Strict Childhood..

[Georgiesmum]

Did you have a strict childhood? what things werent you allowed to do that seem so silly now? One of my friends was in a childrens home in the 1960's and we had very cold winters then but she wasnt allowed to wear a cardigan until the end of October. They also were not allowed to see any television or read any newspapers.

[bednobs]

well in the 60s there were probably a fair few children who couldn't watch telly because they didn't have one! Also, what child actually wants to read the newspaper i wonder?

[trt]

My mother, me and my brother were not allowed to talk in the same room as my father, when he was having a sleep in the chair, after he got back from the pub, OR ELSE!!!!

So we used to sit/stand in the kitchen, terrible days.

[woofgang]

I can kind of get the newspaper thing. They weren't as explicit as now but there were things in the papers (still are IMO) that are not suitable for children. Was there a TV in the home and who was it for if not for the children?

[woofgang]

trt, that's abuse and still happens......

[Quoi]

Strict & authoritarian yes but cant remember any pointless rules.
We had some inventive punishments like being sent half naked down to the bottom of the garden in November for talking at bedtime.
Christmas presents were also burnt for what would now be a minor behavioral misdemeanor.

[Misky1]

My childhood seemed more strict than my friends' at the time but I wouldn't complain. We weren't allowed to watch ITV, or ask anything that could be found in a book/dictionary/encyclopaedia - "look it up" was always the answer...

[sandyRoe]

They f*** you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.

But they were ****ed up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another’s throats.

Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself.


I think I've never seen a truer poem.

[cupid04]

Strict compared to nowadays....If I was sent to my room for misbehaving...there were no computers, stereos or even books. You went to your room to be punished.

[Elina]

Deep sandy!

[maggiebee]

Have always liked that poem Sandy.

[vulcan42]

\\ They f*** you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add religion, just for you.//

[Retrochic]

Big difference between strict and Abusive. My paternal grannie who I stayed with a lot was strict but very fair and loving . My mother was abusive both physically and mentally, and rules and punishments were often given for her 'amusement' rather than fitting any misbehavior.

[Elina]

Not strict in terms of other peoples experiences here. I had soap pushed in my mouth when I was caught out smoking. I experimented as kids do, I never smoked again.

[sandyRoe]

It would be a sad world if it was true for everybody. But fortunately it's not.

[Quoi]

True Sandy.
Someone told me once to forgive your parents because 'they did the best they knew how'
and I believe that to be the case.

[MargoTester]

My father was quite strict with me, I had to be in by 10.00 pm in the week and 10.30 on a Saturday, I was 18 at the time!! Can you imagine that these days. on the very odd occasion, and with a lot of persuasion from my mum, I was allowed a pass out until 12.00, but that was very rare.

[RATTER15]

My parents weren't overly strict, they were both very fair as long as I stuck to the rules, which generally speaking I did! however I was very bad on a few occasions!

[atalanta]

I was sent to the Library for coughing. I was about 8, and the library was a ten-minute walk away.

[Gavmacp]

Rhetrochic,
I had the same childhood. I was 'disciplined' by both parents who seemed to follow the don't spare the rod (?correct). I now look back and wonder what I did to deserve such violence. I always thought I was an open book but have realised recently that there are very few people I let get close to me. The funniest thing is I always new it was wrong and had this good part to me which for a long time I thought came from God.

[woofgang]

materially we didn't have a lot but i really don't remember my parents ever being strict. Mind you i was the third child and I think they had given up lol.