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Parenting

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Original poster

The leaving a baby outside thread made me think of when I was little I...

33 replies

Belgianchocolatesmama · 29/03/2007 19:16

used to regularly fetch bits and pieces from the grocery shop for my mum from age 5. She used to give me a little list written down and I had to give it to the shopkeeper and then I could pick some sweets with the change. Having a 5yo now I couldn't even contemplate doing this. Did anyone else do this when they were little and would you do it now?

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JodieG1 · 29/03/2007 19:19

I didn't when I was little and I wouldn't let mine.

MoosMa · 29/03/2007 21:00

I used to cycle to the village shop (1 mile away down little country lanes) for emergency ingredients at tea time from about the age of 7, I don't know if I would let mine or not, I'll see when they get to that age...

Hulababy · 29/03/2007 21:02

I wasn't allowed to play outside the garden until much later than a lot of my friends. Think I was about at least 9 or 10 before I was allowed to play on the street.

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adath · 29/03/2007 21:06

Wow yes I did that had totally forgotten until you said that.
Cannot believe the distance I used to walk to school alone either it was through a village but still a fair distance.

DrunkenSailor · 29/03/2007 21:06

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baggybelly · 29/03/2007 21:08

I used to go to the corner shop with a note from my mum for 20 Benson & Hedges aged 5. The scary thing is, I was never refused!

Tortington · 29/03/2007 21:09

buy one fag for pennies for my uncle

Chloe55 · 29/03/2007 21:10

I used to walk across a stream and fields to get to school, age 5, on my own. God, it's scary to think about it now. Not sure if it's more dangerous now or if we are just more aware of it now - what do you reckon?

Kaz33 · 29/03/2007 21:11

I used to go to the local shop, bicycle around on our local estate - left the house when I was 6/7.

I walked to school from the age of 7, crossing roads, over the Downs.

Actually I do have moments when I think that my nearly 6 year old could walk to school on his own - ten minutes walk, no roads to cross and loads of parents walking their kids to school.

Does anyone do this?

Chloe55 · 29/03/2007 21:11

How many time can I say now in one sentence?

Chloe55 · 29/03/2007 21:12

My ds isn't that age yet but I still don't think I would ever risk it Kaz, nothing is likely to happen but if it did I'd find it hard to live with myself.

adath · 29/03/2007 21:31

I remember friends going for cigarettes for their parents too actually. I remember the 16 years to buy cigarettes law coming in to force as well, I think when we were small it was always a local shop we went to and there was no law against it then and the shopkeeper knew our parents and that the fags were for them.

tassis · 29/03/2007 21:32

we moved to a wee Highland village when I was 7 and i loved doing this

mind you, everyone knew everyone and was looking out for you

and if you did anything you shouldn't do, someone would "clipe" for sure!

adath · 30/03/2007 08:39

Where did you move to Tassis?

tissy · 30/03/2007 08:42

Yes, I went to the village grocer age 5, but got into trouble one time when I stopped off at a friend's house to play on the way back!

I also remember having to ask for "10 No. 6"

chopchopbusybusy · 30/03/2007 09:01

Yes, I was certainly sent to the local shop, probably from the age of five. My Mum took me to school on my first day, after that I walked there by myself. I must have been 4 and a half. My brother went to a different school and he had to travel by bus (just an ordinary bus, not a school bus) and he would have been 7.

I am very protective of my DDs and they have nowhere near as much freedom as I had when I was younger. I don't necessarily think that's a good thing

Kaz33 · 30/03/2007 11:33

I would probably get hung drawn and quartered if I let DS1 walk to school - but when he turns 7 then he is walking to the junior school on his own. It is only round the corner and I'll make sure he crosses the road safely - of course we live on a quiet road except at 8.30am and 3pm when all the 4 by 4's block it up

fluffyanimal · 30/03/2007 11:40

I used to go to the corner shop at primary school age, and to the village park with my friends on our own, at the same age (can't remember at what age precisely, but probably from about 6). We did live in a quiet country village but looking back, it had it's fair share of nutters!. Although I'm quite sure that life is no more dangerous now, I don't think I could let my ds do the same.

DaffodilsforeasterFlower3554 · 30/03/2007 11:42

I used to get a bus to school on my own at aged 5. Mum said "tell the driver you want the school" and left me to it.

I went for my Dads ciggies from about 7 years old.

From 12 years old I babysat my 7 year old brother and 6 week old sister while my parents went to the working mens club. (Mum worked there, Dad drank there)

This has actually made me cry, what a lost childhood I had.

Malaleche · 30/03/2007 11:48

we used to play in the street when i was about 7, then we moved and used to walk to school, me about 9 and brother 6 and little sister 4. We used to hold her hands, lift her up and run like mad, her feet didnt touch the ground. We called it 'daily morning exercise'. i used to go to the park or botanics with my best friend when we were 8 or 9. I dont know if times are really more dangerous now but i think its a pity kids dont play outside anymore.

admylin · 30/03/2007 12:03

I used to go to the corner shop aged 5 and we walked to school alone when my sister was 5 and I was 6 but the only road we had to cross had a friendly lollypop man on it and there weren't half as many cars around in the good old days.
When I see the country road we used to cycle down, it makes me cringe. It's all curvy and twisted and nowadays cars go speeding round the corners - our kids wouldn't stand a chance on that road today.

nailpolish · 30/03/2007 12:07

i used to go to the shop fr messages when 5 also. also walked to school with other boys and girls, about a half hr walk

my dd1 is 4 and a half and i let her play in the street

MamaG · 30/03/2007 12:09

Daffodil ive got a lump in my throat

nailpolish · 30/03/2007 12:11

6 week old sister? daffodil

DaffodilsforeasterFlower3554 · 30/03/2007 12:20

My brother and sister both now very grown up with children of their own have told me that they considered me their mother.

Funnily enough it never occured to me that there was anything wrong with the way we lived until I was about 13 when I used to call for a school friend and walk to school with her.

I can remember feeling soooo envious that her Mum was'nt still in bed, mine was, there was a fire on and the Mum was cooking yes actually cooking bacon and eggs for breakfast.

I would not have anything to eat until lunchtime most days

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