I'M ENVIOUS OF MY KIDS

Mobiles, internet, online friends - Nina Butler, 52, wishes she had these growing up!

- ASHLEIGH PAGE

When I listen to my kids Halle, now 25, and Rob, 23, talk about all the adventures they've been on around the world, climbing Machu Picchu and the Atlas Mountains, I can't help but be immensely proud but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little envious too.

They have thousands of pictures and videos documenting their travels, which are priceless memories they can immerse themselves in, whenever they like.

When I was their age, the best I could hope for to capture a memory was a disposable camera, whereby, I'd wait days for the film to be developed and pray that my thumb hadn't got in the way of the lens.

THEN AND NOW

My kids don't remember a time before we had internet access at home and they've been pretty tech savvy from a young age. 'You don't realise how lucky you are,' I often tell them. And yes, I know how very 'ancient that probably makes me sound to them. But my childhood and teen years were so different to theirs.