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

[HazelMaker]

The 1990s

yup, the 1950's 60's generally

Self employment
Open fires. Yes they look nice but are a huge amount of work and the smell of smoke in the air.
Moving abroad. It's still your life, just unfamiliar and harder

Being an orphan/ losing parents while young

Oh and one last thing being a twin. People seem to think if you're a twin, you'll have this magical bond, be best friends for life, have all these great shared childhood experiences and never be alone.

I have a twin brother. Nothing in common, never close even as kids, different friends and absolutely no magical bond whatsoever. I genuinely couldn't even tell you the last time I had a proper conversation with him and the funny thing is I genuinely couldn't care less!

We used to be able to. . . . . .
You could get a pie and a pint for 6pence.

nope, i think its the rose coloured specs thing.

Camping.

God good, camping is awful. Everything about it absolutely sucks balls.

Why would I want to go away to sleep in worse accommodation than I have at home? With a lot more effort? AND pay for it?

Fuck
That.

Actually there is one nice thing. I do enjoy a nice campfire. But I can easily enjoy that in the comfort of my own back garden before going indoors to my warm and comfortable bed.

Holidays with small children.All the work, all the hassle but add in heat, no safety equipment, uncomfortable beds, unfamiliar food, airports/ traffic jams, a week of boiling sun/ pissing rain.

My best friend is also a twin (two sisters) but isn't at all close to her sister and never has been

Can relate. It’s shit. What was your one’s schtic?

Being an only child.

If I had a pound for everyone who told me it must be lovely to be "spoilt" I would give Bezos a run for his money. The reality is, that as you age it is only you around to deal with the s**t.

100% this. I applaud you for having the courage to post this. 👏

Agree and showing off the ring on social media😩

Living in Australia

That's a shame. We don't eat out that much, and are lucky that when we do feel like it we have a great range of places within easy reach, not all that expensive either. I really enjoy a meal out once in a way.

Getting back to the OP's challenge: all the people who seem to think that back in the 1960s and 70s when I was growing up everybody ate meals that were cooked from scratch, there were no additives, no UPFs, nobody snacked between meals, etc etc. All I can say to that is, not in our house! And not in lots of other people's houses either, to judge by the supermarkets and adverts of the period. We had any amount of foods that came in tins, packets and tubes, or ready-made frozen meals, or ready-made stuff from the butcher's or baker's with no ingredients listed. Many weird and wonderful colours and textures! Sliced bread made by the Chorleywood process was new and exciting and bore little resemblance to real bread. My parents had a sweet tooth and we had lots of sweets, cakes and biscuits.

Yes we had no central heating and single glazed windows, winter was miserably cold and damp . The 80s were tough in West ireland emigration was the only answer for most . To see the 80s romanticism that happens now is unbelievable. That said I eat up everything based at that time and the music was fantastic even though the way its portrayed was not my experience

thanks for your post. Not sure what you're asking?

In some cases it’s lonely and scary, I’m sure. From my own experience and that of every graduate I’ve ever known (that’s a lot of people) it’s very rare - I could count on the fingers of one hand the people it’s been the case for during the whole of their time, though I acknowledge more struggle in first year.

Surviving trauma or having been ‘triggered’ not being able to buy a pumpkin spice latte didn’t trigger you.

The Maldives

The Krays and the Richardsons’ mythical status. My uncle had dealings-very nasty people. People naming their sons Ronnie and Reggie after them who think it’s cool.

Living ‘abroad’ ( especially the EU since Brexit). Everything is cheaper, the weather is wonderful, people are kind and welcoming especially to small children ( no matter how disruptive in an adult setting). All based on holiday experiences when things are generally more agreeable.

I’ve lived in France and Italy, I would say that there are good things ( generally food related) and bad things ( bureaucracy, corruption - although we are catching up). As for the child thing, most French children are far more strictly disciplined than UK, but also receive more focussed attention, so they behave more like ‘adults’ in adult settings.

The fish counter in LeClerc and U need no rose tinted specs, though 👨‍🍳😌

Being an only child

Life is too busy for friendship groups? I think that’s quite sad. It’s important to prioritise friendship and time with the people you’ve known at different life stages.

I don’t think people romanticise that.