cadet
Patron
My daughter and son have both mentioned that neither really had any problems or issues with growing up in the Cadet Org. They were kids, and it was largely "fun". It was only when they each were forced into joining the Sea Org at about age 14 that things started downhill.
Telling your parents that the Cadet Org was terrible and did irreparable harm to you, is a very difficult thing for any of us raised in that environment to actually say.
Take it from someone who has told their parents; "I am totally fine with the fact that you put me in the cadet org, it made me strong and independent, blah, blah blah"
It was not "fun". It was an abomination that no sane person would inflict on their children and dismissing it as harmless good fun after the fact is asinine to anyone who actually had to live through it and now has to live with it.