A young woman has gone viral on social media after detailing the six strict house rules her mother enforced during her childhood, rules she once resented but now credits for her impressive academic and professional achievements.
From Resentment to Respect
Abi Cooper, a 21-year-old from the UK who shares her life on TikTok as @lifewithabicooper, posted a six-minute video explaining her mother's stringent guidelines. At age 18, Abi believed the rules were "outrageous, unreasonable and unfair." However, her perspective has completely transformed with time and maturity.
She now acknowledges that these rules were instrumental in shaping her and her two sisters into the successful adults they are today. Abi finished high school with all A's and A*'s, studied law at a top 10 university, graduated with a first-class degree, and is now on her path to qualifying as a solicitor. She gives significant credit for this success to her mother's methods, especially noting that neither of her parents attended university themselves.
The Six Rules That Forged a Future
The first rule mandated that Abi and her sisters had to read every evening before bed, a habit they maintained until they were 16 or 17 years old. This instilled a lifelong love of reading across various genres, a passion they have carried into adulthood.
The second rule involved heavily regulating their iPad use. Their devices had strict time limits, and all Apple IDs were locked and controlled by their mother. To earn game time, the girls were required to complete educational apps focused on spelling and times tables. When other apps were locked, they could only access geography games, making them proficient in country flags and capitals.
The third rule centred on school progress. Even when Abi was meeting all her academic milestones, her mother consistently pushed for further improvement during parents' evenings. Abi says this instilled a powerful work ethic and prevented complacency.
The fourth and fifth rules were dinner table policies: no phones were allowed, and each child had to bring a political opinion to discuss, backed by evidence. This practice honed their critical thinking skills and knowledge of current affairs, with no topic considered off-limits.
The final rule was the completion of extra homework, including SATS papers, well before their final year of primary school. If any of the sisters struggled in a subject, they were sent to a tutor. Reflecting on this, Abi believes these rules collectively instilled immense discipline and a strong work ethic.
Public Reaction and Lasting Impact
The video sparked a significant response on TikTok. One user questioned if the high expectations led to a complex about not being 'good enough'. Abi firmly replied, "Nope! Hard work was encouraged and my sisters and I always had huge goals and my parents just continuously encouraged that."
Another user commented that the story made them feel neglected by their own more relaxed upbringing, while others expressed a mix of agreement and disagreement with the specific rules. Despite the debate, Abi stands by her mother's approach, convinced it provided the foundation for her and her sisters' accomplishments.
