Originally Posted by
GeorgePorgie
What I can sayis....three or four to a bed was common as muck.
In families of my grandparent's era [ie: before birth control] it wouldn't be uncommon for households to have anywhere between 6 -14 children. Each having their own bed was an unrealistic childhood fantasy. And considering that there maybe 3-4 to a bed, and in some cases, two beds in the same room, privacy could only really be found in the privy, and even then, it was an outdoor, draughty and cold space to have any thoughts in - outside what you ultimately went in there to do in the first place. Grey soapy bath water, sporadically topped-up with hot water was another thing you'd have to share with you siblings, once a week, if you were hygenic? Your own clothing would seldom be new, more likely hand-me-downs from the next eldest. All this, and nits, if one of your brother's or sister's had been unlucky enough to bring them home? All heads would be iching before long. And before the vacuum cleaner entered our homes, fleas would be another irritant.
div>
I wonder how all this shaped children's personal identity in larger less well off families? Children today, have their own bedroom, own brand-new toys, own private space, they play games on computers with their friends...but through a network, not sitting besides each other. Socially, we must be a different lot today?
Bookmarks