I was pretty much raised in pubs, I think. Most of them had playgrounds, at least...?

America seems to be a little less flexible on kids in bars. Definitely no playgrounds, which would have ROCKED.

Since I had breastfeeding siblings until I was about 10, I saw my mom more or less topless throughout my whole childhood. I am grateful not to have any memories of my father either naked OR in a speedo.

I took Emmett to an R-rated movie this weekend (Forgetting Sarah Marshall). He survived exposure to Jason Segal's cock.

I expect to be bathing Matilda until she's old enough to wash herself.

With Emmett if there are any breaches of boundary issues, it's likely to initiate from his side. As for instance, him recently shoving his balls in my face to show off his first pubic hairs. I suspect he'll be teabagging his college teammates.

I am grateful not to have any memories of my father either naked OR in a speedo.

Sure, taunt me with your fully-clothed dad. Meanie.

My parents took us to bars occasionally. However, they were more neighborhood gathering places that happened to serve alcohol. Usually, parents would order beer for themselves and Cokes for us kids. They'd talk to other grown-ups while I eventually wandered over to the pinball machine. Not sure what my brother did.

He also took me to a bar once, at age 12 or 13,

I was pretty much raised in pubs, I think.

12 is when The Howling Dog (farthest North roadhouse, made of awesome) said I couldn't come in anymore to watch my mom and uncle play volleyball. Younger than that was fine, though.

Definitely no playgrounds, which would have ROCKED.

It DID rock. I'd make new friends all the time, as kids do.

I can totally see how the bar culture in the States is different. Maybe if ours was more like that, there'd be fewer problems with binge drinking.

When we were in elementary school and getting the "alcohol is dangerous, kids!" lessons, there was one time that we went out for pizza, and my dad had a beer with his pizza, and my sister and I both insisted that Dad had had alcohol, and thus it wasn't safe for him to drive, and we weren't going to get into a car with someone who'd been drinking. Our parents apparently decided against trying to explain the nuances of blood alcohol levels to 7- and 10-year-olds, and my mom drove home.

After the "smoking kills" lesson, I know of at least two kids who went home and found and threw away all their parents' cigarettes.

However, they were more neighborhood gathering places that happened to serve alcohol.

Yeah, I should have clarified -- Dad took me to what was billed (on its sign and door) as a "nightclub." (It was the mid-1980s.) NSM a neighborhood gathering place, except for people looking to get laid.

That's why I mentioned that, Steph -- completely different vibes. Though my parents stopped taking us when I was about 10 or 12. Bar-with-restaurant was okay for meals even after that.