What were you not allowed to do as a child because it 'wasn't nice'?

LilyLaundry you have given me the best laugh of the day.

In my Mother’s Day girls who went out with boys were told to keep their hand on their halfpenny or to keep one leg on the floor if they were lying prone ?

Callistomon
I think your mother would have had a touch of the vapours if she'd seen our next door neighbour and her boyfriend.

She had the classic terrible peroxide hair and a real Ocelot coat. Her boyfriend would come to pick her up in his convertible Vauxhall.

extremely common petra
Had they won the Pools?

I have a vision of Bet Lynch

janipat the curves of your shoulders resemble the curves of your bust and are therefore seductive

Well, I've learnt something today! I never knew that was the reason. I thought that, perhaps, it related to body hair and implied that we were adults!

My Catholic best friend was not allowed patent shoes. Her mother said that boys might see her underwear reflected in them!

At my convent school we had to curtsey when the headmistress or the Mother Superior came into the classroom.
One of the buses was notorious for girls behaving badly: taking off hats and gloves, eating sweets, “loud behaviour” and talking to boys. I wasn’t allowed to go on it, but how I envied those who did, despite their frequent detentions!

No playing out on a Sunday - straight to Sunday School and straight back home again.
No showing off.
'Children should be seen - and not heard' in company.
Don't speak with your mouth full.
Chew every mouthful 20 times before swallowing.
Sit quietly for 10 minutes after a meal had finished - to let your meal 'settle'.
Always had to have a slice of bread and butter with dessert (ie tinned fruit or jelly with evap)
No friends allowed in the house to play.
Had to finish 'my jobs' before going out to play on a Saturday.
In the summer, had to finish homework before playing out.
In the winter, it was play out / in when dark / do homework.
Only allowed to play with 'suitably approved' children in the neighbourhood.
If not well - had to remain in bed for the duration.
Not allowed to have long hair - lived with my Nan who had brought up my Dad and Uncle, so she didn't know what to do with 'girlie hair'.
Jobs to earn weekly pocket money were 'running errands', brushing the stairs, scrubbing the doorsteps, polishing any brass ornaments.
NEVER accept money for going to the shops for neighbours - that was considered 'begging'.
Extra pocket money could be earned by cleaning shoes for my uncle and polishing the chrome bits on his bikes (eg spokes on the wheels/gear levers/brakes) with Duraglit Chrome.
Don't talk in our local accent/dialect - even when grandad tried to teach me!

Goodness, some of you had such strict upbringings!

I did what I liked on Sundays, though bad behaviour would not have been tolerated on any day of the week.

We were expected to join in the grown-up conversation at mealtimes, and when there were visitors. No hint of ‘children should be seen and not heard’. I suspect we weren’t expected to dominate or lead the conversation, though.

It was taken as read that school work was the most important thing.

We had to ask permission to leave the table, but it was always given, even between courses. I remember gabbling “Please may I leave the table till the pudding comes?” I obviously thought pudding just “came” - descended from heaven, and was nothing to do with my mother’s hard work.

“Think loudly”

Look mother in the face

Sit on the furniture

Eat if mother had chosen not to eat that day

Use the bathroom except first thing in the morning and last thing at night

Own a bra

Use deodorant

I wasn't allowed to say rotten.

Or mention what to do with sanitary towels when my dad was around????

Grandma70s I think my parents were quite laissez-faire too, apart from manners!

We weren’t allowed to drink at mealtimes. We had to wait till the main course was finished and then my mother made a pot of tea.
I’ve no idea why. Anyone else share this odd rule ?

Yes, we were not allowed water until half an hour after a meal. I never put water on the table but DD always puts a jug out.

We weren't allowed a drink with our meals, and I didn't allow my daughter until she was a bit older.

"You'll fill yourself up with water" I was told

Me too.
These days I'm more interested in filling myself up with dinner.

Me too!

and tea, but not until 3 o'clock

I wasn't allowed to eat in the street - and still feel a bit 'naughty' if I need to do that as I rush from one place to another. I wanted to learn the cello, but was not allowed due to the unfeminine way you have to sit. I am now learning in retirement, and absolutely loving it! Makeup was considered utterly tarty. Wearing red was out of the question as I had carroty hair. Blue and green should never be seen without a colour in between! Goodness the list of unacceptable behaviour was long and incomprehensible.

So I would fill myself up with water ! Ok. Who knew ? We had water at school though in those little duralex glasses. I bought some on Amazon to use at home and to remind me.
Thanks Callistemon and Miss A.