How parenting has changed! Mums reveal ‘crazy’ moments from their childhood – from being locked in bedrooms to walking to school alone and trips in the trunk
A British mum has sparked a debate about what people’s parents got away with when they were young, which might be frowned upon these days.
The woman took to the parenting platform mumsent To reveal that her mom and dad let her babysit her younger siblings overnight when she was 11 years old.
She explained that although it sounds “crazy” now, it was considered normal at the time.
Many exploded into the comments with examples of their own, including a four-year-old who walked herself to school, and a woman whose parents put her in the trunk for car trips.
The women explained: “Crazy things your parents did that would provide social services now?”
A British mum has sparked a debate about what people’s parents got away with when they were young, which might be frowned upon these days.
“Dip the pacifier in sugar, sparkling juice for little children,” she said. “Did your parents do anything that would be shocking now?”
As for me, I took care of my two younger siblings when I was 11 (they were 8 and 5) overnight several times a week due to clashes between mom and dad working night shifts.
There are no adults in the house, just the three of us. It didn’t occur to me that it was crazy at the time, but when I think back, it was crazy.
Others took to the comments with their harrowing stories from their childhoods.
One wrote: “Oh yeah, a trunk traveler on the odd night. Loved traveling in the boot.”
“Sad that my children will never know joy.”
Another wrote: “My mom used to put Vaseline on my bedroom doorknob so I couldn’t get out…”
Another person said: “My sister and I, ages 6 and 8, are left alone in bed while they go to a social club every week.
A woman has taken to the British parenting platform to reveal that her parents allowed her to babysit her younger siblings overnight when she was 11.
“I can distinctly remember getting our Christmas presents from where they were stashed as soon as we heard the front door slam and playing with them.”
A fourth wrote: ‘My brother and I walked together to school when I was 4 and he was 5.
It wasn’t far, but it involved crossing two roads, one of which was a busy main road.
Meanwhile, many remembered when people were allowed to smoke indoors, as this only became illegal in England and Northern Ireland in 2007.
One person wrote: ‘It appears my mother smoked in the maternity ward before and after her EMCS test for preeclampsia.
She worked there and they gave her a private room so she ran away with her (80’s).
Another said: ‘Then my parents smoked cigarettes (Mom) and cigars and pipes (Dad) all over the place.
My mom used to put out her cigarettes on the edge of her plate at the end of a meal. Makes me shudder even now. “
While another said, “My mom smokes everywhere in the house and walks to school alone at 5 with all the other kids, not a parent in sight.”
Meanwhile, many others have revealed their traumatic moments from childhood – including being locked in bedrooms and traveling in the trunk of a car.
And a fourth wrote: Smoking! Even in a car with windows on. We must have a bad smell like children, it’s a disgusting smell on hair and cloth!!
They would also lock themselves in their bedroom for an hour or two on a Saturday morning.
We were two and seven so we shouldn’t have been left alone! I think/hope they fed us breakfast beforehand.
Grandparents used to make tea with sugar and give it to children in bottles!
“And dip a baby doll into the jam dish or the sugar bowl.”
