[babycakes]

Originally Posted by lauraC

I felt very sorry for ben that night that somehow he had been deprived as a child being sent away to boarding school and it had messed him up somehow
What were other people's thoughts on this?

You asked for my thoughts - well here goes.

As the Mother of a very balanced young man who, to paraphrase your words "sent him away to boarding school" I actually take great offence to that. It is a common and pretty ignorant misconception amongst those who are not privvy to that experience.

My son, now 23, LOVED boarding school and to this day, his best friends are those that he made there; the bond they have with each other is lovely to see. The decision was made mutually and has provided him with huge benefits. He had much longer holidays than his counterparts outside of the independent school system, as well as regular exeats every three weeks as well as home overnights. The price I paid in not having the everyday presence of my child has proved to be worthwhile. He is intelligent, well mannered & respectful, recieved a superb education and had the time of his life. He laughed himself silly for 5 years with friends that are still his best buddies to this day, and in no way screwed up. And by the way, no one ever wore nappies or for that matter, touched him inappropriately.

It may however engender a liking for older women. One of his friends had a girlfriend twice his age when he was about 17. His mates thought him very lucky to have got a bit of MILF experience under his belt. But seeing as the others just had very normal experiences, I wouldn't suggest that "being sent away" (it's not exile or borstal you know ) created a sexual preference for older women on mass. And the boy I refer to way in fact a friend. Not the operson relaying the information. Some people have friends you know, and tell amusing anecdotes about them. Exactly the way that I trust Ben told his amusing anecdote (that oddly, no-one else remembers hearing, but I'll give the benefit of the doubt on this point.)

I speak here from experience, not idle speculation.

You asked for our thoughts: these are mine.