Packs of cards weren't allowed? I'm always rather amazed by some of the things the more Christian households don't allow. I'm trying to think, but I can't remember many things not allowed in our house. I'm sure there was plenty forbidden to us as well, I just don't remember.
Anyway, some people just have a harder time moving on. For so many people the default thought seems to be regret for the past, not only for their own actions, but for the situations they were placed in that they had no control of. As a result, there is so much anger towards the previous generation. I understand the anger, which is a result of pain. But my thing is always that no matter how angry or upset we are about the past, we can't change it. Holding on to anger at our folks won't magically change their actions in the past. It's over. Better to move on than hold on to it. Our folks were usually trying their best. They made mistakes, just as we are making mistakes now, but they were doing what they thought at the time was best.
That said, I still want Castle Grayskull...
Yeah, cards are associated with gambling, so it was a big nope. We used to not go out to eat or go to the store on Sunday either. I agree with you though, our parents were just trying to do their best. That's the way I look at it. I definitely have regrets about some things and I often find myself letting them live in my head, but I push past it. My neighbor had all the cool toys, but he also had a pretty broken home, so it wasn't even a contest.