What “You don’t know you’re born” means

 

When older people say “you don’t know you’re born,” they usually mean:

Young people today don’t realise how much easier life is compared with the past.

It’s not usually meant in a harsh way. Often it’s said with humour or affection, especially by grandparents.

Older generations grew up with things like:

• Fewer household appliances

• No internet or computers

• Harder school conditions

• Less heating in homes and schools

• Fewer disability supports or learning aids

So when they saw younger people with more comfort or technology, they might say “you don’t know you’re born.”

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Why your understanding changed as you got older

When you’re a child, sayings like that can be confusing because they are figurative language.

But as people get older, they start to notice:

• how much technology has changed

• how society has improved in some ways

• how previous generations had to manage with less

So now you understand what your Nan meant.

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This could actually fit nicely in your book

Because you are writing about disability, learning differences, and life experiences, a small reflection like this can make the text more personal.

Example:

When I was younger, my Nan used to say to me, “You don’t know you’re born.”
At the time I did not understand what she meant.
As I got older, I realised she was talking about how much life had changed.
When she was young there were fewer comforts, fewer support services, and much less understanding of disability.
Today we have more awareness, more technology, and more support, but it is still important to appreciate the past.

Personal reflections like that are very powerful in awareness books and training because they show generational change and social progress.