---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tradition or not, I sometimes thought…"
description: "\"Tradition or not, I sometimes thought putting children on an old guy’s lap was already creepy enough. We didn’t need to mix alcohol into it.\" — Richell..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f4/richelle-mead-46_alcohol_tradition-or-not-i-sometimes-thought-put_2991214.jpg"
---

#  Tradition or not, I sometimes thought putting children on…

![“Tradition or not, I sometimes thought putting children on an old guy’s lap was already creepy enough. We didn’t need to mix alcohol into it.” quote by Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f4/richelle-mead-46_alcohol_tradition-or-not-i-sometimes-thought-put_2991214.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f4/richelle-mead-46_alcohol_tradition-or-not-i-sometimes-thought-put_2991214.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f4/richelle-mead-46_alcohol_tradition-or-not-i-sometimes-thought-put_2991214.jpg)

> “Tradition or not, I sometimes thought putting children on an old guy’s lap was already creepy enough. We didn’t need to mix alcohol into it.”

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Putting children on an adult’s lap feels inappropriate, especially with alcohol involved.

**In simple terms:** Adult‑child lap is creepy.

Key Takeaway

Respect boundaries with minors.

Themes

ethics parenting social norms

Mood

protective serious

Type

ethical practical

When to use this quote

- schools
- family gatherings
- childcare

Key Concepts

boundary setting child safety

Questions to Reflect On

- What contexts make it acceptable?
- How to enforce safe boundaries?

A Different Perspective

Cultural norms vary.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Creepy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creepy/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/)

## Related quotes

> [You fixed yourself. You didn’t need me.” “No, Sydney.” My voice was ragged. “I do need you. You have no idea how much I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/you-fixed-yourself-you-didn-t-need-me-no-sydney-my-voice-was-ragged-i/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“I didn't need his criticism. I carried enough guilt on my own. I had done everything wrong. I had the highest marks in school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/i-didn-t-need-his-criticism-i-carried-enough-guilt-on-my-own-i-had/)

[Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/)

> [I didn’t need you, you idiot. I picked you. And then you picked me back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-didn-t-need-you-you-idiot-i-picked-you-and-then-you-picked-me-back/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [It seemed like a very small possibility for me to become an artist. I didn't have the need to be on the stage; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aurora/it-seemed-like-a-very-small-possibility-for-me-to-become-an-artist-i/)

[Aurora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aurora/)

> [President Bush has said that he does not need approval from the UN to wage war, and I'm thinking, well, hell, he didn't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/president-bush-has-said-that-he-does-not-need-approval-from-the-un-to/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [I used to try to figure out precisely what I was seeing all the time, until I discovered I didn't need to. If the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-evans/i-used-to-try-to-figure-out-precisely-what-i-was-seeing-all-the-time/)

[Walker Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-evans/)

> [“I didn’t need to be liked. I didn’t need friends, and I centrainly didn’t need the kid trying to guild me into being something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/i-didn-t-need-to-be-liked-i-didn-t-need-friends-and-i-centrainly-didn/)

[Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/)

> [“intern that Lizzy didn’t need or want,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-ragan/intern-that-lizzy-didn-t-need-or-want/)

[T.R. Ragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-ragan/)

> [People who didn't need people needed people around to know that they were the kind of people who didn't need people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/people-who-didn-t-need-people-needed-people-around-to-know-that-they/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Ronan didn't need physics. He could intimidate even a piece of plywood into doing what he wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/ronan-didn-t-need-physics-he-could-intimidate-even-a-piece-of-plywood/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [I didn't love you because I needed someone, I loved you because you were there for me when I didn't need you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-didn-t-love-you-because-i-needed-someone-i-loved-you-because-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I didn't need the elf outfit to play an elf; I could just play an elf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-didn-t-need-the-elf-outfit-to-play-an-elf-i-could-just-play-an-elf/)

[Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/)

> [I moved to L.A. right after I finished high school, for three years, because everybody was telling me it was important to get down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-thieriot/i-moved-to-l-a-right-after-i-finished-high-school-for-three-years/)

[Max Thieriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-thieriot/)

> [“Men tend to think all of their points were good, and they sure as hell didn’t need me to boost their already inflated egos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-rain/men-tend-to-think-all-of-their-points-were-good-and-they-sure-as-hell/)

[J.R. Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-rain/)

> [“somehow, that night, I realized that I didn’t need to worry about tomorrow. I was fine where I was. I just needed to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/somehow-that-night-i-realized-that-i-didn-t-need-to-worry-about/)

[Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/)

## More by Richelle Mead

> [“Jerome shrugged. “We’re back to the part where I don’t give a fuck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/jerome-shrugged-we-re-back-to-the-part-where-i-don-t-give-a-fuck/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“A piece of heaven?" I managed to ask. He slowly shook his head. "No. The other place. The one I'm going to burn in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/a-piece-of-heaven-i-managed-to-ask-he-slowly-shook-his-head-no-the/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [When I talked to him earlier, he said he had to work tonight,” Peter explained, “but that we should go ahead and draw for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/when-i-talked-to-him-earlier-he-said-he-had-to-work-tonight-peter/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [It was a nephilim.” “A nephi-what?” asked Hugh, startled. “Isn’t that a character on Sesame Street?” Peter spoke up for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-was-a-nephilim-a-nephi-what-asked-hugh-startled-isn-t-that-a/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [Life and death were so unpredictable. So close to each other. We existed moment to moment, never knowing who would be the next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/life-and-death-were-so-unpredictable-so-close-to-each-other-we/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“I watched, enthralled, as he painted a large silver heart with flames edging one side. The whole design was Celtic in style. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-watched-enthralled-as-he-painted-a-large-silver-heart-with-flames/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“I loved Aeson. You have no idea what love is.” “Oh, I do. I know that it’s the best high and the worst hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-loved-aeson-you-have-no-idea-what-love-is-oh-i-do-i-know-that-it-s/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“Why would you do that? Why would you act like you didn't know how to drive?" "Isn't it obvious, Sage? No, of course it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/why-would-you-do-that-why-would-you-act-like-you-didn-t-know-how-to/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“Everything I’d fought for, every challenge, every victory … all of it was empty if anything happened to him. Without him, I wouldn’t have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/everything-i-d-fought-for-every-challenge-every-victory-all-of-it-was/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [Is it true? You had a clean getaway and risked it all for me?" I Swallowed. "It wouldn't have been a clean getaway without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/is-it-true-you-had-a-clean-getaway-and-risked-it-all-for-me-i/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [Keith was just bringing the glass to his lips when Adrian said, "Mmm. O positive, my favorite." Keith sprayed out the wine he'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/keith-was-just-bringing-the-glass-to-his-lips-when-adrian-said-mmm-o/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“Life’s like that. As we grow and change, some things we’ve experienced before take on new meaning. It’ll happen for the rest of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/life-s-like-that-as-we-grow-and-change-some-things-we-ve-experienced/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [Hey Sydney," she said, giving me a small, crooked smile as she entered the room. Her flashing, dark eyes were friendly, but they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/hey-sydney-she-said-giving-me-a-small-crooked-smile-as-she-entered/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“Sydney Katherine Sage,” he said, his green eyes full of love and earnestness. “Would you do a brooding, deadbeat Moroi the honor of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/sydney-katherine-sage-he-said-his-green-eyes-full-of-love-and/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

[Explore all 2,001 Richelle Mead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

## More Alcohol quotes

> [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-when-night-darkens-the-streets-then-wander-forth-the-sons-of/)

[John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/)

> [ \[As in the case of\] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-branson/as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-illegality-has-driven-organized/)

[Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-branson/)

> [You can get a new phone or new trainers (sneakers) but you've only got one body so you have to look after it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyson-beckford/you-can-get-a-new-phone-or-new-trainers-sneakers-but-you-ve-only-got/)

Tyson Beckford

> [Alcohol doesn't console, it doesn't fill up anyone's psychological gaps, all it replaces is the lack of God. It doesn't comfort man. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/alcohol-doesn-t-console-it-doesn-t-fill-up-anyone-s-psychological/)

[Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/)

> [In 1969, I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-best/in-1969-i-gave-up-women-and-alcohol-it-was-the-worst-20-minutes-of-my/)

[George Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-best/)

> [Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house unless they have a well-stocked bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/thou-shalt-not-covet-thy-neighbor-s-house-unless-they-have-a-well/)

[W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/)

> [Alcohol is like Photoshop for real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/alcohol-is-like-photoshop-for-real-life/)

[Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/)

> [“Alcoholism is a choice... not a life sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-norman/alcoholism-is-a-choice-not-a-life-sentence/)

David Norman

> [Blunt force didn't knock out the drug epidemic. 21 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol. And half of all federal inmates are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-botticelli/blunt-force-didn-t-knock-out-the-drug-epidemic-21-million-americans/)

[Michael Botticelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-botticelli/)

> [I go to parties sometimes until four, it's hard to leave when you can't find the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/i-go-to-parties-sometimes-until-four-it-s-hard-to-leave-when-you-can/)

[Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/)

> [I can't fill the hole with money. I can't fill it with alcohol, or drugs, or sex, so what do I need to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/i-can-t-fill-the-hole-with-money-i-can-t-fill-it-with-alcohol-or/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [Cocaine decisions that you make today, will mean nothing later on when you get nose decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/cocaine-decisions-that-you-make-today-will-mean-nothing-later-on-when/)

[Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/)

> [I take really good care of myself. I promised myself long ago that I would never miss a hunting season, never poison my sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/i-take-really-good-care-of-myself-i-promised-myself-long-ago-that-i/)

[Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/)

[Browse all 1,953 Alcohol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Tradition or not, I sometimes thought putting children on an old guy’s lap was already creepy enough. We didn’t need to mix alcohol into it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richelle Mead"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/tradition-or-not-i-sometimes-thought-putting-children-on-an-old-guy-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Alcohol"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/tradition-or-not-i-sometimes-thought-putting-children-on-an-old-guy-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f4/richelle-mead-46_alcohol_tradition-or-not-i-sometimes-thought-put_2991214.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f4/richelle-mead-46_alcohol_tradition-or-not-i-sometimes-thought-put_2991214.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f4/richelle-mead-46_alcohol_tradition-or-not-i-sometimes-thought-put_2991214.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Tradition or not, I sometimes thought putting children on an old guy’s lap was already creepy enough. We…” — Richelle Mead",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Richelle Mead",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Tradition or not, I sometimes thought...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/tradition-or-not-i-sometimes-thought-putting-children-on-an-old-guy-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/tradition-or-not-i-sometimes-thought-putting-children-on-an-old-guy-s/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
