As an only child of a Middle-Eastern family, you can imagine how I would be strapped down to my living room couch, mastered the art of the 'puppy-dog face,' and climbed down many, many trees to hang out with friends. But, hey! If you're from a strict household, you might have strolled down a path of many white lies, sweet dreams of rebellion, and a great mix of chores and homework. However, you've probably been molded into a responsible, mature and successful human that you should thank your parents for.
1. If you didn't inform your parents about plans two weeks ahead...you're not going anywhere.
Forget about business days, telling your parents about your future plans took business weeks to process. There were no-last minute hang-outs. Or else your parents thought you were going out to do drugs.
2. Sleepovers? What are those?
Either your friend came and slept over at your house, or you enviously sat in your room with the knowledge that your friends were having a slumber party. Whenever you asked 'why?' to your parents, the response would always be along the lines of you getting hurt or being in danger in an unfamiliar home.
3. You know all the spots in the house to sneak out without a soul knowing.
Was it the tree next to your bedroom window that you climbed down? A sliding door in the back? All of it required blueprints and intricate planning prior to the escape.And if your friends were picking you up, you had to make sure it was several houses down.
4. Dating? What is that?
Well...your parents and you never discussed dating in the first place. There was just the common knowledge wavering in the air. One time I actually got a statement out of my dad: "No dating until you're out of college". OUT of college!
5. You were envious of your friends who had later curfews than you.
When you were out, your curfew was early compared to your friends. I mean EARLY. Ranging from 9:30 pm to 10:00 pm, you felt like Cinderella incessantly checking her wrist-watch. But instead of turning to a scullery maid, you turned into somebody who was going to get into some deep shit.
6. Your eyes are partially damaged from the long hours you've spent on the internet.
When you weren't allowed out, there was nothing much to do than browse the internet. More then browse, actually. You've probably watched every YouTube video that ever exists and rewatched Friends five times. There is definitely some partial damage done to your eyes.
7. Sundays are for deep cleaning.
If you were like me, and have been awakened by the vacuum at the crack of ass on Sunday mornings, then you wanted to bang your head into the wall with the knowledge that it was the day to reinvent the house with Windex and Clorox, and the all too familiar smell of the CitrusBlend Disinfectant Wipes.
8. You're an expert at lying.
Mom has probably heard all the same lies at this point, the cliché 'I'm at the library studying with friends' one. The 'I have a club meeting and have to stay a little later than expected,' or if you were lucky like me and did theatre, you could say the rehearsal hours got extended. The majority of the time though, you felt pretty bad about lying.
9. Boredom
You've lied in bed and took shifts between doing something meaningless on the internet, attempts at doing homework, and eating out of boredom.
10. Is that a girl's name or a boy's?
Whenever your parents asked for the full rundown of who you were hanging out with, the one gender-neutral name always came up-Sydney, Sam, Alex, you name it. Is that a boy or a girl? If it wasn't the gender they wanted, you definitely lied.
11. You die internally when your curfew is in 15 minutes, and your ride says "we'll leave in a minute."
FUCK. You melted into a puddle of stress. That one definitely raised your blood pressure. And yet, it happened every time.
12. Explaining your parent's rules to your friends made you seem crazy.
What do you mean your curfew is at 10:00 pm? Why don't your parents let you sleep over for once? Why do you have so many missed calls from your mom? I don't know, man.
13. You've become an expert at pretending to do homework.
Okay, this happens to everybody, but you've especially developed quick reflexes. From having your homework pulled up on your laptop, yet watching Netflix on another tab, your finger was always on the other tab and the pause button, ready to roll when your mom walked in your room.
14. You had a separate language between your parents and between your friends.
Cursing in front of your parents? Ha. Cursing in front of your friends? You're a filthy sailor. But you switch languages from the second you step into the front door.
15. You had heart attacks when your parents walked in on you watching a show that had a kiss scene.
Of course, they always had to walk in on a scene with kissing. It's not like it was porn, but you got that weird face from them and had to explain yourself. It was cringy.
16. Your parents expected As and Bs.
God Forbid you brought home a C. Or a D. If you brought home an F, you got ready for them to be on your ass about everything
17. You've grown into a responsible, mature, and respectful person.
No explanation needed. You became a better person who made good decisions. You most definitely got something positive out of it, even if it didn't seem like it in the moment.
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