Many things that my parents 'didn't believe in' but more from belief systems rather than anything else.
My grandmother lived with us and somewhat dictated what was OK or not...of course my Mum agreed with it as she had heard it all of her life.
Mainly and this was the 60's, things were divided into 'Common' and 'Not Common'
Common was usually defined as- Long hair on girls, Hairbands particularly plastic Alice Bands were 'vulgar' and any kind of party dress that was 'pink, frilly or chiffony (floaty).
Accordingly, I was given a 'club cut' hair style ( short and neat ) and had a 'party dress' that was the same one for every single party and it was a tartan dress with a gold coloured buckle belt. A 'Liberty bodice' was compulsory with a vest also until I was about 10.
White socks were not OK, mine were fawn or cream coloured or grey. I cannot recall ever wearing a frilly sock apart from 2 occasions being a Bridesmaid.
Shoes were black or brown leather and NO patent shoes as these too were common. How I longed for a shiny pair of red patent shoes...
My brother 3 years older than me was also dictated to like this and he had to wear shorts and shirts, rarely anything else...he even got sent to grammar school at aged 12 in shorts and was so bullied on the first week, it was the only thing that made our mum relent and get him long trousers.
Recall coming home from school to say my teacher was leaving at the end of term 'because she was pregnant' was almost met with being told to wash my mouth out with soap, as it was forbidden and of course very common, to say the word pregnant!
Chewing gum was absolutely forbidden and was the domain of very vulgar people and Americans only! We were allowed one treat a week of chocolate that was meted out - 2 squares, and that was it. Absolutely no common sweets like sherberts or opal fruits. Ice Cream was only vanilla between 2 wafers and only in the summer.
I wasn't allowed Tea to drink until I was about 12! and definitely no coffee - I don't think I drank coffee at home until after I left at 18 and then I was allowed it :) Like others, no one ever drank plain water in our house, but strangely we were allowed bottles of Corona Orange fizzy drink, the bottles of which were returned for pennies. 'Squash' was not encouraged, but PLJ was considered OK at a push. No Ribena as that would turn your teeth red!
Baths were only on a Sunday night and hair wash first over the sink and of course, no conditioner. Sunday night I was allowed to watch Songs of Praise but it was straight to bed after, and TV was only allowed otherwise for one programme an evening, before bed in the week, and then the TV was turned off. Absolutely not allowed it on a Saturday, at all. I was so jealous at not being able to watch 'White Horses' like everyone else did! That also was considered common.
Friends were welcomed at home BUT if they didn't say 'Thank you for having me' before leaving, they would never be allowed to come again and I recall being so anxious in case they didn't that I would actually ask them to say it, just in case. Anyone not thanking was considered exceptionally bad mannered and would be judged accordingly.
As I got older and needed a Bra my Mum would ignore the developing signs and just buy me a bigger vest..eventually, and I was 13, I was taken to a small dress shop and made to take my vest off to be measured naked by these very old women (must have been aged about 40 years!) the embarrassment was awful and being pushed and prodded but I was then provided with one Berlei Teenform Bra in a blue floral design as they had no white ones and I recall it was a 32aa.
Periods were totally ignored and never discussed. When it started, it was a Saturday and I was about to have a riding lesson....my mum was straight on the phone to the riding school and I heard her say 'Clarice wont be coming today as she is growing up very fast' - it was only after that when she gave me a packet of Dr Whites and a horrible belt thing....she told me to help myself from her secret cupboard if I ever needed them again! After that time, it was NEVER again discussed...ever.
My mum did tell my dad about the periods, as I remember he came in and gave me a Pound Note and then said, a bit menacingly, 'now be very careful and make sure you never bring trouble home' That stayed with me, and once I asked my mum what it meant and she told me 'bringing trouble home' meant getting pregnant, I just recall thinking that would be the very worst thing ever, in my life that I could do. I was even a bit nervous telling them, years later that I was pregnant - even being 28 and married!!
In all, I recall not being particularly unhappy as a child but definitely very anxious; I was always reminded that it was me that must not 'overstay my welcome' if I went to other peoples houses, and to always consider that if anyone wasn't kind or friendly to me, it was probably due to ME being annoying or something else that demonstrated some failing on my part.
And lastly, the most important thing overall, was that I never, ever, must tell anyone else about 'what goes on in this house' Nothing bad did, and there were no secrets really that I ever found out or understood what prompted this warning...but it definitely made me feel that I was 'different' to others and had to keep a distance from others out of fear of being 'found out'?
This has been quite cathartic to write down and needless to say I made sure that my own 2 boys had quite a different experience, apart from my slight obsession over quality of shoes and 'Startrights' were standard issue until trainers caught up!