Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Did you "go for a drive" when you were a kid?

197 replies

Allthereindeersaregirls · 17/05/2021 14:09

I was reminded of this the other day, when a friend said she was taking the kids "for a drive" to get out of the house. I'd not heard of anyone doing it since I was a kid (80s) and I don't remember anyone else doing it then.

Mum and dad would bundle us in to the car and we'd go for a drive - just that. No purpose (that I can discern), not a drive to get somewhere, not even an ice cream. We'd just drive around for a bit then go home.

Were my parents nuts?

OP posts:
Tickledtrout · 18/05/2021 15:05

It became a thing over lockdown here for my teenage kids. Didn't get out of the car; just sat in the car, listening to whatever on their headphones, whilst DH drove to get something from the local supermarket or whatever.

TurquoiseDragon · 18/05/2021 15:07

Didn't do this with parents, but my ex would insist on doing this, even before dc, so it wasn't just because they were bored.

Yes, scenery is pretty, but I used to get so bored, he'd not even bother talking "because I'm driving" and would then insist on dc being quiet too.

I took my crochet along in the end, kids would grab a book or electronics. Ex would then complain we weren't looking at the scenery. Couldn't win. And he'd never bother stopping for drinks or anything.

So glad he's not around, when dc and I are out in the car we have a laugh and stop if we feel like it.

Purplekitchen · 18/05/2021 15:15

I have happy memories when I was a child in the seventies of helping my dad wash the car and then we would go for a ride it in to dry it off. Smile

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
MrsCatE · 18/05/2021 15:26

Oh God yes, the horror . . . Usually involved driving to somewhere like Bishops Avenue or Virginia Waters so the parents could ogle the houses. Torture for me because I had to sit in the middle of the back seat - flanked by my two older brothers who would delight in pinching / poking me. When I asked why we couldn’t take turns to sit in the middle the response was I the shortest and Dad would find it difficult to use the rear view mirror otherwise. Absolute effing balls and still makes me angry.

Cookerhood · 18/05/2021 15:28

Yes, we did in the 60s & 70s. If we had visitors they would be taken for a drive too. We also used to go to the top of Speedbird House at Heathrow to watch the planes!

willowtree66 · 18/05/2021 16:22

Yes, we did this on a Sunday after lunch. My dad wore his flat cap and driving gloves. I seem to remember driving along random country lanes and not doing anything particularly exciting. Now, one of my dogs gets very excited when I pick up the car keys and insists on sitting in the passenger seat behind me, looking out of the window, even for a short trip to the shops!!

Coffeeandcake36 · 18/05/2021 17:09

I thought it was just us Grin it started mostly in lockdown when the weather was bad and we needed to break up the day, we would chuck the kids in the car put some music on and drive just to get some peace!!

ChubbyMsSunshine · 18/05/2021 17:19

@billybagpuss

We did, I once remember we had to wait for ages down a country lane as a stoat was trying to put an egg up a wall, it was pretty cool and the only time I’ve ever seen a stoat.

But all the other ‘drives’ we very boring although we did occasionally stop for an ice cream.

This made me laugh. Just the thought of that being not only the highlight of one of your family drives but also (presumably) many many years later being your highlight summary of said drives.

I love things like this, it makes me smile. Thank you for brightening my daySmile

ChubbyMsSunshine · 18/05/2021 17:20

@Janaih

Browsing b and q was a huge treat. If we were really good we were allowed to ring one doorbell each Grin
GrinGrinGrinGrin Love this! The innocence of what constitutes a treat!
ChubbyMsSunshine · 18/05/2021 17:21

We used to do this too.

My dad indulged us once and we chased a rainbow for ages....he really hyped it up that we were getting closer Smile

KurtWilde · 18/05/2021 17:23

We used to do it all the time growing up, now I do if with my lot. Love setting off on an adventure Smile

tobee · 18/05/2021 21:04

I used to do this with my dc when they were young to fill in time sometimes. I used to call it A Magical Mystery Tour. They weren't ever very impressed.

UpSlyDown · 18/05/2021 21:09

I don’t want to to be that guy but those who even nowadays with all the info about global warming and the impact of cars do you not feel a bit guilty about going for a random unnecessary drive?

GOODCAT · 18/05/2021 21:15

No, never 70s kid

Chunkymenrock · 18/05/2021 21:16

I agree. It's really irresponsible to do this nowadays, for no reason.

KurtWilde · 18/05/2021 21:18

@UpSlyDown no. not at all. We don't fly abroad so why shouldn't we enjoy some time showing our DC some sights of the country we live in?

feellikeanalien · 18/05/2021 21:32

My DM used to love taking us for a drive on a Saturday (growing up in the 70s). Dad worked at weekends so she would take me, my sister and brother. Sometimes we went to the seaside, sometimes to the country.

Mum kept on doing this (although usually with Dad once he retired or with a friend) until she stopped driving at the age of 87 although by then the drive was usually to the local park or garden centre.

I love taking DD for a drive although we usually combine it with lunch or going for a walk. I just love seeing the lovely countryside and exploring new places. We live in a beautiful rural area with some wonderful coast and countryside nearby.

Newnormal99 · 18/05/2021 21:37

@IliveonCoffee

My dad used to do same day courier work some evenings/nights for (I presume) extra money. I used to love when this coincided with a non-school night, as I'd be allowed to tag along in the van. This usually meant being out till the early hours, pick and mix at a service station when that was a thing, and a particularly memorable spring roll from a Chinese in Birmingham (I have no idea where... or why it sticks in the mind). Just a really long drive for me, but obviously had a purpose for my dad.

My dad would also take us on 'magical mystery tours' where we followed the nose of the car. I mean he knew where he was going, but it was always a surprise when we got there.

But I don't think we ever really went for a drive for the drive.

As an adult, I enjoy driving, so occasionally if I'm very bored, and the partners decided to have a nap, ill go for a drive, pick up a coffee and pootle around until a phone call asking where I've got to.

My dad used to man stalls at a trade show and would take me in the holidays. Usually to Harrogate. We lived down south.

I remember lying down sleeping on the back seat of the car on the way home and also getting food from a really isolated snack van on the Yorkshire moors. (I think - I do sometimes wonder if that's a figment of my imagination!)

Newnormal99 · 18/05/2021 21:39

@EssentialHummus

Not exactly, but pre-covid I used to take toddler DD on an exciting trip to Pets @ Home on the Old Kent Road to look at the guinea pigs etc. Occasionally we’d follow up with a visit to Old McDonalds, where sadly they’d always just have run out of hamburgers and chips but they did always have bags of fruit.

I’m being disparaging but tbh that’s about my standard of parenting and I own it Wink.

I used to take my two to IKEA to sit on all the furniture displays and finish it up with a 50p hot dog!
Puttingouthefirewithgasoline · 18/05/2021 22:32

@Cookerhood

Hilarious, my dm did this too!

She took dB polish in laws to do see the Heathrow planes 😂🤣, no English.
Sil said after they thought she was utterly mad and couldn't understand it they were scared.

(better however than her trip to them, when the only place they took her in the depths of polish countryside was the graves of the or dead from thee war 😐).

Mustbemagic · 18/05/2021 22:39

Often on a Sunday afternoon Dad would give us a piece of paper and ask us to write a long list of the words left / right down - then we would get in the car and follow the directions!

MerylSqueak · 18/05/2021 22:43

My dad used to do this. I had always assumed that it was because he didn't know what to do with us on weekends after my parents were divorced. Perhaps not!

You do see a lot of, 'going for a drive,' in glamorous'60s movies, don't you? Maybe that's it, although I had always assumed it was a kind of short hand for sex.

I suppose I don't like going for a drive much!

jobsagudden · 18/05/2021 22:44

I was talking about this with DH at the weekend. I asked him if he remembered going out for a 'drive' when he was a kid.

DM and DF used to take us out on a Sunday for a drive in the country! I used to love it can't imagine doing it with my DD's they'd be kicking off left right and centre.

PeterPomegranate · 18/05/2021 22:45

@ArosGartref

Lol, maybe you were very well behaved. I think that was a last resort for my parents on a rainy day. We also went to B&Q to "browse" a lot.

Perhaps with the prevalence of iPad etc it's easier to keep kids occupied.

Ha! My sister and I would play with the doorbells at the DIY store. Simpler times.
EmpressSuiko · 18/05/2021 23:09

My parents did this with my in the 90s and 00s. I used to love it! We’d just see where the car would take us 😂