn’t Come With Hugs – They Came With Silence
’80s strict parents never apologized. If they messed up, they didn’t apologize — they just pretended nothing happened. Maybe they rewarded you with a cookie or allowed you to stay up five extra minutes. But hugs? Never. They thought affection would “soften” you. You had to learn to decipher strange love languages such as “I ironed your shirt” or “I did not yell today.”
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