Mumsnet in the 1950s, what would it look like.

I think my mother in the 50s would have wanted to know how to stretch her money to make it last the week. In the 60s she would have wanted to know how to cope with wayward teenagers! In the 70s she would have asked advice about becoming a new grandmother.

I would have liked it to help me realise how to deal with my mother. She was my tormentor for 70 years. I looked after her until she died at 94. It was like being let out of prison when she went.

I got a sort of revenge by giving away her house that she tried to use a weapon throughout my life.

Going back to the 50’s and 60’s, one thing you wouldn’t have seen was the ‘f’ word being bandied about like it is now.

It seems everyday language on MN now.

I think like most women today, my mother would have had no interest in Mumsnet at all. She had her work, a busy social life and a family. She was never a magazine reader, so she didn't buy or read women's magazines,

My mother worked whenever she could - my father was in the army so we constantly moved. My parents had an equal marriage. I can never remember my father sitting down doing nothing while my mother was doing any kind of work, whether cleaning, cooking or anything else. He would always be up and assisting. It sometimes drove her mad, although she never showed it. He was a hands on father, pushed prams, changed nappies.

My mother would be completely perplexed as to why I was on GN, she would feel I should have better things to do - but then I am a magazine reader, although house magazines, not women's magazines.

And another , which has caused me much amusement and certainly the stuff of old magazine articles :

A Hyacinth Bucket type friend to my mother in almost inaudible tones .

Clarissa ,
does your husband bother you at night ?
My mother must have understood what she meant , but asked her to be more specific .
I mean , does he disturb you ?
Oh , I would dream of telling him , but he does snore occasionally.
No , I mean does he want relations ?
No , definitely not .
And wickedly , my mother asked her why ?
Well , Colin does .
Oh , really ?
He wants the light on and he wants me to dress up .
Dress up ?
In black suspenders and fishnet stockings with high heels and no brassiere .
When this lady left looking quite flustered with sex bomb stamp collecting/train spotting Colin (at best described as permanently terrified of everything ) I just couldn't imagine it .
As soon as they were out of earshot -my mother exploded into paroxysms of uncontrollable laughter and I'm afraid I did as well .

I remember reading one of mum's magazines in the 50s. Don't let your DH see you without your hair done and makeup on and the house looking tidy. My mum always put makeup on just before dad was due home and we had to tidy our toys up as dad wouldn't want to come home to a mess.

My mum was a full time teacher by the end of the 1950's and politically interested.
But.....she hardly had any time for anything beyond home and work and 4 children.

Perhaps there would have been debates about whether mums should go out to work and how to manage? Whether Dad's should have to help out in the house and children?

Here's one which was laughed about in the eighties - I believe .
From a much earlier magazine :
Does one keep one's gloves on when eating scones with jam and cream ?
To which the reply was :
Unless one wants one's gloves to be soiled with jam and cream - they are best removed prior to eating .

My mum was a mother in the fifties. I think she would have liked to discuss recipes. How to eke out the housekeeping. Childcare. She was a proud housewife and that was her career.
I was a first time mum in the late sixties. Similarly how to manage money was a big issue but my ideas on childcare were different.
I also expected to go back to work at some point so would have liked to discuss that. Mumsnet would have been a big help to me then.