Johann Hunt
Some household rules from the past were followed like law, even if they make zero sense today. They shaped childhoods and annoyed siblings, yet now we barely remember why they existed. Interested in seeing which family habits have officially fallen out of style? Here are 10 practices that no longer hold up.
Finishing Every Plate No Matter What
Parents once expected kids to clear every plate, believing it taught respect for food and prevented waste, a mindset shaped by past scarcity. Many even used guilt or stories about hunger elsewhere to make the rule stick. Today, the rule feels outdated, especially as modern parenting encourages mindful eating and stopping when full.
Sunday Best For Every Outing
Wearing “Sunday best” used to be a strict rule, meant to show social status whenever families went out. Children typically sat through outings in stiff, uncomfortable clothes. Modern life, however, embraces casual wear, even in churches, making the once-serious tradition feel unnecessary and out of place today.
Answering The Landline Immediately
Families stopped everything when the phone rang—dinner and homework. Each call felt urgent because you couldn’t just text back later. Missing one could also mean missing something important. But now, digital messaging makes urgency rare, voicemail handles missed calls, and many homes don’t even keep a landline.
Strict Gendered Chores
Chores were once divided rigidly by gender—boys handled wood chopping and outdoor tasks while girls cooked and sewed. These roles came from older beliefs about “appropriate” skills for each gender. Today’s families teach every child the same household skills, leaving behind the old gender-based chore rules.
Saving Plastic Bags In Bulk
Back then, parents saved every single plastic bag by cramming them into cupboards as if they’d need them forever. It came from a time when recycling was limited, and reusing was the norm. With recycling now widely available and reusable totes everywhere, there’s really no need to keep piles of plastic bags anymore.
Ironing Everyday Clothes
Everything needed ironing—shirts, pants, even casual weekend clothes. Wrinkle-free outfits proved you had your act together. Families dedicated entire evenings to ironing piles of laundry. Now? Wrinkle-resistant fabrics are everywhere, and our schedules are packed. Most people just skip the iron entirely.
Holiday Fruitcake Gifting
Fruitcake used to be a classic holiday gift, often homemade and exchanged among families. Many cakes were never eaten, sometimes passed along year after year. What was once a festive, thoughtful gesture is now mostly a running joke, as fewer people actually enjoy or expect fruitcake during the holidays.
Formal Thank-You Notes For Every Gift
There was a time when writing formal thank-you notes for every gift was a non-negotiable etiquette rule, complete with proper stationery. Families treated it as essential good manners. Today, quick texts, calls, and casual messages have replaced this tradition, thereby making handwritten notes feel more optional than required.
Keeping Fine China “For Guests Only”
Many households stored delicate china sets that were brought out only for important guests. Households rarely used them themselves, sometimes leaving the dishes untouched for years. Although it once symbolized respect and formality, the practice now feels impractical as people prefer everyday dishes for all meals, special or not.
Mandatory Family Photo Albums
Families dedicated serious time to arranging printed photos in albums, carefully documenting every milestone and vacation. These books were treated like treasured heirlooms. Today, smartphones capture everything automatically, cloud storage keeps it safe, and Instagram shares it instantly. Those heavy photo albums? Probably boxed up somewhere forgotten.