Would you go back to your childhood if given a chance?

[Shell Beau]

Did you have a happy childhood? Or is it something you don't like to think about?

I would go back to those days in a heartbeat. My childhood was wonderful. I was blessed with 2 brothers and parents who are still married to this day. We were/are a very tight knit family and did all kinds of family stuff together. I know a lot of people didn't have it so great, which lead me to ask the questions above.

[China_cat]

1. Not even if you paid me.

[Shell Beau]

2. Really? Any particular reason?

Or is it something you prefer not to talk about?

[China_cat]

9. Start with a stepfather who tried to kill me twice before

I was a year old, an anorexic/bulemic alcoholic grandmother who I was dumped on at age 5. Nope, I don't want to go there again.

[Shell Beau]

15. I see why now. I am sure you are stronger today

after having to overcome so much.

[China_cat]

16. It always surprises me that I'm not

a blithering idiot locked away someplace.

(Although there are many who think I should be)

[Shell Beau]

18. Only the strong survive.

Just goes to show how tough you must be.

[skygazer]

91. That's true but often no comfort

In fact, it's sometimes kind of irritating when people say that to me. I don't say anything because I know they mean it in a positive sense and I appreciate that but it's still a little irksome because I see it sort of differently.

In a sort of convoluted way, it makes me wonder - do they think it's somehow a good thing that I went through a lot of shit because that made me strong? What, would I not be strong if I led a happy life and wasn't forced to scrabble so damn hard for so long? Are there no strong people out there who didn't have to go through hell? Somehow, I doubt that.

Sorry, that's not directed at you - not really at anyone, I guess. Maybe it's just my problem. I've been called a "survivor" many times - always in an admiring tone. Everyone admires a survivor but no one wants to be one. And you know what? I AM strong and I AM a survivor but at a price. I think we who survive carry a lot of shit around that those who admire us cannot possibly imagine. It doesn't really go away. You just have to have that strength in order to carry it around. Gets tiring sometimes.

Aw, shit, didn't mean to go all philosophical on your thread and even did it on a reply to someone else!

Anyway, to answer the original question - no way!! :hi:

[Misunderestimator]

11. Not enough money in the world.

[BOSSHOG]

3. My mother died when I was 11

My Dad remarried and my stepmom was a very good provider and caring person; but its hard to replace the real thing. She was very good to me but never tried to replace my Mom. My Dad was never a kindly person but he provided well. It has been 39 years since my Mom Died and I continue to think about the little time we had together.

[Shell Beau]

5. That had to be tough! I can't imagine losing

my mother at such a young age. Even now, I don't know what I would do if something happened to her.

[Bullwinkle925]

71. I understand as well -

I lost a much beloved step-father when I was 9 and know that had a dramatic effect on me that has never gone away. So difficult for children to undergo that kind of loss.
:hug:

[caty]

4. My childhood was o.k

except that we moved a lot because of my father's work. I changed schools 14 times. My teen years were hell.

[Shell Beau]

8. Damn. That is a lot! You probably never got a chance

to really bond with friends.

[caty]

13. Actually, it made me very adaptable.

I learned to make friends easily. But I always had a best friend that I had to leave behind when we moved again. I kept in touch with one, Valarie, for almost 20 years my mail.

[BarbaRosa]

31. That's pretty much my story also

except as a real shy kid I didn't make friends that easily. I blows me away that we have a photo of MamaRosa and her best friend, both under a year old at the time. These two vacation every year in Key West, thats over 50 years of close friendship.

Back to the question. Is this just put the dvd in and play it again, or do we get to edit? As stated my childhood was ok, but I made a choice or two, based on the given information, that I wish I could change.

[musical_soul]

6. No way.

Too many things in my childhood that hurts. One good thing about growing up and starting your own life is that you get to start over.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

7. i never have the desire to re-live the past

my childhood was fine, i just prefer being what i am now.

[Shell Beau]

12. I see what you mean.

I love my life now. I am happily married and have a bright future. But to me, being a child was the best. No worries at all. Mom and dad could save the world (or so I thought). Birthdays and holidays were so much fun family times. They still are, but as a child, the excitement was almost unbearable.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

39. i guess i am kind of funny

i don't really plan that far into the future, i can visualise about 2 weeks out and anything after that just seems to not exist. in the same regards i don't dwell on the past that much either. i guess i am just very focused on right now, i don't know if that is good or bad. :crazy:

[Shell Beau]

44. I love the saying....

Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future. Today is a gift and that is why it is called the present!

You can't change the past, you can't predict the future. You only have control over now!

[jedicord]

10. No Way

My dad left before I was born and my mom was schizophrenic. She was wonderful, don't get me wrong. I was a good kid to make her proud, and not a bad kid because I didn't want to disappoint her. But when she didn't take her medicine (take that Tom C.) she was loony tunes.

She married an alcoholic when I was 10, and started drinking. She really went over the edge then, was put into a mental hospital and my sister and I went to a foster home (orphanage type).

A couple of years later I was moved into a foster family and I don't even want to go there. I went to college because I simply wanted to get out of that house and it was a great excuse.

However, I am thrilled to be here in the present.

[Shell Beau]

14. Wow! It sounds like you overcame some really tough times!

[jedicord]

17. Yeah, and my son is spoiled because of it.

I so don't want him to be unhappy that I over do stuff with him. I know it's not good for him, and I try to keep from over protecting/coddling, but I can't help it.

He's about to be 12 and it's getting easier to let go. I can tell he'll love that day!!

[Shell Beau]

19. You just want him to have what you never did.

There is nothing wrong with that at all. I am sure you are doing a great job.

[jedicord]

20. Thank you, I appreciate that!

Now tell my husband! :)

[1monster]

21. No.

[fudge stripe cookays]

22. In a way, yes. In a way no.

My died died when I was 13 (1980), and it completely screwed up our family. I had an asshole stepfather for awhile (he was mom's "boyfriend" most of that time), and that messed me up even more.

My brother and mother no longer speak, and my mom and I have had some major problems as well.

Sometimes I really miss those days, and miss being a naive kid in the 70s when the biggest thing I had to worry about was learning how to borrow in subtraction for math class or what kind of Barbie I wanted for my birthday.

But I like who I am now. I love my life, and I love being married to the most wonderful guy in the world. It would be hard to go back.

FSC

[Lavender Brown]

23. My childhood was pretty happy, but no.

I usually look to the future. :shrug:

[Ready4Change]

24. Absolutely.

There was a tough spot or two, but hardly enough to even mention. The rest was fantastic.

[Shell Beau]

26. I'm with you on that. Most people

said they wouldn't go back, so it is nice to see someone else would go back!

[MuseRider]

25. I would rather be dead.

Never, never, never. I am a very happy adult. It took a while but if you try real hard you can get over anything.

[Shell Beau]

27. I am glad you are finally happy!

[El Fuego]

28. I would, because I didn't appreciate it then.

[Shell Beau]

29. When we are little, we want to be grown.

That is b/c we have no idea what being grown entails.

[no name no slogan]

30. No. Mine blew. The future looks much better anyway

For some sick reason I'm eternally optimistic. My current life may be a mess, but I just know that it WILL be better in the future.

So, there's no way I'd go back to my childhood. I was never physically abused, but my folks split when I was four, and I was neglected quite a bit as a kid. There were some happy times, but the overwhelming thing I remember is fear.

So I'll pass on reliving my childhood. The future looks better anyway! :D

[Shell Beau]

32. I hope your future is so bright that you have to wear shades!

B-) (Kind of cheesy, but I really wanted to use the smilie.)

[no name no slogan]

37. The more cheeze the better I say

After all I'm only a stone's throw from Wisconsin!

[Shell Beau]

41. Well then here you go...

[Trigger Hippie]

36. I had similar experiences with my parents

Never physically abused, but always afraid. I was glad when they split up when I was 10.

:hi:

:*

[no name no slogan]

54. birds of a feather, huh?

My parents are now two completely different people-- it wouldn't have made any sense for them to remain together. They're both much better apart.

My life's been alright, but then again things can happen that you never expect to happen. It was only two months ago today that I dot out of the hospital, so there you have it.

For now, I like to live each day like it's my last day on earth. Do everything like you mean it-- like it could be your last time. Because it very well could be your last time.

:* :hi:

[Trigger Hippie]

64. I wish I could keep that in mind,

to live each day to the fullest. I get these blinders on and just trudge along until years have passed. Depression sucks. :(

[no name no slogan]

66. It sure does

If not for the miracle of modern pharmacology and twice-weekly outpatient therapy, I'd be a big mess.

Instead, I'm just a medium-sized mess. :P

[Saphire]

33. you bet I would.

[Shell Beau]

34. No worries! The smallest things make kids happy.

Candy was the best food! Toys were so much fun. You actually looked forward to brithdays. Aaahh! What a life! Don't get me wrong, I love my life now, but just the simple life of a kid is wonderful.

[Trigger Hippie]

35. No, I wouldn't go back.

I'm a much stronger and more alive person than I was as a child. I just remember being in a fog, just detached from the world. I'm a bit better now. Not as much as I'd like to be but getting there. :)

:hi:

[Shell Beau]

38. Keep working on it. You'll only get stronger!

:hi:

[Trigger Hippie]

40. Thanks

:)

[Rising Phoenix]

42. Not a chance

Not that it was bad, its just been there done that and it felt repetitive enough the first time.

[Shell Beau]

46. Welcome Mrs. Sniffa!

[bicentennial_baby]

62. haha

' it felt repetitive enough the first time'

i dunno why, but that made me giggle... ;)

[Gidney N Cloyd]

43. Once around was enough.

I always felt my parents loved me but it never seemed as if they liked me.

[SarahB]

45. Not really.

It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't exactly great. Maybe if I had a mommy like me, but otherwise, no way. :(

[Shell Beau]

47. I think we learn from our parents mistakes and try

our best not to repeat them!

[In_The_Wind]

48. oh please ...

I've spent a lifetime forgetting it ~ no way!

[Shell Beau]

49. LOL!

I understand!

[In_The_Wind]

52. you really don't wanna know

but I never realized or understood why I had to be this strong *sigh* maybe it's just part of my Virgo/Scorpio ways

[sundog]

50. fuck no.

[Shell Beau]

53. I guess that says it best.

[Divameow77]

51. Maybe when I was young

but not my teenage years, those were hell.
I went through some rough stuff when I was young too but when I think back it seems I was happy, even if my dad wasn't around, my mom did her bast.

[LaurenG]

55. I thought having parents was traumatic

then I had kids... :sarcasm:

I was not pleased with my childhood. I'd only go back if I already knew then what I know now.

[Hugin]

56. Never left.

Grow up?

[Terran]

57. I would, and my teenage years too.

But one condition: I want to know then what I know now. That way I would really appreciate how lucky I was to have a good childhood and teen years. Especially as a teen, I would do something differently: concentrate more on being with my friends and less on trying to be popular and "social". Since I wasn't "out" as a teenager, I think I would also make it clear to my friends and family what my true self was, and see how they handle it. Being a closeted gay teenager was the only bad part about my teenage years.

[Lilith Velkor]

58. Hell no.

[merh]

59. Yes, in a New York second.

It was wonderful - not perfect, but full of love.

[Shell Beau]

61. Mine too!

[merh]

63. I had such a great time in my imaginary worlds.

The adventures and the excitement -- my parents encouraged make believe, dress up, building houses out of card board boxes, pretending the porch was a country store. To go back to those times, to live in that comfort and joy, you betcha, I'd go back in a heart beat. :hug:

Always Childlike, Never Childish! :yoiks:

[RPM]

76. why can't you do it today?

sometimes I do :)

[merh]

77. I do too - I come to the lounge.

;-)

And I watch kooky movies -- I just have to remember to use the playground more often. :hi:

[RPM]

78. that's the way to do it

:hi:

[MN ChimpH8R]

60. No, nay never

Teen years were OK after I discovered Jah's own herb :smoke:, but even there I failed to recognize the freaky, controlling behavior of my mother. Though if I were a kid today, at least I'd be diagnosed as Aspergers before I reached my forties.

To be the smallest, smartest kid in class (I was accelerated two years) and have no social skills/intuition on top of that is to inhabit the lowest rungs of the Inferno. :scared:

[SmokingJacket]

65. No, no, no. Please no!!!!

Being an adult is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. I didn't have the traumas that some people here did, but I was surrounded by unhappy people and have no good memories. Plus I had a chronic illness I finally grew out of.

Being fully grown and independent rocks. And I'm glad I'm not filled with nostalgia, either. I think that would be painful.

[Kadie]

67. No. Nope. No way.

However, I wouldn't mind revisiting my 20's. :P

[CaliforniaPeggy]

68. ABSOLUTELY NOT!

My parents loved me, but they had no confidence in my abilities, so they hovered over me, smothered me and generally (but not deliberately) made my life hell...When you don't believe in yourself, then that has ramifications that spread everywhere. Fortunately, due mostly to my wonderful husband, I have been able to overcome nearly all of my insecurities; plus, I raised our daughters to be self-confident and strong, and they ARE!

:kick:

[trackfan]

69. Only if I didn't have to go to school

[Bullwinkle925]

70. Yes - since my Mother ,Sister & 2 Stepfathers have

passed away - it would be great to be able to spend time with them again (esp. knowing what I know now).
I miss them.

:cry:

[Shell Beau]

79. Aw! I am sorry!

[Bullwinkle925]

93. Thanks - loss is difficult.

[redqueen]

72. No, but...

I might go back just to high school. That's when I gave up, dropped out, and ran away. Wish I hadn't.

[bearfan454]

73. Nope

Too tough of a neighborhood

[RPM]

74. No way

I loved my childhood, parents were flawed but still loving and wonderful.

But I have enjoyed growing up and seeing and learning things and it would be a bore to go over the same ground again.

I have enjoyed my life fully, so thoughts of reliving parts of it or living forever are completely unnecessary.

[Wapsie B]

75. Yeah, but

it's not something I should dwell on. I'm trying to move past my regrets in life and the empty feeling I have about that all.

[Shell Beau]

82. Of course don't dwell on it; there is nothing

that can be done to change it or to go back to it. My point was how carefree I was as a child. I didn't know true sadness and everything was hunky-dory. No bills, no real responsibility. That is all I mean. Not if you could trade your life now for your childhood, b/c I love my life, but it would be even better if I had the innocent mind of a child. So gullible and naive in a good way.

[merh]

86. The unconditional love and trust of a child.

The naive understanding of what is important or rather, the true understanding of what is important, butterflies and daffodils, hot summer days and playing until you have to go home to bath.

The book "Flowers for Algernon" is the perfect book to explain the desire for the simplier life.

[Shell Beau]

87. Yes, and that is such a sad little story!

But you described it perfectly!

[merh]

90. Sometimes I feel like Charlie

Especially in a political context. Would it be better to not know the evil that is ruining our nation and the harm we have caused to others? Would my life be easier and my heart not as heavy. :shrug:

:cry: I'd rather not know sometime. :cry:


.

[Shell Beau]

92. I hear ya!

:(

[Crazy Guggenheim]

80. No fucking way.

[rbnyc]

81. Mine was crap...but I wouldn't risk...

...going back to try to change it, or going back in time for any reason, 'cause any little change might prevent me from meeting my husband and having my son.

:)

[wallwriter]

83. To do it over exactly, no. If I could change it, yes.

I was lucky and had a reasonably good childhood, but I prefer adulthood.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

84. And have to live my life over again?

No thanks... I'm really happy where I am now, I wouldn't want to go through all that mess again.

[Blue-Jay]

85. Only if I could bet all my loan $s on Buster Douglas.

Or on the Reds to sweep the Oakland As.

Otherwise, not on your life.

[grace0418]

88. I wouldn't go back to my childhood in an abusive household, but

I would like to go back to college. First of all I wouldn't have dated my (now) husband exclusively until sophomore or junior year so I could have time to be a slut and so could he. Next I would've picked a different major so I could've had a decent job out of school and not been so scared of real life that I went straight to grad school. Then I would've skipped grad school for awhile. I would be 5 years further in my career and making a lot more money, I wouldn't have had all those student loans to pay off (I had a great scholarship for undergrad, but grad school was financed almost completely with loans), and the one thing that nags our marriage wouldn't be an issue.

Ah well, nothing I can do about it now. I probably would've had different problems. But since you asked I told ya.

[The Flaming Red Head]

89. Getting beat up all the time

black eyes, stitiches, bruises, not a chance.