The Origin of Rules

No singing at the table.

That is a rule at my parent's home. I grew up thinking that that was a standard rule in every household. I remember being quite surprised to find that there was no such rule at my friends' houses. I thought all rules were universal.

As I have grown older, I have often wondered what events transpired in order to create such a rule. So far as I know, there is no record of the birth of this rule. We did have eight kids in my family. And we were NOT the Von Trapps. Perhaps, my parents had endured one too many off-key performances at the table. However, the rule was in force for as long as I can remember, so I blame it on my older siblings. Whatever brought it about, it must have been their fault! ;)

And so, for the sake of any potential younger siblings Ben and Brianna may have, I am recording the birth of a new rule at our home: No pounding on the door while Mommy is showering, unless the house is on fire, or someone is dying.

Let me just say, in my defense, that this was not a little fist pounding on the door. No, this was full-body slamming against the door, over, and over, and over, and over, and over. . . . Let me also say, in my defense, that I started out by asking very nicely, followed by yelling nicely (yes, there is such a thing), followed by yelling without the niceness, followed by screaming my lungs out, followed by me throwing my towel around my dripping, soapy body, throwing open my door, and SCREAMING the new rule.

Not my best parenting moment. After I finished my shower (without any more pounding, incidentally) and had gotten dressed, I sat down with my young 'uns and apologized for YELLING and then calmly re-explained the rule.

That was yesterday. Today, there was not so much as a tiny knock on my door while I showered. Dare I hope??

So, did you/do you have any strange/unique rules at your house?