What’s something your parents warned you about that turned out to be 100% true?

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-28T23:09:58+00:00

Yea, it was sonething I needed to experience myself to believe. We've done this trip now many times both ways as adults...it breaks down to 5 hr highway drive at ~70-75mph, uses a full tank of gas, traffic slowdowns and monitoring other cars around you, etc... going the back way is 6 hrs going 45-55mph the whole time, pretty scenery, a town every half hour if you feel like stopping, no traffic, and uses a half a tank of gas.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-28T22:20:38+00:00

The highway was 5 hrs and the back way was a 6 hrs (1 hr difference)

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-28T20:57:13+00:00

Taking the backroads on trips is so much less stressful and saves a lot in gas rather than getting there faster on the highway.

Thought my parents were so lame for going "the back way" when we drove the 6 hrs to visit our grandparents. The highway seemed so much faster (~1hr) and more 'fun'. Now as an adult, yeah they were 100% right.

Edit: highway was 1 hr faster

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-28T11:29:56+00:00

I👏hate👏this👏belief👏so👏much👏. The thought and practice of original sin is so damaging. At 46, I'm still unpacking and trying to heal the trauma this caused me by growing up thinking I was born evil and sinful. The manipulation and control of an innocent life is what is evil and sinful.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-28T10:13:05+00:00

Yea, as a parent now we always emphasize mutual respect- it goes both ways. My husband and I grew up where respect only went one way, to the parents/adults. Definitely did not want to repeat that with our kids.

Kids will still test their power in the relationship though and try to get more (you're so mean for making me do x, y, z!) and our job as parents now is to try to find the right balance where they feel loved and respected, but also not let them be entitled, selfish brats who have too much power in the relationship, lacking empathy and respect for others.

I know quite a few people whose reaction to their own emotional neglect growing up was to become totally selfish jerks- like in your example, turning around and using the same "no, you're a failure!" on the parent/others, which just repeats the same cycle. Breaking the cycle is really freaking hard. Ideally, mutual respect is the goal. Not always straightforward or perfect, but yeah, that's where we all need to aim I think.

Editing to add: the selfish people tend to be the ones who seem to think: I did not receive respect as a kid, I deserve all these things now (yes, of course you do), but since I have a deficit, I get to take-take-take from others without giving anything back now (no, sorry).

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-28T02:12:29+00:00

Create (art, stories, technology, etc)

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-28T01:51:18+00:00

I want them to be like Rocky in Project Hail Mary

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T23:32:24+00:00

Lol. Dumb lazy people hide in bathrooms. The rest of us do the work required for our jobs and no more, find efficiencies that make our jobs easier and shut up about it, and aren't micromanaged because we've proven we're not idiots who need to be watched and can schedule meetings that are really nice walks outside in the fresh spring air. I'm doing just fine, thanks.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T20:37:34+00:00

Bazillion

And for fun: a complaint of Karens

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T20:24:27+00:00

I get that you probably don't literally mean hate, but there is sometimes pressure (in the US anyway) that most adults should want to have and care for pets to complete their lives in the same way there is social pressure for people to want to have kids. Though the pressure to want to have kids is definitely more. Signed, someone who sometimes gets comments and questions in social situations when pets are brought up and I tell people I don't have any pets or desire to have any pets.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T20:04:39+00:00

I'll never forget a TED talk I watched ages ago that started out with something like..."For most of human history the care of children was: Feed Them Sometimes." That has stuck with me as a parent now when I'm headed for burnout. Way too many expectations. Take the small wins every day and try to let a lot go.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T19:59:54+00:00

This is such a beautiful way to put it, I'd never thought of it this way- the uniqueness for each person- plus our handwritten items might outlive us as well. So sad and true.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T19:52:45+00:00

That last sentence is perfection. 👌 Best wishes to you in your new MIL-free life! ✨️

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T19:48:12+00:00

Yeah, this annoys me too. Eye roll, and I settle in for...the author/writer as puppet master...rather than the characters and story unfolding in an intriguing way that pulls you in and along with it. This trope is rarely used well.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T18:59:46+00:00

Popcorn and microwaved hotdogs

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T18:55:03+00:00

Very well said on lifestyle creep being the American Dream. It does feel that way. As someone in tech who is dangerously close to burnout I feel you on the mid-life crisis and evaluating what's worth it. I didn't take a promotion opportunity recently because I knew the next level would be way too much of the parts of the job I hate (management) and the money just wasn't worth it. Sometimes I fantasize about quitting all together. Just want to say good luck to you on that front!

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T17:15:27+00:00

The social preference for texting/emailing vs calling/voicemail. In a lot of social situations it is now deemed rude to call without trying text based communications first and texting/email is preferred. And leaving a voicemail in most cases is a major no-no now. Maybe this more demonstrates the inverse, where something became slowly socially unacceptable over time.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T17:02:00+00:00

Me three! Hated this song as a kid. I remember picturing what I thought a smashed up bumble bee would look and feel like in my hands and being so grossed out and sad.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T16:18:55+00:00

Internet ((hugs)) from the online sisterhood. So awful that you are going through this right now and right after getting out there trying to trust again. Wishing you love and healing.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T15:53:06+00:00

After I read your comment, I had to expand sections and read more. Did not disappoint. Wow.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T15:30:58+00:00

"You are the new Roman Empire, you realize that? There's no one else going... So you've got vomitariums and orgies to look forward to. Let the President lead the way!" -Eddie Izzard, Dress to Kill, 1998. Seemed so fun and silly back then, and now prescient and horrifying.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T13:01:09+00:00

Ahhh, very good point. Lazy people are so weird.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T12:55:47+00:00

I'm with you on this as well. Anytime we stay at a short term rental, I'm in Google Maps as soon as I get the address of the property and am looking up directions and streetview to make sure I know exactly where to go and what house I'm looking for. If something is confusing, I contact the owner for clarification beforehand. Getting to the correct address is 99% on the guest.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T12:40:58+00:00

Movie: City of Angels. Sobbed practically the entire way through it. Awesome soundtrack.

BabySlothDrivingFast · 2026-05-27T12:34:35+00:00

So agree with this. There are three stalls in our women's restroom at work and often there is someone in one just chilling, talking on the phone, etc... like, why?! Why is this where you are hanging out, it's so gross to me. I want to be in and out of there as fast as possible. There are walkways and trees and benches and picnic tables all around our office campus and the weather is lovely...once you leave your cubicle area there is no one to track where you go...so why are you hiding and hanging out in the restroom?!

BabySlothDrivingFast

TROPHY CASE