I, like most of us, grew up on a Council Estate and never once questioned my parents income, it was never a discussion.
We didn't eat a lot of fast food because it was considered a treat, not an always available option.
We ate homemade meals consisting of meat, potatoes and vegetables (which were not an optional choice). No vegetables, no dessert !
We grew up during a time when we mowed lawns, pulled weeds, babysat, and helped neighbours with chores to earn our own money. We by no means were given everything that we wanted.
We went outside a lot to play football, ride bikes, play marbles, play hide and seek, or went swimming. We rarely just sat inside, and were never 'glued' to a screen.
Bottled water was unheard of.
After school, we came home and did homework and chores, before going outside to play.
We had to tell our parents where we were going, who we were going with, and be home when it got dark.
You LEARNED from your parents instead of disrespecting them and treating them as if they knew absolutely nothing. What they said was LAW and you did not question it.
We respected coppers and teachers, and most of us turned out alright.
We watched what we said around our elders because we knew that if we disrespected any grown-up we would get a real telling off. It wasn't called abuse, it was called discipline.
We held doors, carried shopping and gave up our seat for older people without being asked.
You didn't hear swear words on the radio in songs or TV.
“Please and thank you" were part of our daily vocabulary.
The world that we live in now is just so full of people who hate and disrespect others.
I will never forget where I came from, and I only wish that children nowadays had half the chance of having the fun and respect for real life that we grew up with . . . . and we were never bored !
