What do you wish people would stop romanticizing, because you’ve lived the reality of it?

[HazelMaker]

The 1990s

Being a Parisian

Does anyone romanticise that?

Being the childless rich auntie (who travels all the time.)

Moving your young children out of a lively, vibrant suburb of a world class city to…. Rural Yorkshire 🙄

The idea that reuniting with long lost family must be a positive thing. Some people are better staying lost.

Being a doctor.
Yes, of course it has positives but I have met so many young people (and even more parents) who have a totally romanticised view of the profession and no idea of tge realities. My friend who is a vet feels the same and says James Herriot has a lot to answer for!

UK telly of the 70s and 80s. The particular sigh of depression as I found that it was Nationwide, Terry and June, Crossroads or Highway yet again stays with me. The median sitcom of those times was not The Good Life but the deservedly forgotten Fiddlers Three or Citizen Smith. The good bits were great because they were rare.

An inheritance.
Because you are an orphan.

I was just about to add this. I didn't invest in one myself (they're grand as a holiday treat for me) but I know a few who did. They take time, money, maintenence and are often wedged into small gardens, thus getting on the tits of neighbours who had to listen to everyone getting drunk in them while they churned away till midnight.
I think the novelty has worn off for most...they never see the light of day.

Psych wards- especially on Social media

Friends

I hated myself in my 20s. Really thought o was ugly, fat etc. wasn’t comfortable in my own skin. I cared so much what people thought. Now I’m older I’m at peace with who I am. I give very fucks about what people think of em, probably because I’m becoming invisible to the world.

Some types of holidays, social gatherings, social clubs, travel.
Over 60s housing complexes.

Being an author. No, we aren't all millionaires writing in coffee shops - quite a lot of us are writing in our beds before going to the day job.

Being a Christian. People think it's all coffee, scones, singing and harshly judging others. It's not, it's hard work trying not to judge others and we have to get up early on a Sunday morning and take stuff seriously 😁

Having a cat. People fondly imagine it's all soft and snuggly and they look after themselves. They need company and attention and some of them don't like being touched or picked up. You have to accept them on their terms and they all have individual personalities. You can't force yourself on a cat, everything is on their terms.

Having your own personally designed and built home. Sounds lovely to have everything bespoke to your own wants and needs but I know someone who did this and it was soul destroying.

Another vote for Being a Brave Cancer Survivor. It sucks from beginning to end and it’s not glamorous or noble and you don’t have any choice!

Owning your own business and being your own boss.

Yes, you get more freedom but the buck stops with you so you get a hell of a lot more responsibility too. It also comes with so much paperwork and admin that it makes you miss the days when you were PAYE and your employer did it all for you.

So basically your entire life?

Extended family gatherings.

My mother has an idealistic view that everyone is in big, loving extended families who meet up regularly, go on holiday etc etc except for poor old her because I'm so mean.

Sigh.

The late 50s early 60s.

Yes, this ^

I'll second that!

Having kids young, so you’re ’still young’ in your early 40s when they’re grown and fled.

No, you’re just a knackered 40 something that wasted the good bit.

Totally this. Thankfully never needed to be an inpatient but before I had a bit of a MH crash at uni I loved the idea of being like Susanna Cayson in Girl, Interrupted