On being left handed

I'm left-handed and so is eldest DGS. My grandad tried to get me to write with my right hand and was told in no uncertain terms not to. At secondary school our PE teacher singled 2 lefties out when teaching tennis and told us she'd get to us later. She never did. I used to work for the local council, visiting older people, doing benefit checks and completing forms. Once one person remarked on me being left handed at almost every other visit for the rest of that week someone would also notice. It's never made much difference to me and I rarely think about it. I was interested in your mark about wet wipes MrsQuigley. I can rarely pull just one out and just thought it was the way they were packaged!

It strikes me that tying the left handed child's hand behind their back is child abuse. Luckily this did not happen to my left handed mother (born 1920) or my younger daughter (born 1977) but my mother in law (another leftie) who was born in 1917 was forced to use her right hand even though her right side was weakened by polio. Her daughter is also left handed as are many of her numerous nieces and nephews although my husband is right handed, as am I.

I had trouble learning to write and still smudge particularly if the paper is shiny such as a birthday card. My Mum had to turn knitting and sewing upside down in order to teach me. And I can't sit on the right of a right-handed person if we are both using chopsticks!

I’m not left handed but I read that left handed people are better at sport, something to do with reaction time to the brain.

Well I ‘m not. Utterly hopeless at sport, and therefore never liked it.

I am left handed, but it has never been an issue.

MrsQuigley

I’m left handed. Find it character building more than anything else. Everything is designed for the majority, we just have to find a work-around. Even my hand-held GTech vacuum is now handist. The lights showing how much battery charge is remaining is on the wrong side and cannot be seen when vacuuming. Trying to get a wet-wipe out of the packet is another trial. Recently tried putting spacers on a new hover mower. No way could I get the blade screw untightened with my left hand. Easy with my right and yet that hand is the weaker one. I know that left handlers are supposed to be exceptionally bright, sadly that bit passed me by.

I just needed to get a wet wipe out of the package and tried it with my right hand. Only 1! Usually I get a clump when I use my left.

everyone has trouble getting 'wet wipes' out of the pack don't they? not a left handed thing! I of course am right handed!

Menopauselbitch

I’m not left handed but I read that left handed people are better at sport, something to do with reaction time to the brain.

Not me- or my two lefted-handed children! My right handed grandson, however, is very sporty. Enough with the labelling.

My eldest is left handed. Extremely intelligent far more so than the rest of the family. Very fast reflexes too, for catching things. Don't know if it's connected with being left handed.....

I'm left handed, as is DD2 and one grandchild. I have always had extreme difficulties with can openers and scissors. I can only use a potato peeler that swivels so you can use either hand. When I taught primary aged children I often noticed arguments when a left handed child sat next to a right handed one so their elbows nudged each other. Swopping places solved the problem.

I suppose I’m ambidextrous, but the only thing I do with my left-hand is write. I use my right hand for everything else, it’s much stronger.

My mother was ambidextrous too. Everyone else in the family is right-handed.