To sometimes wonder what my mum was thinking?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

I was born in '91 to give you an idea of just how young I was.

She used to let me stay up and watch murder shows with her like Jonathan Creek and Midsomer Murders I'd actually go into my primary school the next day and discuss the previous nights episode with the dinner lady who also watched MM! I have an 11yr old and I wouldn't dream of letting her watch either of those shows! She'd also record stuff like South Park and Stressed Eric etc (she watched them herself so she knew full well what they were like!) so we could watch them in the mornings.

There is a particular episode of JC that gave me nightmares for years, I man had (I think) been trapped in a cellar which flooded and he drowned. I still remember the moment they opened the door and he was at the top of the stairs with his arm outstretched, and he was all yellow and waxy looking 🤢

It's only recently that I've begun to wonder what on earth she was thinking! I'm not sure if there's even any point asking her because she'd probably get all defensive and tell me I was attacking her parenting 🙄

Born in 89, watched all of these.

The only time I got scared was when I watched "lost boys" at about....7? Looking back now, I have no issue with it either.

I let my 10 year old choose what we watch and so far that has been Stranger Things and Wednesday and Umbrella academy (but that was my suggestion).

She wanted to watch 1899, but I vetoed that within 30 seconds of the first show.

As long as the kid understands reality, and you know they aren't the type to get upset...what's the problem?

Oh but I do remember being excused from History for 2 lessons when I was 13 because we watched Schindler's List.

I was absolutely traumatised. Even reading it now makes me bawl my eyes out.

I was born in 92 and watched midsummer murders and South Park. Bloody loved them, though yes a couple of nightmares! Much better than what 10/11 year olds are watching these days too, stuff like stranger things etc are much more terrifying IMO but I might just not be moving with the times!

Ohhh and what was that doctor one where he investigated all the murders? He worked in a hospital and his son was a cop? Used to love that too.

Diagnosis murder with dick van dyke. His son played his son on the show. He's in his late 90s now.

Never seen Jonathan creek but mm is still on, any chance you are misremembering how old you were?

I used to watch Hammer films at the same age. Loved em. Honestly OP you sound oversensitive and trying to male out that your mother was a terrible parent for watching such mild stuff at secondary age is pushing it.

Jonathan Creek and Midsomer Murders are as gentle and non questionable as TV gets FFS! I would have no problem with my children who are younger than 11 watching either but they just wouldn’t be interested.

To be honest since I’ve got my own DD (teen) I often wondered what my parents were thinking in various moments of my childhood. That’s why I don’t trust their advices on parenting. And it’s not “everyone did it” approach my MIL was the same age with DC similar age and she didn’t. I think it’s a mixture of time and personality.
I personally don’t think Midsomer or Morse are suitable for 5 y.o. especially if it’s a bright focused 5 y.o. Too much too early.

And Morse is so sad ( I like it though) Even my DH would rather watch Peppa Pig, he found Morse utterly depressing.

I was born in 81 and spent a lot of time being looked after by my nan who loved horror/action and anything with lots of blood and guts! I was watching films like Terminator/Predator etc from about 5 and loved them! It was actually a childrens books of folk tales and fables from around the world that gave me nightmares!

My nan literally let me watch anything, I'm not the same with my own children though, but then they are not the same as me and don't enjoy scary stories so much.

@strumpert thank you! I’m off to see if I can stream it anywhere, good bit of nostalgia there 😁

@ShimmeringShirts you're very welcome it's one of my favourite Sunday afternoon viewing shows along with murder she wrote.

Tales of the Unexpected every sleep over with Nan aged 7 🤣 it did scare the shit out of me sometimes. Good old Nan!

It's been in again recently in one of the sky/free view channels! The theme took me right back!!

Ooh I might have a look. Thank you!

I was born in the late seventies and remember renting videos when I was 8 or 9 years old. My mum pretty much let me choose anything from the shop so once I chose Nightmare on Elm Street. Then was allowed to watch it by myself at home!

Different times I guess. I have no doubt there’s elements of parenting that my kids will be wtf about in 30 years time.

YY to the public information films they were terrifying. There was that weird cartoon couple and the one with Charlie the Cat as well as the horror movie ones. The worst were Protect and Survive - what do in the event of a nuclear war.

Hammer House of Horror, Dr Who, Starsky and Hutch were all normal viewing.

There was train one too wasn't there? Wee jimmy got squished.

When my DC were around 4/5/6 we went on holiday abroad. In the evening we used to stick the tele on for them while we got ready bearing in mind the limited channels you get while on holiday. They came away from that holiday obsessed with Midsomer Murders. Towards the end of the holiday we were literally sat in the hotel room waiting for the episode to finish to go for dinner

My mum was of the dynasty/Dallas era and I was allowed to stay up and watch if I'd behaved that week. Recently watched it again to reminisce and can't believe how homophobic and misogynistic it all was!

I remember getting our first video player and my dad took us to the video rental shop to pick a video to watch. I picked one about a alligator that was won at a fair (?!) and then flushed down the toilet by the mum who didn't want it and it grew to humongous size in the sewers and escaped and brutally murdered everyone it came across! I think I was about 6 and scarred for life haha
They also let me watch Jaws and I still won't swim in deep sea now and I'm 52!

I was also born in 91. Jonathan Creek was my favourite program as a child. I remember eagerly awaiting each episode and being so excited to sit down and watch it with my family. I know the episode you are talking about and I distinctly remember watching it and being really disappointed with the solution, I thought it was the worst one I'd seen.

Have you actually rewatched these programs as an adult? Because I've rewatched all of the JC episodes (still a fan) and find it completely absurd that you wouldn't let your 11yo watch it.

Most of them are on in the afternoon now!

Omg the exact same episode of JC freaked me the fuck out!! My parents were quite strict about what we watched but for some reason JC got a pass and I remember being utterly traumatised by that one. Same as you the body up the stairs. My DM got quite cross about it because it wasn’t usual for JC to show that sort of thing. I think she wrote a letter complaining.

Despite my parents carefulness (usually) I still found a way to get to things that weren’t appropriate. Used to sit at the back of the bus and listen to Eminem on my friends Walkman with them. Maybe your DM thought it was better to watch with her and know what you’d seen?

And the seatbelt warning vids!

"Julie knew her killer..." followed by her seatbeltless teenage son smashing into the back of her head. 😭

There was one about playing chicken / crossing railway lines which I think was wee Jimmy's downfall. There is another one which is a school sports day set on a trainline which was carnage called the Finish Line - it's like a school version of Squid Games

Nearly every one at my primary school watched midsummer murders (or however you spell it!) - it was a permanent fixture on TV 🤣