What did your life look like when you were half your current age?

Grammaretto

I didn't survive until the 6th form at the horrible school Cariadagain though I was told by friends who stuck it out that it improved as yours did.
I was sent to boarding school for my 6th form. I much preferred it. No bullying as far as I was aware.
Sadly my own DC were bullied at school too and some of my DGC are not happy there. 16yr old DGD has left and is going to football college.

That's sorta confirming my view why bullies are that way - ie things improved come the 6th form (ie they had left) in the school you're referring to as well.

It was quite a liberal/modern school all round and did have a lot going for it in many respects and I do wonder what would have happened if I'd turned round to teachers there and told them what the bullies were like and generally "naming and shaming". I guess I have to forgive myself for not having the sense to do what modern-day me would do without hesitation, ie keep a record of times/days/events, suss out a suitable teacher and tell them what was happening and demand the bullies were dealt with. If they weren't = I'd be off to the local paper to report the teachers for not protecting me from the thicker pupils.

I am pretty convinced the bullies are that way because they know, at some level, that their victims stand a better chance than they do and are trying to pull them down to their level. The first problem was I had simply no idea they werent at the same level at the time - and only began to realise very late on - ie when the University sent in people doing IQ tests on us and I went "What does a score of 130 mean please?". If only only they'd done that test on us all years before they did....and I might have realised what was what and reported the bullies....

I could also have done with a Sociology O level being available at the school - perhaps as an "added voluntary extra" - as I subsequently decided years later to do one at evening class out of interest and that was quite a revelation as well and helped me realise what had happened - as I analysed what had been going on there. Yep....even an 0 level in that subject is very useful imo.

Bullies - of any description - tend to regret it (a lot!) if they start in on me these days - as I've learnt a lot about how to deal with them......record-keeping, official reporting, reasonable knowledge of any relevant laws and totally openly letting everyone know what's happening. I've learnt that - if a bully starts - it's NOT MY FAULT....it's a character defect of theirs.

Perhaps those thoughts might help your young relatives deal with these characters?

I didn't survive until the 6th form at the horrible school Cariadagain though I was told by friends who stuck it out that it improved as yours did.
I was sent to boarding school for my 6th form. I much preferred it. No bullying as far as I was aware.
Sadly my own DC were bullied at school too and some of my DGC are not happy there. 16yr old DGD has left and is going to football college.

escaped

Halve that age again, and I was just drifting through school, getting into mischief!

LOL - at the getting into mischief.

Halve that age again and I and my friends were all still at school - them doing A Levels and me doing a secretarial course. Peace reigned for my last couple of years there - as every single bully without fail left school at 16 back in that era (at least from my school they did - and it was a HUGE school and so that meant the 6th form was pretty big too). 16-18 peace reigned and I could actually manage to get on with my studies uninterrupted by bullies.

It's just a shame that I have obviously blocked the vast majority of my memory until that time - as I'd be interested to be able to remember their names etc - so that I could look up Facebook to see if they're on it. I'm not forgiving enough to hope they've done well with their lives.....but would be interested to see if they've "got their just deserts".

Halve that age again, and I was just drifting through school, getting into mischief!

Children all at primary school, one dog, two cats and a guinea pig.
A young, somewhat inexperienced Headteacher, 33, but full of enthusiasm and energy which paid off.
Fond memories.

Thinks - do we dare add in an element of "compare and contrast"? That being how did you expect your life to turn out v. how it actually turned out.

Wonder how many of us got what we expected - or better....

Sago-
The worst thing about being abused is the terrible feeling of shame and isolation.
These days the subject of abuse is more open ,but I still see it .
I didn't tell my parents-they had their own problems and were struggling .
I do think that my overstrick hypercritical mother unwittingly prepared me to accept being dominated .
She loved me in her way and no doubt seeing me being very comfortably off made her believe thst she'd done a good job .
I've come to realise that I don't have to be a people pleaser and it's OK to say no to people .
Recently,I've said no to various church activities because I find it too much being unwell .
It hasn't gone down well .
And that's too bad .

I don’t think it really matters the why of the OP, it’s an interesting read, a snapshot of GNetters lives.

I was 34 had a son age 3 my second child was on the way. My marriage had become unbearable and declined rapidly.

It was the worst time in my life because of my husbands infidelity and abusive behaviour.

34 doing ok but much the same as now except I’m a gran with four rarely seen grandkids still working hard but very near to retirement.

37. Slim with thick dark hair. Two small children. Helping DH in his business. Living by the sea. So much energy. Regularly visiting Mum and Dad. Carefree days.

Desdemona

Probably be back soon to ask what our first pet was and their name.

Mine was a goat called Billy Goat Gruff.

Probably be back soon to ask what our first pet was and their name.

Bea65

RosieandherMaw

Just wondering what a 32-year old is doing on Gransnet cheeeyboy ?

Think its a troll...

Still wondering…..

Early 30s with daughter in infant school and son yet to start school.
Stay at home mum and loving life.
Parents both alive.
Happy Times

Grannywannynanny & Crazy H
Thank you.

My family of five just emigrated from N.Ireland to Canada for my husbands job.Still here 38 years later.

I had a toddler (neuro diverse, although undiagnosed), a teenager and I worked nights, (part time).

Life is much easier now

Aldom - so, so sorry

I was around 38 with 2 children and I enjoyed living in a community that looked out for each other. I was still working and occasionally changed my job from time to time and really enjoyed each one. DH and I had a good time with the children especially at birthdays, outings with friends etc. It was a good time - and is still going strong with the children now grown up and with several grandchildren of different ages.

RosieandherMaw

Just wondering what a 32-year old is doing on Gransnet cheeeyboy ?

Think its a troll...

I was 38, amicably divorced, independent in a house of my own. 2 sons at home, 17 and 14, decent job, a dog. Very happy with a partner.

Just wondering what a 32-year old is doing on Gransnet cheeeyboy ?

I was coming up to 41, I had graduated at the age of 40 with a degree in education and started a new career teaching in further education, a job I loved and continued in until I was 61. My sons were 18 and 16.

I would be almost 44. My two children were at school; I had gone back to work so we were better off than previously.
I passed my driving test when I was 37 and had managed to buy my own car rather than share with husband. So life was definitely on the up from the dreadful poverty of earlier years.