There's a group of kids out there who know what true struggle is. This group of kids are survivors, master negotiators, and expert sneaks. They've found ways around strict limitations and insane restrictions, and are all the better for it.

Here's how you know if you were a survivor of strict parenting.

1. You always had to leave a gathering an hour earlier than everyone else.

2. Asking permission for a sleepover required at least 24 hours careful preparation, a written speech, a PowerPoint of your friend's family tree, a map of their neighborhood, and a blood contract saying that you wouldn't drink, smoke, or watch R-rated movies.

3. You got heart palpitations when your friends started making spur-of-the-moment plans for that night, knowing that your parents required at least 48 hours notice to make a decision.

4. You rehearsed every possible answer your parents could give you in response to a request and planned out your rebuttals for maximum potential outcome.

5. You said, "Wait, I have to wait until my mom (or dad) is in a good mood before I can ask. Imma clean my room real quick" about a thousand times.

6. You were a master at emotional manipulation. " *sigh* never mind, you're just going to say no anyway..."(dramatic hunching of shoulders, slowly walking away, etc.)

7. You knew when no meant no, and that meant explaining to your friend that "just asking one more time" would be equivalent to throwing yourself into a pit of bears.

8. You went out either Friday night or Saturday night. There was no both.

9. You understand that there is no panic quite like the panic experienced when your friends are changing the plans every five minutes and you have to keep calling your parents with the changes, knowing that every call could result in, "forget it, we're coming to pick you up".

10. You became the world's greatest liar, a talent you still treasure and employ from time to time.

11. You didn't swear until later than most of your peers, and you made all of your friends take a solemn vow never to utter a curse past the level of "heck" in the presence of your parents.

12. Your friends were, and still are a little, terrified of your father.

13. You knew good grades were expected, and anything under a B was a viable reason for being kicked out of the house.

14. You were clear on the fact that a single piercing in your earlobes was all the body modification you were allowed, and if you so much as thought about dying your hair an odd color or, God forbid, getting a tattoo, Hell itself would freeze over.

15. You dealt with a Parental Lock on anything over PG-13 on your TV until you were at least 14.

16. Your parents were frequent field trip chaperones.

17. Good manners were a way of life. "Do you use your fork that way at other people's houses? My god, I'm so embarrassed. You need to learn how to eat."

18. You daydreamed about acts of rebellion, like saying "no" or not thanking the waitress for your chocolate milk.

19. Your reaction to your friends telling you about having sleepovers with their significant others is open-mouthed shock.

20. And you just about died the first time you heard a friend swear at their parent.

21. You knew what THREE MISSED CALLS- MOM meant.

So here's to you, strict parent survivors. Make sure you call your mom and tell her you're safe, and thanks for keeping you on the straight and narrow.