Ten Things Our Grandparents Did That We’d Never Do Today
Growing up, all four of my grandmothers lived close to me. Not only were they familiar faces at holidays and birthdays, but also in our daily lives. We were spoiled by them. They fed us, babysat us, and sold us. Each had their quirks, habits, and firm beliefs about the way things should work in the world, as well as how children should be raised.
As a parent, I find myself often reflecting on their world and the one in which I raise my children. From technology to parenting to social norms, so much has changed. Our grandparents were born in the post-war or the Depression era. They were raised during a time when thriftiness, resilience, and simplicity were not virtues but survival skills.
They certainly provided us with a wonderful childhood. However, they also did some things that today would raise eyebrows. Some are quaint. Some are shocking. Some of them, we kind of miss.
We asked our parents, grandparents, and wider community what their grandparents did that no one would do today. The responses were hilarious, heartwarming, and eye-opening.
Here are the ten best, plus what they have to say about the evolution of parenting and the world.
1. Fabric Handkerchiefs Instead of Tissues
Remember the neatly folded cloth squares your grandfather carried in his pockets? Fabric handkerchiefs were once an indispensable item, used, washed, and reused repeatedly without any second thought.
One parent said, “My father still uses one and doesn’t hesitate when wiping my toddler’s face.” It’s gentle and good for the environment. I admire it. It’s not a good look to see the same thing used repeatedly in a single outing !”
In the post-COVID era, it might seem unhygienic to carry around a reusable, washable snot cloth. It’s a throwback to a time when people were more environmentally friendly and less wasteful. These handkerchiefs, which were usually embroidered, were classy.
2. Police Your Plate – Literally
One woman remembers that her grandfather would take away dessert from her at family dinners. “He would just slide the dish away with a smile and say, “That’s plenty for you, love.” I was about 10.”
Even though the memory is still painful, it represents a time when weight and body size comments were made casually, even in front of children. We’re thankfully more aware today of issues like body image, disordered food consumption, and the importance of fostering a healthy relationship between food and ourselves.
Although the intentions were good, they lacked the understanding and sensitivity we strive to bring to our parenting today. Although our grandparents’ intentions were good, we know now how to help children without making them feel ashamed.
3. Calling Everyone Mr. or Mrs
You probably received a harsh correction if you called an adult’s first name before your grandparents. Respect meant formality. When children address adults as Mr. Children never call adults “John” or “Karen”. They always refer to them as Mrs. Smith is never called “John” or Karen.
Someone shared, “I remember being corrected during a family gathering.” “I said, ‘Hi, Anne’, and my grandmother immediately whispered to me, ‘That is Mrs. “I said ‘Hi, Anne.’ and my grandma immediately whispered, That is Mrs.
This level of formality is mostly gone today. In some progressive schools, kids call adults by their names. Is this a sign of disrespect? Is it a loss of respect?
This shift in parenting (and the society as a whole) towards informality and connection is significant.
4. Making Everything from Scratch
Our grandparents considered cake mixes in a packet to be sacrilegious. Why buy a cake mix when you can use flour, sugar, eggs, and butter from your pantry?
Both my grandmothers were incredible bakers. One reader said that Sunday afternoon tea was always served with something freshly baked. “No one would ever dream of buying cookies in a store,” he added.
Baking from scratch is a nostalgic and comforting idea in a world of microwave meals and Uber Eats. The aroma of banana bread baking in the oven. Rolling dough makes your fingers sticky. These rituals take time, but are also moments that kids will remember forever.
5. Every Day, You Can Sit Down to Breakfast at the Table
Breakfast was always a formal affair at both sets of grandparents. No phones, no TV, no toast on the go. Only bowls of breakfast cereal, tea mugs, and conversation.
One parent said, “I do this with my sons at least once or twice per week.” It changes the mood of the morning.
Modern mornings can be rushed. Lunchboxes, emails, and lost socks are all commonplace. Making time to eat with your family, even if it’s just on weekends, can be a grounding experience. It’s got nothing to do with being old-fashioned. It’s all about the connection.
6. Fixing Everything by Themselves
A reader once told us that “my grandpa was able to fix anything”. “A broken toy or a leaking pipe, a toaster–it was all taken to the garage and it would be working again within a day.”
Pinterest was not the first DIYer. Our grandparents were. The grandparents had sewing machines, toolboxes, and the common sense to do almost any task. It was partly a matter of necessity, as they couldn’t afford professional help or to replace items every time something went wrong.
We are more inclined to replace rather than repair things today, due to our disposable culture. There’s a certain pride in being able to repair what’s broken, and it’s something that we should bring back.
7. Two-Person Phone Calls (on Landlines! )
Landlines were the only way to communicate with your family before mobile phones or FaceTime. In many households, both grandparents would answer the phone, but on different phones and in different rooms.
Someone recalled, with a smile, that “you’d say hi, and then you’d hear another one click in three seconds later.” It was like a conference call with low-tech.
In a way, it was charming. Two people were so eager to get your response that they raced each other to do so. Now, even grandparents text. It’s difficult not to be nostalgic about the sound of a landline, and the familiar rhythm that comes with five rings.
8. Sunburn is a Health Cure
One parent stated, “My Pop believed that the sun couldn’t fix anything.” “He would say, “Go sit in that sun, and it will clear up your acne.” Sun. Sun. Sun. A jellyfish sting? Sun again. You got a sunburn? “Take a hot bath to toughen up your skin, then go out again.”
We now know better. The use of sunscreen is a must, and tanners are at risk for skin cancer. Back then, sun exposure was considered healthy, restorative, and even medicinal.
Their love for the outdoors is admirable. They were not glued to their screens. They spent their time outside, gardening, walking, and playing with their children. We don’t all need sunburn, but we can all benefit from a little more sunshine.
9. The Occasional Smack
Discipline in the past was often physical, quick, and unquestioned. For stealing cookies or speaking back, a slap on the wrist was the norm.
Someone remembered: “If you stole scones from Granny before dinner, then you would have received a warning and a little smack.”
Modern parenting methods reject physical punishment in favor of communication, understanding, and positive reinforcement. Smacking is widely discouraged around the world because we’ve seen how harmful it can be.
It’s still a reminder of just how far we have come in our understanding of child development and how much more gentle we want to be towards the next generation.
10. Sending Birthday Money Through the Mail
Like clockwork, every birthday card from Nanna would arrive. Inside? Inside?
One reader said, “It was like winning the lottery.” Opening that envelope was a highlight of the entire month.
We rarely send cash through the mail anymore. Kids often receive their gifts in digital form–transfers into bank accounts, gift certificates via email, or cash slipped by hand.
There was still something magical about these little envelopes. The handwriting. The stamp. The stamp. The effort was personal, like love wrapped in a piece of paper.
Conclusion
Some of what our grandparents did now seems strange. Some of the things our grandparents did are now considered strange. Behind every old-fashioned action, there was a valuable lesson: about resilience, creativity, or respect.
No generation is perfect. No generation has been perfect. They lived through difficult times and learned to make the best of what they had. They taught us to value hard work, to take care of our possessions, and to be there for our families, even if that meant doing things differently.
We have more knowledge, resources, and awareness as parents today. We can also learn a lot from the past, not just what our grandparents did.
Why did they do it?
We may not need to bring handkerchiefs back or hot showers to treat sunburn. We could also slow down. Breakfast should be eaten at the table. Make your bread. Call, whether you’re using a landline number or not.
In the end, it wasn’t about tradition. These quirky old-school habits were all about care, time, and connection.
Thankfully, this never goes out of style.
