Our Moms always said we had to wait 45 minutes after eating to go back in the pool or ocean. Something about undigested food would give us cramps, and we would drown…. That partial hour felt interminably long on hot summer days. Did your parents tell you things as a child that stopped you in your tracks, yet at the same time had you wondering if they were true?
Let’s take a look at some of these common myths. And now that you know they are myths, we trust you will not perpetrate them against future generations. Consider this our effort at aiding humanity. Did we miss any?
Reading in the Dark Will Ruin Your Eyes
This is a common warning that parents may give to their children who want to read past their bedtime or in dim light. According to eye doctors at Harvard, reading in dim light won’t cause any permanent damage to your eyesight. It may cause some eye strain or headache, but that can be relieved by resting your eyes or using better lighting.
Don’t Cross Your Eyes – They Might Stick That Way
Speaking of eyes, another myth revolves around telling children not to cross their eyes, as they might get stuck in that position. Some parents add that this is most likely to happen if you cross your eyes and get whacked on the back at the same time…not true.
Similarly to the warning about reading in the dark, your eyes might be strained and uncomfortable for a while, but you will regain full control over them.
Are We All Walking Around With Huge Balls Of Gum In Our Stomachs?
Have you heard that swallowed gum takes seven years to digest? This is another common myth that parents may use to discourage their children from swallowing gum – however, it is not true. And then there is the one that said swallowed gum would stick to previously swallowed gum, become a huge ball – and then we aren’t sure, but maybe you would blow up into one huge gum ball?
We heard a few people say they were told gum would stick to their ribs…apparently the adults in their lives do not know basic human body structure.
Gum is mostly indigestible and will pass through your digestive system easily. There have been some rare cases of children swallowing too much gum and having gastrointestinal problems, but that can be avoided by not swallowing the whole pack.
Pee In The Pool At Your Peril
We were told that if we peed in the pool, the water would turn color – everyone would know and we would be forever humiliated….Okay, we get it, parents (well, no one), wants anyone peeing in the pool that they are swimming in, and this worked as a deterrent. To a degree. Do you know anyone who tested it out? We do. No color change. Now you know.
BUT, get this, according to PR Newswire 52 percent of people DO believe that this is true. In fact, pool supply businesses report that they often receive requests for such a chemical.
Parents, do you see how far this little lie went? How can we ever trust you now….
A friend told us they have this sign at their own pool: “We don’t swim in your toilet, you don’t pee in our pool.”
Chocolate Milk Comes from Brown Cows
This is a fun myth that parents may tell their children to amuse them or explain where chocolate milk comes from. It is not true. Chocolate milk is made by adding chocolate or cocoa and sugar to regular milk, which comes from cows of any color. Surprisingly (well after these last few years, maybe not surprisingly), some adults still believe this myth: a 2023 survey found that 7% of U.S. adults think chocolate milk comes from brown cows.
SPOILER ALERT: Let’s Talk About The Tooth Fairy
Losing baby teeth can be scary and exciting at the same time. It stands to reason that adults would come up with a way to smooth out the process by telling us about the tooth fairy. This fairy gets around, visiting children around the world, checking under children’s pillows and leaving gifts and money in exchange for taking away their teeth. We cannot find any corroboration that the tooth fairy actually exists – but someone is doing some great fairy work late at night.
According to Delta Dental in 2023, the typical cash gift varies by geographic area, averaging over $6 in the US. Children residing in the South experienced the highest returns, with an average of $6.59 per tooth, marking a substantial 14% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, kids in the West witnessed a remarkable surge of 53%, reaching an average of $6.25 per tooth. In the Northeast, the average declined to $6.14, down from $7.36 recorded in 2022. On the other hand, the Midwest remained below the national average at $5.36, but still showed significant growth of 32% compared to the rates from the previous year.
Nothing Fun Happens After You Fall Asleep
This is a common lie that parents may tell their children to make them go to bed on time and not miss out on anything. The fact is, there are many fun things that happen after children fall asleep, such as watching movies, playing games, eating snacks, or having parties. Parents may think that this lie is helpful, but it may make their children feel anxious or curious about what they are missing.
No Swimming While Menstruating
Many girls were told that they were not suppose to swim during their “time of the month,” but that is another myth. It is not unhygienic, and you will not attract sharks.
Go ahead and take a dip. Menstrual cups and tampons make it easy.
If You Sneeze with Your Eyes Open, They’ll Fall Out
Have you ever sneezed with your eyes open? Probably not, as your eyes closing when you sneeze is a reflex action – for most people. Some folks don’t have that reflex, but their eyes don’t fall out, because they aren’t just perched in your eye socked spinning around. There are muscles holding them in place. Strong ones!
Knuckle-Cracking Leads to Arthritis
This is a common warning that parents may give to their children who like to crack their knuckles or other joints. Maybe adults believe it, or maybe they just think the practice is annoying, but any which way, it is not true. Recent studies show that pulling or twisting joints creates space between the bones, and that expansion causes negative pressure to fill with the synovial fluid that keeps bones from rubbing together. The “crack” we hear is actually the pop of the synovial fluid filling that new space, and doing so doesn’t cause damage or weakness to joints.
If You Swallow a Pit, A Tree Will Grow In Your Belly
Be it a watermelon seed, an olive pit or cherry pit, many kids are told that a tree will grow in their stomach if they swallow it. Nope. Not gonna happen. That said, try not to swallow too many. Cherry pits, for example, contain prussic acid, also known as cyanide, which is poisonous. If you accidentally swallow one, don’t worry, the intact pits pass through your system and out the other end. Just don’t crush or swallow cupfuls.
Drinking Coffee Stunts Your Growth
There is no evidence to suggest coffee stunts growth, but large quantities can cause anxiety and jitteriness. Most kids do not need ramping up, so either parents believed this – or just wanted to keep us as calm as possible.
Apparently Dragon Flies Have Sewing Skills
We hadn’t heard this before, but apparently many kids were told that if they told a lie that a dragonfly would sew their mouth shut. This is so barbaric, we have nothing else to say.
Cars Have Fake Rules
There are a few popular car myths, such as that it is illegal to drive barefoot. At this point in time it is legal to drive barefoot in all 50 states, and we could not determine a date when it was illegal, so this is pure myth.
Some of us were also told that it was illegal to drive with the dome light on. We think this is just because the adults who were driving found it annoying.
If You Go Outside with Wet Hair, You’ll Catch a Cold
This myth has some truth to it. First of all, in order to catch a cold you need to catch a cold virus, but being cold and wet can lower your immune defenses, so we’ll chalk this one up to parents just trying to be extra careful.
More Eye Issues: Don’t Sit Close to the TV!
Did your Mom or Dad tell you that you could go blind if you sat too close to the TV? The American Academy of Ophthalmology has signed off on this as a myth. Apparently, children’s eyes have better ability than adults to focus on things that are close up.
This myth might have stemmed from the 1950s, when televisions emitted unsafe levels of radiation. Thankfully, that is no longer a concern.
Touch a Toad and You’ll Get Warts
You can pick up a toad and not worry about getting warts. This myth probably started because some toads have warty-looking glands on their skin.
While all that is true, those glands can secrete a protective poison to defend against predators, and some frogs and toads do secrete toxins that can be hallucinogenic or even fatal. Best to leave them be. And don’t try to kiss one!
You’ll Go Blind If You Pleasure Yourself
We are thankful our parents never tried to pull this one over on us, but we know many who heard this as children. Seems like more boys were told this, especially if they were from religious families. And they aren’t blind. If you were told this, and are reading this now – good for you!
6 Gas Station Chains With Food So Good It’s Worth Driving Out Of Your Way For
We scoured the Internet to see what people had to say about gas station food. If you think the only things available are wrinkled hotdogs of indeterminate age, and day-glow slushies, we’ve got great, tasty news for you. Whether it ends up being part of a regular routine, or your only resource on a long car trip, we have the food info you need. Let’s look at 6 gas stations that folks can’t get enough of and see what they have for you to eat. Read 6 Gas Station Chains With Food So Good It’s Worth Driving Out Of Your Way For
18 of the World’s Deadliest Foods: How Many Are You Eating?
Whether you eat to live, or live to eat, let’s make sure you live to see another day! These are some of the world’s deadliest foods. They can bring on extreme symptoms, ranging from paralysis to seizures, choking and even death, so don’t go tucking these into your lunchbox. Click for 18 of the World’s Deadliest Foods: How Many Are You Eating?
10 Of The Worst Tasting Drinks People Pretend To Like
Hold onto your taste buds, because we’re about to embark on a flavor-filled adventure through the realm of beverages! Sure, we all need water to survive, but let’s be real – drinks are so much more than just basic hydration. Recently, the question of which beverages people secretly think taste awful sparked a fiery debate. Boozy elixirs, non-alcoholic refreshments, and everything in between were thrown into the mix. Brace yourself as we unveil the truth behind the drinks we pretend to love. Get ready for a wild ride of taste revelations! Read 10 Of The Worst Tasting Drinks People Pretend To Like
Alive or Dead? You Be The Judge… 15 Famous People Rumored To Be Alive After They Were Reported Dead
There are many celebrities who have been rumored to be alive after they were reported dead, either because of false reports, hoaxes, rumors or conspiracy theories.
You be the judge…. Are they really alive or dead as claimed? Read: Alive or Dead? You Be The Judge… 15 Famous People Rumored To Be Alive After They Were Reported Dead
14 Of The Craziest Hacks People Use Mayonnaise For – Even In The Bedroom!
After you click through this slide show you will never look at a jar of mayo the same way again. Trust us. Click for 14 Of The Craziest Hacks People Use Mayonnaise For – Even In The Bedroom!
Take Back Control: How to Identify and Tackle Medical Gaslighting
What is medical gaslighting? Medical gaslighting refers to a situation in which healthcare providers dismiss or diminish the symptoms that an individual is experiencing, attempting to persuade them that the symptoms are attributed to an alternative cause or are mere figments of their imagination. Medical gaslighting can leave you questioning your own experience. And at worse can lead to undiagnosed serious illness.
Learn the signs and the ways in which you can take back control if this happens to you. Read: Take Back Control: How to Identify and Tackle Medical Gaslighting
Don’t Fall For These 17 Foods That Pretend To Be Healthy
Have you heard the term “Dr. Google”? That’s when you turn to search engines and the Internet to provide health and medical information – and unless you know how to vet sources, it is a mine field of faulty information. Here are 17 foods that you might have heard are “healthy”, but we have the whole story. PS: the moment a food becomes a trend, research carefully. We’re looking at you bulletproof coffee!
Click for Don’t Fall For These 17 Foods That Pretend To Be Healthy
17 Of The Most Expensive Foods In The World: Would You Pay This Much To Eat Any Of These?
These days our food budget is not going very far, even for everyday foods. And yet, there are still those who seek out extravagant foods, regardless of price. I guess we can live vicariously through these pictures. Maybe someday someone will bestow a 4-pound white truffle upon us, but until then, this will have to suffice.
Click for 17 Of The Most Expensive Foods In The World: Would You Pay This Much To Eat Any Of These?
19 Of The World’s Most Overrated Foods
We have foods we love, and those we won’t touch. We all have our own likes and dislikes, but what are the most overrated foods? That was the question posed on this Reddit thread by Even_Cause_3478. There were a lot of opinions. Some made sense to us, and some were things we had never thought of before!
What is the most overrated food in your opinion?
Click for 19 Of The World’s Most Overrated Foods
Miracle at 30,000 Feet: What Happens When a Baby is Born During a Flight?
Have you ever wondered What Happens If You Give Birth On a Plane? Who delivers the baby? Where do you deliver the baby? What is the child’s citizenship, and do they get free trips for life?
Is Cash Still King In Your Life? 13 Reasons People Still Carry Cash
Cash. It never used to be controversial, but these days it appears that there are those on both sides of the coin (so to speak). For those of us of a certain age we can remember our mothers always telling us to keep a $20 bill in our shoe or bra, in case of emergencies. Now many of us struggle to find a coin to put in the meter.
Cash lovers, and those who never carry it. What’s the reasoning, either way? A Redditor was thinking the same thing, and asked the question, Do You Still Carry Cash? These are the answers they got. Read Is Cash Still King In Your Life? 13 Reasons People Still Carry Cash
