[clee1]

A few years ago, I happened to drive by my old highschool (I graduated a LONG time ago). I thought the place had been turned into a junior college. For a FACT girls were not so well-developed when I was younger.

My wife's cousin is 14 y/o. She has often been guessed as 21.

It may not be growth hormones in the food supply, but something is different....

[mother22wife21]

:D maybe it's in the water?......

[KneelBeforeZod]

hmm I remember from my sex ed in school that female puberty was tied closely to body weight.

this was ages ago before the tree huggers started blaming food additives for everything.

I get a laugh out of the dairies *in California* who bleat about their products not having rBST, when it banned by law anyway. another scam to get the gullible "healty" shopper to part with some money

[hinckley buzzard]

There is a historical trend, going back to at least the early twentieth century, of the dropping of the average age of puberty. Probably related to improved nutrition and general health. Puberty used to be about 16.

A second factor may well be cultural. Early exposure to sexual stimuli and stimulation of sexuality in children can contribute to premature onset of puberty. It has been noted in the early maturation of children who experienced pre-pubertal sexual arousal by abusers.

[aruanan]

For a FACT girls were not so well-developed when I was younger.

They just weren't wearing the clothing to emphasize it. Also, if you're talking four decades ago, then many of those girls had been breastfed. Puberty is delayed somewhat in breastfed children.

[Nowhere Man]

A few years ago, I happened to drive by my old highschool (I graduated a LONG time ago). I thought the place had been turned into a junior college. For a FACT girls were not so well-developed when I was younger.

My wife's cousin is 14 y/o. She has often been guessed as 21.

It may not be growth hormones in the food supply, but something is different....

I see what you mean, I graduated high school in 1985 and it seems different to what I remember. Heck, when I see an attractive girl that looks over 18 but later determine that she is like 12 or 13, I do a double take. I feel a bit embarrased to myself, feeling like a "dirty old man" (well I'll be 39, to them I would be old) but you're right, it seems like kids grow up faster not only the world we live in but what we feed them.