Does anyone else dislike where they grew up?

[ferpie]

I was born and raised in the South Wales valleys (Aberdare). My family are from there and still live in the area.

We lived in a very working class community where unfortunately lots of fathers had lost their jobs when the pits closed. There was a lot of poverty and hopelessness.

I was one of the few middle class kids at my state comp and as I was academically gifted, I stuck out like a sore thumb. Never felt like I belonged and had few friends.

I couldn’t wait to leave the area and left for university and as an adult have never been back for much more than a few days before I am crawling up the walls to leave.

Is it normal to dislike where you grew up? An area you should consider “home”?

I could’ve written this post! I also grew up in south wales and also was academic. My parents were English and the bullying and racism I encountered because I was English was shocking. So much racism towards the English that I never go back. Fortunately my parents no longer live there which means I never have to go back. And this wasn’t long ago…the 90s and early 00s

I had similar experience OP - though was not middle class, but academically able, lived in an area in NE that was deprived, in a neighbourhood where uni far from norm etc. I honestly detest the place and whenever I go back (to visit family) I get such a feeling of doom even as I begin to approach it in the car. I have never, ever had that nice warm feeling of 'Ah, home' unfortunately. I felt like a fish out of water and couldn't wait to get out (I moved abroad initially).

I grew up in a bustling seaside town, not far from beautiful countryside and not far from London either. I loved it as a child and a teen.
Then package holidays kicked in and it went downhill, like all seaside towns. Followed by massive building in the green areas.

My parents' classic 1930s house that they had built for them has had the character and period details ripped out of it, so that it looks bland and uninteresting.
The large garden, orchards and nearby woods where I used to play have mostly been built over.

So no, I don't like it at all, now.

I grew up in a commuter town where there were very rich people and very poor people and hardly anyone in between. Hated it, so much bitterness and resentment on both sides, plenty of racism, nothing cultural to do just the chain pubs

Same here. I always hated it, even when I was a child. Left aged 18 and never looked back. I'd rather live in a shoebox than have a big house in such a soulless place.

I grew up in the West Country and I couldn't to get away. Went to uni in London and never left. DDad still lives there now and I love visiting and actually sometimes could imagine myself living there but DS always loves it for a couple of days and then gets bored so definitely not for quite a few years yet.

I have a love-hate relationship with it. It's a beautiful, vibrant city and i had a great time growing up there. But it's one of those cities that's so proud of itself and its heritage, it's very inward looking. If you're not from there, you'll never quite belong. It's a bit too parochial for me. I moved to London as a teenager, as soon as I left school, and never moved back. Like OP, I go back to see friends and have a great time for about two days then get really claustrophobic and want to leave.

The only place I've ever felt properly at home is London. Even as a small child - I remember arriving on an overnight bus with my mum when I was very young, and getting a first glimpse of London and feeling a sense of calm, like this was my place.

I feel the same regarding the only place I’ve ever felt at home is London. I think it’s because London is accepting of all cultures, nationalities etc

Me too. London is my home and I adore it. I've felt at home and accepted here since the day I moved here.

I go back to the city I was born in and I have memories there, many of them good, but I don't fit there any more.

Objectively where I grew up was a pretty average place, not the best but far from being one of the worst parts of the country. My problem is that I have really bad memories from my school years and hate going back. I'd love it if my parents moved so I don't ever have to.

I grew up in an affluent commuter area and hated it. Narrow, racist, smug were the overtones although of course there were and are many wonderful people there (including my parents). I am baffled as to why they chose to live there coming from Manchester but I suppose they thought it was a practical choice. The schools (90s neglect) were falling apart, misogyny was rife. No public transport either so we were totally trapped.

I loved where I grew up and still resent my parents for moving 25 years later, I doubt I'll ever forgive them and if I ever win the lottery I plan on repurchasing that house

I spent my formative years in an unfriendly village in Cambridgeshire, never settled or established friendships so moved away to university and never went back except for short visits.

Best thing I did was move away, I don’t think I would have thrived if I had stayed. My siblings stayed and my parents still live in the same house.

I have very mixed feelings about where I grew up - the place itself is quite lovely - I have fond memories of the countryside, childhood friends, the freedom of cycling around and exploring and the local market town. However my family life was highly dysfunctional and I spent almost my entire childhood and adolescence on a mission to prevent anyone finding out anything much about my home circumstances. I was counting down the years until I could escape. For that reason it's bittersweet and why I could never go back there for any more than a day or two.

I like where I grew up. London Borough of Sutton. I couldn't live there though as my mum is a nightmare