45 years ago, I had a childhood. We did not have adult-ness thrust upon us; we were not expected to have had a lengthy number of sexual partners by the time we reached the school leaving age; we were only vaguely aware of what homosexuality was and certainly did not have this thrown in our faces in infant school.We did not dress in the height of fashion and girls of nine were not kitted out like junior slappers when not at school.
We were shockable; lies, theft, blasphemy - they all horrified us. We were not taught to challenge all discipline.
Some pushed the boundaries by smoking in the toilets and that was about it.
We were capable of amusing ourselves. The vast majority of us did not have parents who swore in front of us and who would challenge the teacher if they ever dared to fall out with us.
We had jobs to do around the home. Our pocket money was low and any more had to be earned.
We understood what a treat was because we had to wait for them.
I think our upbringing produced a better generation! Well - didn't it?
