Easier to be OS in the olden days?

mardatha

Pennies, the thing is that children learn fast... and will push you to the limit lol. If you bring them up to expect less, then when they get nice things they will be delighted and excited. If you bring them up to expect perfection, then you're setting them up for a lifetime of disappointment

lessonlearned

mardatha wrote: »

Pennies, the thing is that children learn fast... and will push you to the limit lol. If you bring them up to expect less, then when they get nice things they will be delighted and excited. If you bring them up to expect perfection, then you're setting them up for a lifetime of disappointment

I totally agree with this.

Pennies - just let your daughter wear her favourite things, it makes life so much less stressful. When my sons were young they wanted some logo infested sportswear which I loathed but I relented and bought them one sweatshirt each for Christmas. They loved them so much. The youngest wore his until it dropped to pieces, refusing to wear anything else, even when it was really a bit too small for him.

I worked out that on a cost per wear analysis the garment was actually really cheap because he wore it to death.

Children don't need lots of clothes and the clothes they do have don't need to be washed every day. i used to insist on a daily change of knickers and socks and perhaps t shirts if they were dirty, but jeans, jumpers etc then no, unless of course they had been playing out and got them caked in mud.

Once they hit puberty then t shirts and school shirts were changed daily. Sports kit usually had to be washed after one wearing too.

Generally though once they have passed the really messy toddler stage then a daily change of top clothing shouldn't be necessary. Just fold their clothes up or hang them up, they'll never notice. :rotfl:

Sounds like you are going to implement some good changes that will make your life much easier.

Ps my boys are now all grown up and wouldn't be seen dead in anything with a logo on it. They soon saw through the hype and they are now very canny shoppers.

They dress nicely and don't spend a fortune in the process. They still haven't learned what a wardrobe is for though........but that's another story.

Doveling

Nearly every post has resonated with me!
Last year the Brittains farmyard and animals belonging to my eldest girl were brought down from the loft for eldest grandson.

When I was little I was never allowed to pet the rabbits kept in pens in my grandparent's orchard. It wasn't until I was about twelve that I realised why . Some of my favourite hens would disappear as well . Not very bright was I!

lessonlearned

Doveling wrote: »

Nearly every post has resonated with me!
Last year the Brittains farmyard and animals belonging to my eldest girl were brought down from the loft for eldest grandson.

When I was little I was never allowed to pet the rabbits kept in pens in my grandparent's orchard. It wasn't until I was about twelve that I realised why . Some of my favourite hens would disappear as well . Not very bright was I!

Same here with the rabbits. I was about the same age when the penny dropped.:D

candlelight_2013

Himself (who comes from Kent) tells me they always had rabbit pie on Christmas Eve, and his Grandad reared the rabbits.

I suppose that was the way of things particularly in the country and just after the war food was in short supply. Although he tells me they never went short because his Grandad had an enormous garden so grew all their veg and fruit, and reared rabbits and chickens, and of course Grandma made bread and cakes.

Candlelightx

mardatha

I'm reading a book about WW1 and the hunger in 1917 and 18. Awful.

iris

PenniesMake£s wrote: »

Family life is very child centred these days I think and it makes the children feel like the decision makers. Eek!

I couldn't agree with you more.

PenniesMake£s

mardatha wrote: »

I'm reading a book about WW1 and the hunger in 1917 and 18. Awful.

What is the book called please?

PenniesMake£s

We don't actually buy very much for our children we don't have to...the vast majority of their clothes and toys have been presents from relatives. They have both sets of grandparents, and 3 sets of aunties and uncles. For birthdays and christmas each giver will spend approx £50 on each of the 3 children. Each year this means that at least £1500 worth of new children's clothes and toys coming into our house and that's before we have given our children anything!!! I haven't worked that out before...that is shocking. I am convinced that in the "olden days" relations wouldn't have been (able or willing) to be so generous with grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

lessonlearned

Gosh that is a lot.

When ours were small we discussed this with our families. My parents weren't keen on scaling back with the gifts but my husbands parents came up with a brilliant idea. Each Christmas and birthday they would give our children just one small token gift, something to open on the day. However, the real present was a Savings Bond which couldn't be cashed in until they were at least 18. When the time came for them to go to university they had a nice little nest egg which they were very pleased to have.

Could you perhaps suggest something similar. The money put aside could pay for driving lessons, or a special computer or even towards a deposit for their first home.

As you are beginning to find out' in the grand scheme of things "stuff" is pretty useless and it's not the material goods which make for happy childhood memories.

Many of us 'old uns" had childhoods that were short on "stuff" and modern day creature comforts but we had freedom to play outside, and our games were sociable and stretched our imaginations. I don't think we suffered any real deprivation and most of us seem to look back with a certain fondness at the lives we had.

You sound like a lovely mum and I'm sure you will find a way to make sure your children are happy and fulfilled without them becoming spoilt and over indulged.