What where the worst things you had to endure as a child?

[Greensleeves]

I loved being an RAF kid because it was brilliant living on RAF camps and being looked after and feeling safe.  But of course that also meant that we moved about a lot - I changed schools  about ten times between the ages of 5 and 11. I didn't mind that too much but what I did find dreadful was, when starting at new schools, children saying to me "I'm not allowed to play with you because you are RAF so you're rough."  I accepted it at the time, since I suppose we were a bit nomadic, never knowing how long we were going to stay in any one place.  But in retrospect, it makes me furious that our fathers were risking their lives to defend the country, and we spent many a long month with fathers absent on detachment or posted to places where families weren't allowed.  And to be treated like that was outrageous, particularly when a number of friends' fathers never came back.    I am so glad that now, at least, servicemen and their families do receive the respect they deserve.

[Familysearch]

Being compared to my sister by the geography teacher. I was pretty useless at exams - sister wasn't. I was shown up in front of my peers several times for my exam results, in comparison to my sister.  Years later, I realise that my "learning style" was totally different  but that is modern training description. Have to say after all that, my knowledge of both history and geography improved years after I left school, and I was able to travel and enjoy the places!

Sad thing is - that teacher could have branded me for life, I only remember the bad side ( and her name!!) - did she ever commend me? Not in my recollection!! It wouldn't be allowed these days - you can't fail an exam.

[John915]

Good evening,

I only disliked one thing, going to bed. I suffered with really bad nightmares for some years as a young child. Mum would often recall the no of times she used to come in and chase out all the wild animals and then sit with me till I dropped off.

Malt extract! still love it to this day. It's called marmite on toast. I started with toast soldiers with marmite rather than a rusk as a baby, very thinly spread I would think. We had it every day nearly when we came in from school with a glass of milk straight from the farm that morning. Nowadays I like it on hot crumpets with a cup of tea.

John915

[jess5athome]

Hi,being a "Twin", love my twin brother to bits but was always compared to him at school, he was always brighter than me and I was always in his shadow .
We were always "Paired up" for various things, singing, drama class etc,.....................................
He wasn't better than me at "Boxing" tho' when we were paired up for that.
Frank.

[Yasmina4]

My feet so very cold I would cry or even scream with pain, when we had been out somewhere.   Consequent chilblains.
Little plastercine bowls  I made when I had rheumatic fever.  When filled with water and left on my bedroom windowsill, inside, they were filled with ice in the mornings....winter 1947.
Dried bananas. Yuk.

Sandra

[Roobarb]

Being wrongly accused by my art teacher of having had help with my homework and told to do it again. Then being wrongly accused again of having had help after I'd done it again. Have never forgotten it.   

Oh, and having bronchitis every winter.

[jess5athome]

Oh, and having bronchitis every winter.

That brings it back  ..................................................... Did anyone ever sit in front of one of those heat lamp type things and wear dark glasses with other kids who used to get bronchitis?
Frank.

[DavidJP]

Hi,

The one thing that coloured my childhood was the bullying at school. At both middle & upper schools (I was born in 1970).

I had pretty much everything that you could be bullied for. I was skinny (not a muscle in sight!), short, wore glasses (still do!), had big front teeth (Goofy was one of the favoured names I was called) & I had a very bad stammer (you wouldn't know it now though, if you spoke to me!)

Telling the teachers was mostly a complete waste of time, one or two at both schools tried to help, but most didn't, despite my late mother's complaints to them about the bullying.

I had speech therapy lessons between the ages of about 7 or 8 and 13. After I left school I attended what was called the YTS (Youth Training Scheme) which thankfully brought me out of my shell as I was horribly shy & had little or no confidence, nothing like I am now. Consequently I absolutely detest bullying!

On a happier note, Malt extract! I recall being given this as a child both on a spoon & I recall my late mother saying on a dummy occasionally. Probably to shut me up & give her some peace & quiet! Still love the stuff although haven't had it for while though, Marmite is also a favourite!

Kind regards

David

[Graham47]

Being wrongly accused by my art teacher of having had help with my homework and told to do it again. Then being wrongly accused again of having had help after I'd done it again. Have never forgotten it.   

Oh, and having bronchitis every winter.

I can relate to that one Roobarb.

Mr Sutherland his name was, and he accused me in front of the class of not having sketched a picture of an adjustable spanner (of all things) freehand - he said I must have used a ruler. Was I bloody annoyed with him!

Another "front of the class" episode took place shortly after leaving the children's home I was in up north and starting a new school in south London. I must have been around eleven years old. In turn, each kid had to stand up in class and read from a book, and as you can imagine my then broad Cheshire accent caused no end of sniggers, especially with words such as 'but' and 'butter' which came out as 'boot' and 'booter'. "What's that Thompson?" the teacher kept asking, making me repeat it several times and much to his own amusement truth be told. Makes my toes curl to recall it even now almost 60 years later.  Newspaper I would pronounce 'pay purr' and the other kids would pronounce it 'piper' - which to me sounded just plain daft!

And David, I nearly fell into that bullying malarky as well. As said, coming from a children's home up north along with my 'funny accent' I was a prime target in the school playground, but because of my background, I knew pretty much how to look after myself even against kids twice my size. Yes I was skinny, but unlike boys of the day who would fight by punching each other on the arms and in chest, I would give em' a smack on the nose. I was quickly left alone.

Reminds me somewhat of an ex battery hen we rescued a couple of weeks ago. Put her in the run with the rest of em' and they immediately started having a peck at her. With no nonsense, she stabbed back even harder and was quickly left alone as well!

Happy days? Bloody prison sentence more like.