If Mumsnet existed in the 1950s, what would be posted about?

[supersun23]

I was just wondering this....

We won't be around to see it. The bomb will finish us all off!

It's them new fangled disposable nappies that's to blame.

Dsis has just had a baby so I’ll pop over to the hospital later to take her some cigarettes as she’s run out. I heard the other day they think smoking next to the baby can be harmful and someone even said it should be banned in hospital wards. So much scaremongering🙄

That can't be right, @Eastie77Returns . Some ash from my Consultant's pipe dropped onto my newborn's hand-crocheted shawl. My MIL was upset (it was a family heirloom) but Matron said not to worry as it would keep away the moths.

At least we can have a drink whilst pregnant. That won’t affect the pregnancy.

My neighbour has a few glasses of sherry the night before wash day, so that her breastmilk makes the baby sleep while she's doing the washing.

I think that's a brilliant idea, and I'm going to try it when my next baby is born.

There's nothing worse than trying to get through your husband's shirts plus the sheets and pillowcases, and having a baby yelling in the background.

I'm about to have my first baby and I'm worried about my husband.

Who is going to cook his meals? My mother says I'll have to stay in bed for several days.

And who will do his washing and ironing?

dont worry your mum will be down to help its the way it always is, dont even try getting out of bed you will soon get the wrath of the midwife! (my mum said despite a traumatic birth she had to get up a few hours after as no one could find the vests for the baby, me! she was terrified she would suffer some awful fate so hopped back into bed quickly. )

My lad is 14 and is at grammar school. I had high hopes for him, he's doing ever so well and my dearest wish is that he goes on to university, nobody we know ever has. I dream of the life and home he could have, not grafting in the muck.

The problem is that DH is already starting to struggle with black lung and has been off for six weeks, since the pit collapsed. The doctor thinks he'll be too crippled to go back and sick pay isn't much, even though he'll get some compo in a few months.

I've daughters of 10, 7 and 5. DH says that DS has to go down the pit, as we cannot live well enough on the Nash and every man should work, not take from the government, as it's shameful if you can avoid it. He says it did him no harm, nor his father, nor his grandfather, or his father before him.

What should I do? We really do need a wage coming in.

That's a sad one, @SinnerBoy. Your Dad or grandfather? So many promising kids in the past lost out for the sake of a pitiful amount of money in the short term.

My children get free school dinners but they're so ashamed.

Every day the teacher calls out for the "free dinner children" to join the queue.

AIBU to think they shouldn't make it so obvious that our family can't afford to pay for our children's dinners?

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · Yesterday 18:43

That's a sad one. Your Dad or grandfather? So many promising kids in the past lost out for the sake of a pitiful amount of money in the short term.

Not, not our family, but my dad's parents both had sad tales like that.

@TheShellBeach - in the 1950s, a wonderful village primary school canteen assistant named Mrs Shirley always called my mum and her four siblings up first for second helpings and gave them enormous portions, because "Those [Surname] children are so poor." It made all the difference.

My mum remained friendly with her and visited her regularly right through to the 1970s (with me and my brother in tow for Mrs Shirley to fuss over) when she died. Mrs Shirley was a legend.

Oh no! I can't believe school dinners have gone up from 7d to 9d!

That's a big increase for us. My husband works hard and I do office cleaning, but we're still struggling.

We have three DC at school.

That's an extra 2s 6d a week.

How is everyone else managing? Am I allowed to apply for one of them to get free dinners?

And re - the above post:

7d was about 3p

9d was about 4p

2s 6d was 12 and a half p

When I had school dinners in 1965 they were 1s (5p)

And when I started secondary school in 1967 they were 1s 6d (7 and a half p)

My teenage daughter has passed the 11 plus and wants to go to the local grammar school. My husband says there is no point as she will only get married.

(true story)

I remember watching a quiz show in the 1970s. I think it involved married couples answering questions separately. One of the fathers was asked if he thought it would be fair to pay for a son to go to private school and not a daughter and he said yes, perfectly fair, because his son would need a good education so he could get a well-paid job to support a family whereas his daughter would probably get married and give up work. I was pleased to hear gasps and mild booing from the studio audience. He looked a bit defensive. Attitudes were slowly changing by then. Back in the 1950s he may have been in the majority.