We all knew those kids who you would ask to hang out within a week in advance so that they had time to ask for their parents' permission. Or the kids who would have to do chores in return for phone calls, hanging out, etc. Or those kids who were afraid to engage in certain activities on the off chance that their parents would actually end up finding out what they did. And when they did stray from the straight and narrow, it usually ended up in a disaster. Our parents knew what we did before we even got a chance to explain ourselves, and we were consequently grounded. So here's to those kids. The ones who needed a week's notice to go out on a Friday night, a curfew, school clothes and after-school clothes, and those who inevitably tried to make their first taste of freedom amazing and ended up failing (and getting in trouble with their parents anyway). Below are some things you only know if you had strict parents. Enjoy!

1. A curfew was a curfew. Non-negotiable.

If you had strict parents, there was no such thing as "Dad, I'm going to be a little late, we stopped to get food." You knew better than to be more than one minute late, and if you were any later, you were already prepared not to ask to hang out for another week until the whole thing blew over.

2. If you're a girl- no boys allowed.

There was a strict "no boys" allowed rule. That meant no boys in your room, no boys anywhere that there isn't a little brother or a parent around to babysit. Kissing? Don't even think about it. This is a strict no touching zone.

3. School work comes first.

There was no such thing as going out to play after school. You knew that as soon as you got home you changed out of your "school clothes", sat at the table, and did your homework. No phone calls or friends until all that homework was checked over and done neatly.

4. No parties.

Our parents are probably the best judge of character and I will be the first to admit that there were a few invitations received to parties where people would probably be doing some sort of illicit activity, and my parents always promptly said no. Invitations would go deserted on the kitchen table or get lost in the stack of papers to be thrown out because there was no way I was going to a party late at night.

5. They wanted to meet your friends/their parents.

This is a big one. If you had strict parents, you know they needed to meet your friends and their parents in a very interview-esque way prior to having a sleepover, attending a party, or just hanging out. It was agonizing.

6. Gradual freedom.

Your parents' idea of freedom was letting you walk down the road to your best friend's house without them coming with you (only if you promised to call when you got there safely). So when you got your first taste of freedom, that moment when you were old enough to drive somewhere with friends or go somewhere and let your parents know where you were, you took full advantage. (Even though it backfired and you ultimately just ate a bowl of vodka soaked gummy bears with a spoon...)

7. You turned out pretty okay.

Even if you had strict parents, rules that your friends growing up would call ridiculous, and a very strange idea of what freedom actually was, you probably turned out pretty okay.

Congratulations, you survived the reign of strict parents!