How was your childhood?

[flingingmelon]

You get a point for each -

Your parents liked each other
You had a hot meal every day
You had a warm, safe house to live in
You went on holiday sometimes
You were not bullied
You were not the target of racist / homophobic / religious abuse etc
You weren't lonely
You got on fine at school academically (you could cope with what was expected of you)
You were healthy
You weren't worried about money

Out of 10, DS rates ten, although he's convinced his childhood is terrible because he doesn't have a PS5.

In contrast I would rate six, DH seven.

Where would you rate? Do you consider yourself to have had a good childhood?

Well I was going to respond one half absolutely incredibly idyllic, and one half hell.

But your list would force me to come at only 3 points which doesn't reflect the purely half idyllic side.

I'e it's flawed.

2/10.
Hot meal every day. But I was made to eat food I absolutely hated til I was about 13 and just refused.
We went on holiday sometimes. But they were miserable. Often ended up with rows, violence and we’d go home early.
I have no contact with my parents now.

My own kids get 10/10. At least my parents taught me how not to parent.😬

10
I feel incredibly lucky to have had an wonderful childhood with lovely parents. I feel for people who didn't experience that.

3
However, although I had a hot meal every night it was never enough portion wise.

I was healthy physically but not mentally, I had a lot of trauma.

Going on holiday is the only thing I experienced that was positive

Thanks @ArmyofMunn - I was late 20s when my mum died but yes, def too young.

I score 7 on @Blackcatinanalley 's scale.

If you convert that to the same method as the original, i.e. scoring points for positives, those bad things not happening, then combine them, my score out of 20 would be 9.

6

Dumped on an aunt at 8 who didn’t want me father not interested only saw 4 times a year if lucky. Critical behaviour from adults even as an adult. Bullied emotionally school and home.

I scored 10. I had a wonderful childhood. I had 4 sisters who are today my best friends. We only lived in a small house but lots of love and laughter and my Mum got up early every morning and warmed our school uniform in front of the coal fire on a fire guard. When we got up a hot breakfast was ready for us usually scrambled eggs and toast. My Gran kept chickens so always lots of fresh eggs. Mum cooked us a hot dinner every lunch time as we lived 5 mins from school. Our friends were always made welcome. My younger sister had a friend who lived on a children's home and she spend most evenings at our house and most of the weekend from about 11 years old. We had everything we needed and lots of things we wanted too. I had 2 Aunties who lived very close by and neither had children so they made a great fuss ofe and my sisters. I remember wonderful Xmas' with my Aunties and Uncles at our house celebrating with us. I miss my Aunties and my parents so much. My Xmas' as an adult have never quite matched up to my childhood Xmas'.

Jesus, that's tough. Hope you're OK now.

5.Quite affluent in some ways, but much trauma them DV and abuse resulting in childhood MH issues which were masked for years so others didn't realise. Trauma is a biggie for kids and takes many forms.

2

10. No issues whatsoever. Happy home, extremely supportive and loving parents, very open conversations, I felt my siblings and I could talk to them about anything. We all went to boarding schools at some point in our teens and as far as I know we were all happy at the school and had positive experiences there. Still have a very close relationship with both parents and my siblings now. Siblings are also very close to our parents. The most important thing for me is that I felt that my parents treated us with the same respect they expected from us.

3/4!!! Mine was miserable

I’m a 10. Had a fantastic childhood.

I'd score 9 but I wouldn't say I had a fun or stimulating childhood. My parents struggled for money but that wasn't really an issue. They weren't very interesting or imaginative.

Mine would be 9/10 on your list but I was hideously emotionally abused and I wouldn’t say my childhood was particularly happy

I grew up with a disabled sibling. He was and as an amazing brother and an equally amazing uncle. His existence didn’t hamper my childhood; I absolutely adore him. He is funny, kind and genuine. Please don’t say things like this which could really cause upset. My parents still gave all 4 of us a lot of time, attention and love and I don’t feel we missed out in any way because of my brothers needs.

I don't really understand why you have mentioned not being worried snout money. The majority of children don't understand complex financial issues. I never worried but my family did. Do I score a point? Our house was repossessed in the early 90s.

Went on holiday sometimes? Yeah we did, once. It was horrific and the abuse didn't stop because the location changed.

Sorry OP but there are flaws in your questions.

Going on hold us isn't a measure of a good childhood

On yours I'd have scored 8. Awful childhood with abuse from both parents.

Same here.

I'd have scored a 1 on your scale, wasn't the victim of racial abuse.

9 I did worry about money. I remember DM crying when a gas bill arrived.

Yes I had a lovely childhood and my Mum taught me how to show my DCs a good time on tuppencehapney

Interesting.

I'd say I scored 6 (mum always unhappy which cast a shadow over everything, and was was always very unpleasant to my dad (still is). Financially they were (and still are fine) but my mum grew up in poverty so her constant penny pinching and fretting caused me a lot of unnecessary angst as a child. Also never having the right stuff as a child as she always wanted to get what was cheapest, made me the target of a lot of bullying.

As a result I'd say I've gone a bit the other way out of protest and can be a bit of a spendthrift. I don't buy designer gear or have expensive things really, but when out and about I don't like saying no to things / depriving myself or my kids. Lots of money spent in cafes etc. My mum on the other hand would get incredibly stressed about paying for a cup of tea when out ("£2 for a cup of tea! We have teabags at home!"). Even now she can't enjoy that. If she's with us and we stop for a cuppa / hot chocolate she will sit there with a face like a slapped arse.

My kids, I'd say probably 9/10 (some issues at school which i think are on the cusp of bullying, hopefully not.)

I'd say their childhood is more care free than mine. My mums anxiety made childhood quite stressful and lonely.

But my 6yo is no stranger to shouting "your the worst mum ever!" when not getting their own way.