Is this normal?

The good old days was when anybody on the street might give you a clip around the ear and say'if you don't behave I'll tell your mum'. And if the local bobby found you up to mischief he would also threaten to call and see your parents ..... he usually knew where you lived to within a door or two..

So you were never a "real" child then

Yes, remember it well, hold both hands out and hit several times with a ruler. We’ve come a long way.