Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What did you not have growing up?

305 replies

littlemisscomper · 21/10/2018 20:20

That 'everybody else in the world!' had? For me it was a tamagotchi. My mum was afraid of it waking me up at night because she heard you couldn't switch them off. I desperately wanted a 101 dalmatians one. I have a lump in my throat thinking about it now! It felt so lonely to be the only one in the playground without one. I even looped a Christmas cracker keyring over my finger and held it in my hand so I could pretend to myself I was like the others. Blush

What about you guys?

OP posts:
papaoomama · 21/10/2018 21:32

I so preferred Sunday to Barbie!

In my era the Sindy just had a prettier face and better clothes.

Never had a Mr Frosty and never had the board game "Mouse trap". 😢 My mum had heard from one person that mouse trap had broken so didn't get it.

WitchyKitten · 21/10/2018 21:36

Polly Pocket - the slightest older girls next door who I thought were the coolest people on earth had them so I wanted them.

Any sort of outdoor toys despite having a massive garden.
Still kind of bitter about this one.

Holidays. Not even in the uk.
Didn't mind when I was a kid but in high school I always felt embarrassed after the summer holidays.

QuinionsRainbow · 21/10/2018 21:38

Central heating
A car

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
tigercub50 · 21/10/2018 21:50

I can’t recall wanting a lot, unlike DD, but then the world is a very different place now. I do remember that my best friend had a Paddington Bear with the shiniest yellow wellies ever & I desperately wanted one. DD recently donated hers to me but it’s not the same 😞

tigercub50 · 21/10/2018 21:51

P .S Some of these posts are so sad. 💐to you guys

xyzandabc · 21/10/2018 21:58

In the 80s and 90s:
Household
Toaster, microwave, video recorder, tumble dryer, dishwasher

Kids stuff
Soda stream, Mr frosty, girls world styling head, barbies, judy bloom books

lalafafa · 21/10/2018 22:01

Mr Frostie too, bought DD one when she asked for one. ITS SHITE. Dreams were shattered.

Ohyesiam · 21/10/2018 22:06

A Dad.
I thought my dad looked a bit like JohnCraven, so I used to walk home to watch news round and tell the other kids “ I’m going home to see my dad” Sad

brainstormer123 · 21/10/2018 22:09

A Dad.

ShannonRockallMalin · 21/10/2018 22:09

A BMX bike. Instead, my dad put some of that foam stuff you put round pipes on the handlebars of my ordinary bike. How cool was I?

Didn’t have Mr Frosty either, despite being on my Christmas list every single year.

delilahbucket · 21/10/2018 22:10

Central heating, holidays, most toys other kids had. I got a games console and bike from my aunty. She got me a few things my mum couldn't have afforded ever. I saved up and bought a cheap version of a tamagotchi. It was a puppy!

mamaduckbone · 21/10/2018 22:10

My Little Pony and Strawberry Shortcake dolls.
To be fair they were plastic crap so I can totally understand why not.

FintanStack · 21/10/2018 22:14

Cuddles

Spankyoumuchly · 21/10/2018 22:15

Love from my parents.
Respect or kindness.
A safe home.
Going to sleep some nights worrying about my mum killing me in my sleep.

onedayiwillmissthis · 21/10/2018 22:20

A Dad. Security. A home without 'uncles'😢

On a lighter note...A space hopper.

Charlieandlola · 21/10/2018 22:31

I HAD A MR FROSTY !!!

I had completely forgotten about it until this .
It wasn’t great tbh

Accountant222 · 21/10/2018 22:32

We weren't allowed to go to Blackpool as it was 'common', all four of us went together when I was 27, she had a point.

Longdistance · 21/10/2018 22:37

Central heating.

It wasn’t until I left home, that my dm and df had it properly installed.

I bought my first house, it had CH, and was toasty warm. I also had a proper washing machine, and not a twin tub. Df and dm also changed their washing machine,

No joke!

ilovewine · 21/10/2018 23:01

A Trampoline! I asked Santa for one every year and Santa never did bring one (in the 70's when you couldn't just pop to Asda for one) but I did have a splendid Wendy House.

Had kids and couldn't wait to get them one and then realised once you have kids trampolining is a big no no 

AdaColeman · 21/10/2018 23:04

Growing up, one of my jobs was laying the coal fire daily. I did this till I left home to get married. When I visited them after my honeymoon, the first thing I spotted was that they had had a gas fire fitted!! Hmm

phantomofthenorthlaine · 21/10/2018 23:37

Central heating :) - but I didn't want it as I didn't know what it was! I remember moving to a house with storage heaters & thought this was luxurious.

What I really wanted was a pony. Never got one.

I also wanted a 'normal' family instead of my dysfunctional version.

bumblebee39 · 21/10/2018 23:42

Also a tv and trampoline lol 😂

bumblebee39 · 21/10/2018 23:43

Plus I always wanted a goldfish and never had one not really sure why u wanted one so badly I had a cat instead

KeepServingTheDrinks · 21/10/2018 23:44

I also wanted a pony phantom

I DID have a Girl's World (which I REALLY wanted), and it was actually quite boring.

Mine is Approval.

BillywigSting · 21/10/2018 23:45

Transformers.

I never got any because they are 'boys toys' and I was a girl.

Suffices to say I have actively encouraged ds's enthusiasm for them, and he we has them ALL.

Swipe left for the next trending thread