1. Church Services
For many of us, Sunday mornings meant stiff clothes, itchy tights, and the long, quiet stretch of church services. Kids were expected to sit like little angels in the pews, hands folded and mouths zipped, even if they didn’t understand half of what was being said. Whispering was frowned upon, squirming earned you a sharp look, and heaven forbid your stomach growled before communion. The hymns helped break things up a bit, but even those dragged on forever if you were under ten shares Parents.
Some kids tried to entertain themselves by counting ceiling tiles or tracing patterns on the floor with their shoes. Others brought quiet distractions like a tiny notepad or a Lifesaver tucked into a pocket for emergencies. But generally, the message was clear—sit still, listen, and don’t make a scene. It was like a crash course in patience adds CNBC.
2. Long-Winded Weddings
You didn’t even have to know the bride and groom to get roped into a wedding and plunked down on a folding chair for hours. From the ceremony itself to the photos and the dinner toasts that just wouldn’t end, kids were basically hostages in their dress shoes. Everything was designed for adults—romance, speeches, sentimental music. No cartoons, no chicken nuggets, and definitely no room to run around shares Brides.
Parents would shush any noise with a firm hand on the knee or a “just a little longer” whispered through a forced smile. Sometimes there was a flower girl or ring bearer who offered a brief flicker of entertainment, but mostly it was sit, smile, and survive. Cake was the only thing keeping morale up. And even that came at the very end says the Knot.
3. Airplane Rides
Trapped in a metal tube in the sky with nowhere to go and limited snacks? A nightmare scenario for kids, especially before tablets were a thing. You were supposed to sit in that tiny seat, buckle in, and not bother the person in front of you no matter how tempting their headrest was. The roar of the engines was loud, but not loud enough to drown out a bored child’s sighs.
If you were lucky, your parent had the foresight to bring coloring books or a Walkman with fresh batteries. If not, you just sat and stared at the seat in front of you for hours, occasionally asking “Are we there yet?” despite knowing the answer. Getting up too often earned you glares from the flight attendants. It was a long lesson in staying still in a very small space.
4. Waiting Rooms at Doctor’s Offices
The fish tank could only hold your attention for so long. After that, it was a brutal waiting game where you couldn’t be loud, couldn’t run, and couldn’t touch the germy toys (especially after you were old enough to realize just how germy they were). Parents usually brought nothing but a magazine for themselves and expected kids to magically behave.
The ticking of the clock seemed extra loud in that sterile, echoey room. Everyone looked grumpy or nervous, which didn’t help the atmosphere. You could try asking how much longer, but the answer was always vague. You just had to sit there, flipping through a torn Highlights magazine, waiting to be poked or prodded.
5. School Assemblies
They always started with the promise of being “fun,” but 20 minutes in, your legs were falling asleep on the gym floor. Assemblies were often long, dry affairs with someone speaking way too slowly into a microphone that echoed. The principal’s speech, a safety lecture, or a presentation about recycling didn’t exactly captivate young minds. And yet, we were expected to sit quietly, cross-legged, with no talking.
Teachers lined the perimeter like watchful guards. Whisper too loudly or wiggle too much and you’d get “the look.” Sometimes there was a video or a performance that offered a glimmer of hope, but mostly, you were just waiting for the bell. The excitement of missing class wore off real fast.
6. Hair Salons and Barber Shops
Kids weren’t always the ones in the chair—they were often stuck waiting for their parents to get highlights, trims, or perms. Those places smelled weird and sounded louder than a school cafeteria with all the hair dryers going. You had to sit in one of those squeaky chairs and behave while time dragged on like molasses.
If you dared to complain, you got a firm reminder that “this won’t take long,” which was always a lie. There were a few raggedy magazines to flip through and maybe a bowl of stale mints on the counter, but not much else. If you were lucky, someone would hand you a comb to fiddle with. But mostly, it was just another silent endurance test.
7. Older Relatives’ Living Rooms
Visiting Grandma or Great-Aunt Margie often meant being told to sit on the fancy plastic-covered furniture and not touch anything. The TV was always on a soap opera or muted altogether, and all the breakables were within elbow-swinging range. It was like being in a museum where the security guard knew your name.
You couldn’t fidget, and you definitely couldn’t run around. Sometimes someone would hand you a Werther’s Original, which you didn’t like but ate anyway just to stay busy. The conversation was about people you didn’t know, and the room smelled like potpourri and old books. You learned the fine art of zoning out while appearing attentive.
8. Funerals
Even the youngest kids were expected to understand that funerals were “serious” and required total silence. The heavy air, the somber faces, the unfamiliar rituals—it was confusing and emotionally overwhelming. But instead of getting comfort or distraction, you had to sit quietly and behave like a tiny adult. Crying was okay, but wiggling wasn’t.
You weren’t supposed to ask questions like “Why is that box up there?” even though you really wanted to know. Parents were too distracted to explain things clearly. You just knew it was a place where laughter was wrong and sitting still was the only option. It was one of the earliest introductions to uncomfortable silence.
9. Sibling’s Recitals
Being dragged to your brother’s or sister’s music or dance recital meant sitting in a dark auditorium for what felt like forever. You clapped at all the wrong times, got in trouble for kicking the seat in front of you, and were told to “just enjoy it.” But your sibling’s ten-minute routine was buried in a two-hour program filled with strangers.
There were no intermissions for kids, and no snacks allowed. You watched kid after kid shuffle onto the stage to perform piano pieces or ballet routines you didn’t understand. Parents were all recording on camcorders while you were just trying not to fall asleep. Your only reward was usually a trip to get ice cream afterward.
10. DMV Visits
Nothing about the DMV was designed with kids in mind. It was all endless lines, fluorescent lighting, and grumpy grown-ups sighing loudly. You were just along for the ride while your parent filled out forms and waited for their number to be called. The wait times were ridiculous, and even the vending machines looked sketchy.
You couldn’t even ask to go to the bathroom without getting a weary look. Entertainment options included watching people argue with clerks or playing I Spy with your sibling if you were lucky enough to have one. Everyone was miserable, and you were expected to just sit and match the mood. Which you did—eventually.
11. Fancy Restaurants
Going out to eat was supposed to be fun, but not when the restaurant was “fancy” and full of rules. No coloring menus, no crayons, no kids’ meals in sight. You had to sit properly, keep your voice down, and wait a long time for food you didn’t recognize. And if you dared to ask for chicken nuggets, your parents gave you the look.
The chairs were uncomfortable, and there was nothing to do while the adults chatted and slowly sipped their wine. Sometimes the bread basket was your only lifeline. You learned quickly that the quieter you were, the faster dinner would end. Or at least that’s what they said.
12. Theater Performances
Whether it was a Shakespeare play or a community theater production of Oklahoma!, kids were expected to sit quietly and appreciate “the arts.” That’s a tall order when you’re under twelve and the show is three acts long with a 15-minute intermission that flies by. You were warned before the curtain rose: no whispering, no candy wrappers, and no getting up unless it was an emergency.
At least movies came with popcorn and explosions. Theater was all dialogue and singing you couldn’t understand. If you fidgeted or asked what was going on, someone behind you would hiss. It was one of those “cultural experiences” you were supposed to be grateful for but just tried to survive.
13. Family Reunions with No Other Kids
Sometimes you showed up expecting cousins to play with, only to find yourself the only child surrounded by dozens of chatting adults. The grown-ups were busy catching up, telling old stories, and passing around photos you didn’t care about. You were handed a plate of food and told to go sit somewhere quietly—just not too close.
There was nothing to do but eavesdrop or doodle with a pen you found in someone’s purse. If you were lucky, someone let you play with their phone, but usually, you were just left to zone out. Time seemed to slow to a crawl. And by the end, you’d made a personal vow to never throw a kid-free reunion if you ever got old.