The world is changing fast, but that doesn’t always mean the advice we get is up to date…
Ignore It
Don’t respond to the girls who bully you. If you don’t react, they’ll leave you alone.
They bullied me for two more years, and I went to school every day with a knot in my stomach. Then one day, I’d had enough and punched the ringleader. From then on, they left me alone. If only I’d done it sooner, I could’ve saved myself two years of suffering.
Contentment
A wife should take care of her husband. If a man’s belly is full but his wallet is empty, he’ll never leave.
For 15 years, I cooked every day and never said no to sex, even when I was exhausted and it didn’t feel right. All this so my husband could one day announce he was leaving me because he’d fallen for a coworker. My life would’ve been so much better if my mom hadn’t drilled this nonsense into my head…
The "Cure"
“Sweetheart, there’s nothing wrong with you, you’re just bored: smile and everything will be fine!” That’s what my grandma, who raised me, always said. After three suicide attempts, I was finally diagnosed with depression at 32. Now I’m on medication and almost symptom-free. Thanks for the advice, Grandma—guess I just wasted 15 years and nearly died three times from your wisdom!
Work
Don’t go back to work; stay home with the kids. As a mom, your place is with them, not in the office!
My kids are now 9 and 4, and we’re going through a divorce. I have no savings and no idea how I’ll find a job since I haven’t worked in a decade.
Education
Go to university, get a degree, and be grateful—I never had the chance to study!
Since I was five, I knew I wanted to be a hairdresser, but because of my mom, I struggled for years to get a liberal arts degree I never wanted and never used. Once I got the diploma, I quickly started hairstyling and now own six salons. The business is thriving, and I still love my work. I wasted so much time in school chasing a useless degree.
The Partner
Marry a guy who loves you more than you love him.
After two unhappy marriages, I'm finally in a relationship where I’m head over heels in love with my partner, and it feels amazing.
Later
“Marry Zsolti Szabó—he’s tall and wealthy, you’ll never get another chance like this! Not in love? Who cares! Marry him, love will come later.” Well, Mom, love never came—only unhappiness. In the end, I divorced penniless and had to start over.
Investment
Why buy a home? You’d just be stuck with a loan for years when renting costs half as much.
I would’ve paid off my mortgage years ago and own a property worth eight times what I paid. Instead, I’m stuck paying an expensive rent with no chance of owning a home. Yay.
Legacy
Have a child—life has no meaning without one, and they’ll love you forever!
I never wanted children, but I had one. I gave 25 years of my life to it, and I love them, but they moved abroad and we talk for five minutes once a week. I envy my friend who never had kids and achieved everything she dreamed of. I could do the same now, but I have neither the money nor the energy for new adventures.
Say No to Sports
My mom wouldn’t let me work out with my high school friends. Her reason: “Don’t play sports or you’ll get too muscular and boys won’t like you!” I wasn’t aiming to be a bodybuilder—I just wanted to play handball. But Mom was so scared I’d bulk up she wouldn’t even let me bike, worried my legs would get too thick!
