“…Ubi est dies nativitatis mee valde iocunda? Ubi sunt dulcissima matris ubera que sugebam et basia patris mei in puericia dulciter explorata? Ubi sunt iocunda parentum gaudia in meis nupciis feliciter dedicata….”

So the author speaks of a “happy childhood”, his “sweet mother”, his “father’s kisses” etc etc.

Of course I’m just being my usual pedantic self, because the main thrust of your argument is correct, viz. childhood and the accursed “adolescence” go on for bloody ages, and children (and may I add, everyone else) have never had it so good. I also think Parker is correct, however. But I don’t know whether feminists are to blame. Most men like being metrosexuals because they’re just plain wimps. More probably, it’s the result of sixty years of peace and prosperity in Europe. Everyone’s a yuppie, men are metrosexuals whose only aim in life is to get laid, women (it used to be “ladies”) are mostly bitches, and children are just large hooded obnoxious creatures lurking in street corners. Bring back the Black Death, I say.

(Daphne – Tell me more…..)