We’d hovered the floors, put on and hung out a washing, emptied the fire ashes, brought in coal, lit a fire, peeled and boiled potatoes and stuck on some oven fish, but oh dear we left some cups in the sink. Not much work really for an adult at home all day, oh wait I was 8!
I wouldn’t say we were neglected but child services nowadays may disagree. My parents worked all day and myself and my 12 year old sister were left alone, 9-5 Monday to Friday during the summer holidays. I’ve said this before that I don’t remember much about my childhood but will all this time to think in here, I guess things are cropping up. We were children and guess what? Siblings fight! That’s probably one of the reasons it’s a good idea to have an adult around, and I’m sure my folks saw no harm with my granny living just over the road and an Aunt nearby, but truthfully we’d seldom see them during the day, unless we wandered over. My sister battered me daily, not broken bones battered, but the kind of battered you get when an older sibling is demonstrating their authority. I spent many hours running to my room and locking her out as I wept.
Before Mum and Dad got home she’d order me to peel the spudz, bring in the coal etc, all those tasks we were meant to share. I suspect her recollection of those days differs from mine. I love her dearly now and we are close but I do resent those days.
Mum always says that kids nowadays are useless, and I must admit that I’m shocked when a work colleague brags about their 16 year old learning to cook spag bol, but I bet those kids a slightly less broken than I am.
Be proud of your achievements, no matter how small.
Loopy x.
What really happens in somones head? 