If you grew up with European parents, you have probably experienced many of the same situations as kids with similar backgrounds. You grew up with a lack of fast food, video games and other luxuries dubbed poisonous by your parents. Along with these restrictions, which you are now more or less thankful for, you have probably heard many of the same age-old lines:
1. "Why is your plate empty? You haven't eaten anything!"
It seems like every time you are at dinner, your parents are keeping tabs on how much you have eaten. And even if you have eaten everything on your plate, they think you simply have not put anything on it.
2. "Take your shoes off and wear these stylish hotel slippers!"
No shoes in the house is most certainly not a rule that is unique to immigrant families, but for some reason, it is taboo to be in your socks. Slippers are a must, but they are usually the most comfortable slippers of all time, so you do not have any complaints.
3. "I do not care what the class average was! If you are not first you are last!"
Your parents are probably incredibly competitive. They expect you to be the absolute best, and will expect no less. There are no excuses for a bad grade, so do not even try.
4. "You are going out with her? Going out where?"
Telling your parents, "we are going out" doesn't really clarify your relationship with your significant other. Unless you specifically say, "we are in a relationship," they are going to assume that you and your significant other make trips to the supermarket every Friday night.
5. "What do you mean she is not Jewish?"
If you are Jewish, your significant other MUST also be Jewish. Do not expect Jewish European parents to be excited about Christmas Eve dinner at the bae's house.
6. "That is funny, I did not know majoring in the Culinary Arts puts you on the Pre-Med track!"
There are three possible career paths that await the child of a European parent: doctor, lawyer, or businessperson. You should not expect a smile on your parents' face when you tell them that you have found your calling as a pastry chef. Telling them the news will probably lead them to say:
7. "Someone please get Obama out of office."
The overlaps between Democrats and Socialists scare European parents away from the democratic party. Do not expect them to be a fan of Barack.
8. "When I was your age ..."
Your parents live vicariously through you, and they love seeing you do the things that they did not have the opportunity to do in their childhood. However, that doesn't stop them from telling you about all of the trouble that they got into when they were in your shoes.
9. "You are from Ukraine? Say something in Ukranian!"
This one usually comes from your friends. For some reason, it is not enough for you to simply say you ethnicity, but you must also prove it. This mundane conversation always ends up with them asking you to say the most absolutely simple things that anyone in an introductory level of the respective language can say.
10. "Everything we do is because we love you that much more."
At the end of the day, can you really complain? Your parents may give you a hard time sometimes, but they just want to see you succeed. You love everything about them, and you would not change a thing.
