What do you remember from your childhood that you now realise you really misunderstood?

I still have a little smirk to myself in that verse (guess what my name is...)

Recently my mother was in hospital. A young nurse came round with a menu, and offered her "kwitch".

Hymn lyrics:

"Onward Christian soldiers marching up the wall... "

"...My hope to follow duly... " ( whispered in assembly: "Who's Julie?") 😂😂😂

Oh, and I thought that the savoury French tart was spelled "keesh". My brother still teases me about that, when I put it in a story we were writing.

That reminds me of a time when my mum told us one morning we had to be extra quiet, because dad had been watching television all night. I simply couldn't imagine why he would do this; my parents didn't approve of too much television. It could only have been because of a general election; and if they had told me that, I would have been none the wiser.

I also thought that Mrs Thatcher was the Queen, because she appeared on the telly so much, and had similar hair. (Should I have had the privilege of meeting Mrs Thatcher, and I had repeated that to her, she might have replied "no, dear: we are not merely the Queen: we are God!") I also remember my parents' excitement about her resignation, which I didn't really understand.

So disappointed too when Mum wanted to watch The Budget & there were NO budgies on there. Not a single one.

Hallucination isn't pronounced hally cuse ination.

Hell. Of course.
My phone is so innocent. It's never heard of hell.

At junior school there was an irascible teacher who used to scream at us
You can go to Halifax. I don't care.
I assumed it was the full name for he'll.
A bit like lunch and luncheon
Years later someone said they were from Halifax and I couldn't help feeling shocked.

I know that now, hence "used to". This is a thread about past misconceptions, after all. 🤷‍♀️

I thought this too and I've never heard of anyone else thinking the same!

Edit: sorry that was in relation to the bomsitit

No! I wish it was like that!!! Imagine how much easier our lives would be. I wonder how many men think this. 🤔

Me too. That poor girl. I'd have been mortified at that age. I remember at my Catholic high school, if you had period pain, you could go to a specific teacher and ask for some Feminax. The only trouble was that the teacher was male. I remember having the most awful period pain at school one day and was desperate for some pain relief, but there was no way I was going to ask him! Why they did that was and still is beyond me!

Wow. How utterly ignorant of him! I hope you managed to get your very much needed toilet break!

I've noticed in my work place that a kind person or people always puts free sanitary products on a shelf behind the sinks. A Godsend for many I imagine! But like you, I've never seen a machine in a work place. Saying that, I've never ever been able to get one to work at a train station toilet (where you normally see them). The tray is always jammed and the product doesn't come out, in my experience!

If only, eh? Yes men not knowing how this stuff works might explain why some of them think women are exaggerating or fussing over periods and childbirth. If they think it's something we have control over and can 'hold in', they must think it's a load of fuss about nothing!

That does sound handy tbh. I guess it depends a lot on where you work. If you’re not allowed carry anything with you (on a factory floor for example) it makes absolute sense.
I think pp mentioned offices though. I’ve worked in offices, labs and primary schools and have never seen them supplied there.

I would hope that young men are better informed these days about periods, but it still lingers on.....
At the beginning of one school year, on an INSET day before the arrival of the pupils, the breaktime supervision rotas were being set, once teachers knew when they would actually be in the classroom from their teaching timetable.
I spotted that, I had been "pencilled in" for a morning when I was teaching right through, no chance to nip to the loo from before morning lineup to lunchtime. This was, of course, completely manageable except when it coincided with the beginning of my period, when I needed tampon and pads, and regular changes, for a couple of days.
When I pointed out that, while I could take a solid morning's teaching in my stride, it was a long stretch without a comfort break, the initial response was a blustering "weaker sex" sort of riposte (it was a boys' school, a bit "gung-ho" with a largely male staff)
I had no intention of spelling out the practicalities of dealing with a heavy period during a working day; I simply said, "Lady teachers have other reasons for needing to visit the toilet".
Utter confusion and embarrassment from the timetabler, who was clearly dreading me elaborating.
This was a married man with children; he had gone through his education with very little awareness of "women's stuff".

yes we do they are actually free in our workplace. in every single women's toilet including the manufacturer ingredients plant. women on the floor are not allowed to carry anything with them so this is good for them

I thought Milk of Magnesia was snakes milk

This is so cute!

I used to think for a long time that Turf Accountants sold grass for new lawns. I didn't realise it was a posh name for a betting shop.

I used to think that there was an actual word of bomsitit as I was so untidy as a child my mum used to say my room was so messy it was like a bomsitit. It was only after helping a teacher tidy up after art class that I said it and she looked at me smiling and said “yes, I suppose it does look like a bomb has hit it..” that I realised..

I hope he wasn't teaching biology!