There was a discussion this morning about when you realize you started to turn into your parents. For me, it was when I started making sure any unnecessary light was turned off in my house. My dad hated lights that were left on in rooms no one was using when I was growing up. I remember hearing the question "what are we lighting up this room that we're not using for?" and somehow it's stuck with me.

I don't know if it's because as I got older I had to start paying for my own electric bill or what but I can't stand lights being on for no reason. I don't even ask my fiance to turn them off when she leaves a room anymore. I'll just get up and shut them off if she happens to forget.

It was the same thing if we had the front door open for too long in the winter. "I'm not paying to heat up the entire outside" he'd say if the door was left open for 3 seconds. Turns out, he was right. I never leave doors open in the winter now. Over the past few years, I've started to realize that I've turned into my dear old dad. He's a good guy though so it's not all bad...it just makes me feel old.

Iowans Weigh In

We decided to ask Iowans when they had their first "oh shoot, I'm turning into my parents" moments and these were some of our favorite responses.

Rachel O mentioned a moment like this happening to her at Target.

She mentioned having to stop in the middle of the aisle at Target to cross stuff off her list. She had to tell her daughter "hold on, I have to do this now so I don't forget"

Jaz S apparently realized this after a few Busch Lights...

I think this would have to be some kind of family inside joke. Jaz said, "when I've been drinking and want to go to the dollar tree and buy stupid stuff." If I'm being honest, that does sound like an absolute blast.

Do you do or say any of the same phrases your parents say? As kids, if we were ever struggling with some remedial task or hurt ourselves doing something stupid, our dad would say "you gotta be smarter than the..." If we stubbed our toe on the corner of the bed, it was always followed by a quick "are you okay?" and then a "well, you gotta be smarter than the bed frame." That's stuck with me my entire life.

Anna G has started using a phrase her parents and many other parents have used over the years.

"Because I said so" has to be a kid's least favorite reason to have to do something. Don't worry Anna, I've used this one on my nephews before so you aren't alone with this one.

Have you started paying close attention to the thermostat in your home? Jeff L definitely learned this one from his parents.

Jeff realized he was turning into his parents when he "started watching the thermostat like a hawk." I can surely relate to this. There's a specific temperature it needs to be during the day and the same goes for at night. There's no in-between.

Amy L remembers this moment when her mother showed her, her new washer and dryer combo.

Amy realized she was turning into her mom when "she showed me her new washer/dryer combo and I was actually jealous." The days of wanting toys for Christmas seem to be gone for Amy. Maybe mom and dad will grab you a new combo of your own for your birthday. Imagine asking for a washer and dryer for your birthday!? You're officially your parents at that moment.

Do you have a moment that made you realize you were turning into one or both of your parents? It's funny how one day you wake up and all of sudden, everything about you looks and sounds familiar. You can thank mom and dad for that one.