Clare's upbringing was in a strict, but loving Catholic household: She was sent to good local Catholic schools throughout her formative years; found lifelong friends through their local parish Youth Groups; and her parents encouraged her to succeed in all her schoolwork. Yet there were 'gaps' in her ability to recognise Real Life cues in relationships. As a result, Clare ended up marrying her first 'real' boyfriend who took her virginity despite him knowing she had wanted to wait... Clare's ideas of who might be a 'good' husband was based on her own father - but both of her parents were teenagers in the 1950s and 60s. They were both raised to think of 'Sex Outside of Marriage', and especially those resulting in pregnancies as Shameful. Yet, it was simply carrying on what seemed to be a family tradition.