I used to know a girl
whose stepmother once took away her house key for eating a yoghurt from the fridge. What was so forbidden about this yoghurt I can't remember, but the woman took great offence to her stepdaughter eating it. There was another story, I think involving the stepmother taking things from the girls bathroom, despite having a seperate one of her own, but I can't really remember that.

Haven't really had much trouble with my folks being strict, mainly as my dad is the most laid back parent I know and with my mum and grandparents (who I lived with after my parents split up) I simply learned not to let them discover things that they would disagree with.

Most of my grandparents strictness could be put down to the fact that they still seem to think things are the same as they were when my mum and aunts were growing up. To this day, they still haven't quite got their heads round the idea of a spontaneous night out, and always need to know exactly what my mates and I are going to be up to, despite the fact that half the time we haven't even decided ourselves.

Still, having read some of these stories, I can hardly complain. At least my family let me have my own televison and go round other people's houses. Still, I am a bit annoyed at how easy my young cousins have it from my grandmother compared to me. When I was their age if I didn't eat all my dinner I'd be threatened by a smack with a wooden spoon and being sent to finish it in the garden. And I certainly wouldn't have been allowed ice cream if even a bit of food was left on my plate. "There's starving children in Africa that would love to have this food!" I remember once at the ageof about 7 I replied "Well why don't you box it up and send it to them then? I won't mind." The wooden spoon made an appearance that night, I can tell you.
(Uncle Comrade, Sat 10 Mar 2007, 15:56, Reply)