When I was little, I was really interested in birds and wildlife. One day, when our teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up I told the class that I wanted to be a 'naturist'. I thought a 'naturist' was someone who studied nature. I didn't realise at the time that it meant that you ran around with no clothes on!

Anon

Our daughter Cathy, when she was about three years old, would see my husband go through the door to the garage in the morning, and come back in through the door when he got home from work in the evening. One day she asked me, "What does Daddy do in the garage all day?"

Anne

I used to think that when you got fired, you got shot. My friend Scott told me his father was fired, and I was quite sad for him. I got the shock of my life when I saw his father walking around perfectly healthy a few days later.

Murpedo

When I was a little kid, I my parents asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I proudly told them that I wanted to be a toll booth operator. When they asked me why on Earth I'd want to do that, I explained that it was because people always gave them money.

I was under the impression that they got to keep all of it.

Jay

When I was 6 years old, I used to sit next to my best friend in class. He always had new pencils and I couldn't get my head round to how he could possibily change them so often.. when I asked, he told me that his father owned a Pencils Factory and that was right in his house, in a room that I've never entered! I totally believed him, and he would bring me a new pencil almost everyday...
Whenever I go to his place, I still look at that door - behind which there's only a washing machine! - as the door to the factory!

Valentina

I used to believe that whenever my parents were going to work they went to a huge building where all the other grown-ups went to have a huge party.

Rachel

When i was little i wanted to be a lolly pop lady when i grew up because i truly believed that you got payed in lolly pops so it was my dream job.

linda

When I was asked by my kindergarten teacher about what I want to grow to be. I said, "well I suppose any communist job is okay with me". I thought opposite of famous was communist. And I really did not want to become a famous person like a politician, scientist, attorney, etc... because they had to complete more years of school.

anon

My 5-year old cousin used to believe the garbagemen were stealing their trash.

Anon

I used to belive that my dad didn't really have a job and when he was out he was actually spying on me from behind the door! Somedays id walk about the house saying "come out dad! i know your here!!!"

Bubz

For a while I wanted to be a animal trainer for films. Id seen Mary Poppins and thought it was so cool how somebody had got the robin to sit on her finger and sing along with her.

Eventually I forgot about this ambition, until many years later I was watching Mary Poppins with my family. Along came the robin, and I felt a surge of loss to see it was clearly animatronic (and oversized). I complained that I was CERTAIN the robin had been real.

My family now point out any animatronic or CIG animal on TV and tell me it's not real. I'm 18.


(although there ARE animal trainers for TV.... just not for the animal I thought :( )

AMCT

My father, who was on crutches, would always holler at us "Get the door". One day I asked my mother, "Does daddy call work and tell him he is on his way, or does he just stand outside until someone comes along and opens the door for him?" I was very surprised when she said he could open the door himself, for I had never seen him do it.

M

I grew up in Reno where there were always signs posted by the slot machines that said "No Minors". I thought that they didn't want miners to play the slot machines because they were already rich enough from mining all the gold.

Ex-Renoite

Thanks to my dad, for the first 10 years of my life I believed that C.I.D (Criminal Investigation Department) stood for "Constable In Disguise"

Adam C

My Dad used to operate machines at work. The only machines I knew of were slot machines so I was of the belief that Dad played bandits all day to make a living.

Gareth

I used to think that lollymen ladies actually gave out lollypops.

I remember being disappointed, having crossed the road sucessfully and not recieved confectionery.

Tom.G

When I was younger I thought that when someone got the sack they were put into a great big sack and the top was tied. Then there was 'custody' - getting thrown into a huge vat of custard. It took me years to work out the truth...

Kathleen - Carlisle, England

When I was younger I believed that "Help Wanted" meant that you had to go to prison, and help the criminals...Boy, was I upset when my brother applied for a job!

Anon

my dad can balance things on his nose, like broomsticks and chairs. when i was little i used to be so fascinated by it. when i was about five, he jokingly told me that he learnt the skill as a clown in the circus.
i believed him until i was 15!

Anon

i used to think taxi drivers were nice people who gave you a ride, told you loads of nice stories, showed you round cities and gave dad and mum money at the end of the ride

Staché