13 Things Our Parents Warned Us About That Never Actually Happened
Journey back to your childhood and rediscover the endearing (and often unfounded) warnings our parents shared. From watermelon seeds sprouting in our stomachs to the perils of face-making, dive into these delightful myths that shaped our younger years.
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As children, our parents served as our first life coaches, imparting wisdom through a blend of advice, cautionary stories, and time-honored maxims. While these warnings felt incredibly important in our younger years, adulthood has revealed that many of these cautionary tales never actually came to fruition.
Using Cell Phones at Gas Stations Causes Explosions
The warning was that using a cell phone near a gas pump could ignite fumes and cause an explosion. However, there’s no documented case of this ever happening.
Eating Pop Rocks and Soda Together Will Make Your Stomach Explode
The urban legend was that the combination of Pop Rocks candy and soda would create a gas buildup in your stomach, leading to an explosion. Thankfully, this is just a myth.
Hair and Fingernails Continue to Grow After Death
It’s a common belief that hair and fingernails continue to grow after a person dies. In reality, the skin retracts due to dehydration, making it appear as though hair and nails have grown.
Swallowed Gum Staying in Your Stomach for 7 Years
Remember being told that if you swallowed your gum, it would stay in your stomach for seven long years? Turns out, while gum isn’t easily digestible, it doesn’t linger for nearly that long.
Sitting Too Close to the TV Ruining Your Eyesight
Many of us were scolded for sitting too close to the television. While it might cause temporary eye strain, there’s no evidence it causes permanent damage.
Cracking Your Knuckles Leading to Arthritis
That satisfying pop might have earned you a reprimand, but contrary to popular belief, cracking your knuckles doesn’t cause arthritis.
Eating Carrots to See in the Dark
While carrots are rich in vitamin A, which is good for eyesight, they won’t grant you night vision, no matter how many you munch on.
Waiting an Hour After Eating Before Swimming
The idea was that swimming on a full stomach could lead to cramps and potential drowning. In reality, while you might feel a bit sluggish, there’s no significant danger.
Touching a Toad Giving You Warts
Toads might look warty, but they won’t transfer any to you. Warts are caused by a virus, not our amphibian friends.
Swallowed Watermelon Seeds Growing in Your Stomach
The fear of a watermelon plant sprouting inside was real. Thankfully, those seeds just pass right through.
Making Faces and It Staying That Way
Many parents warned that if you kept making a silly face, it might just freeze that way. While it’s amusing to imagine, our facial muscles are thankfully more resilient.
Reading in Dim Light Damaging Your Eyes
While it might make your eyes tired, reading in low light doesn’t cause lasting damage. It’s just more comfortable to read with proper lighting.
Stepping on a Crack and Breaking Your Mother’s Back
This old superstition made many a child hop and skip over sidewalk cracks, but thankfully, our mothers’ backs remained intact.
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