Daughter Goes Viral After Sharing Parents’ Unconventional and ‘Strict’ Childhood Rules

Keeping peace and order in a household with five kids is no small feat — but one Tennessee couple found a way to make it work.

To bring structure (and a little fun) to their busy home, they came up with a unique set of family rules that taught their children everything from responsibility to teamwork. Years later, their youngest daughter, Hannah Burch, now 24 and a mom herself, shared a viral TikTok reflecting on those unconventional lessons — and how much they shaped who she is today.

“There were definitely a few things my family did that may have been out of the norm, but they really helped us get creative and learn responsibility and accountability — mostly without even realizing it,” says Burch.

Though the rules didn’t always seem “normal” at the time, she now sees their value. “A lot of them helped prepare us for the real world,” she explains.

@hannahsykesburch

making this video made me understand why I am the way I am LOLLLL IB: @Lindsay Arnold Cusick #momtok #family #familydynamics #parenting #parentingtips

♬ original sound – hannah!

One of the family’s favorite traditions was something Burch’s mom called “Bunk Checks.” Every morning, she’d inspect the kids’ rooms — checking how well the beds were made, if clothes were folded, and whether everything was put away.

“It was always brothers versus sisters,” Burch recalls. “At the end of the month, whichever team had the most points would either get a small cash prize or, even better, get to pick the next family activity.”

Another fun incentive came when strangers complimented their behavior in public. “If someone said we were well-behaved at a restaurant, we’d get a dollar,” she says. “It was small, but it meant a lot to us.”

Because gifts were reserved for birthdays and holidays, those little earnings felt like treasure. “It was our own money to save or spend on something we really wanted,” Burch says. “That helped us understand the value of a dollar.”

Her mom also turned grocery shopping into a life lesson. Once a month, each child was handed $20 and told to plan and buy dinner for the whole family. Whatever money they didn’t spend, they could keep.

“One of my brothers actually saved his grocery money over several months and surprised everyone with a fancy steak dinner,” Burch remembers with a laugh.

Not every rule was fun, though. “One of the stricter ones was when we were allowed to get our first cell phone,” she says. “I didn’t have one until I was about 15.”

At the time, she hated it. But now, she’s grateful. “It forced us to actually play outside and connect with our friends face-to-face. Because of that, I feel like I had an extended childhood — and I’m so thankful for that.”

Certain TV shows were also banned if her parents thought the content wasn’t age-appropriate — even kid favorites like SpongeBob SquarePants or The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.

Of course, she and her siblings occasionally snuck in an episode when their parents weren’t home. “It was a little rebellious,” Burch says, smiling, “but it brought us closer. And we still knew where the line was.”

Looking back, Burch realizes the goal wasn’t to shelter them — it was to protect their childhood. “Those rules kept us grounded and taught us to spend time together,” she says.

Even today, that bond remains strong. “My family still loves being together,” she adds. “We have so many shared memories, and I think that’s a big reason why.”

Ironically, Burch now works in social media full-time — but she’s already planning to pass down many of her parents’ lessons. “I’ll definitely be using most, if not all, of their rules with my own kids,” she says.

---