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Original poster

What are your happiest childhood memories?

27 replies

NoEffingWay · 09/10/2022 18:27

I have the most simple but wonderful day with DS. We have been to the garden centre, had lunch there and then bought some plants which we planted together. I have cleaned the house so it's shiny like a new pin, made an easy but nice dinner and DS is now chilling in the bath whilst I sit on MN and have a ginger beer.

It reminded me of the Sundays we would often have as children, with the exception that we would often have a Sunday roast and I don't often bother with one! The joy of not doing much. We didn't have much money but just being together was wonderful.

It's been a tough few years what with a divorce mid-covid but days like today remind me that I have made the right decision. DS is beaming with happiness and I am feeling so positive about life.

OP posts:
GoodVibesHere · 09/10/2022 19:30

That's lovely OP.

I have fond memories of Sunday evenings my dad would always always make me an egg sandwich, I loved it and looked forward to it! Seems such a simple thing!! I think it was the regularity of it, the certainty of it.

Stupidbonfire · 09/10/2022 19:35

Awww what a lovely day. It’s sounds so simple, and safe and content. It’s important to take note and appreciate these quiet moments isn’t it.

i fondly remember Sunday evenings, having a bath and sitting by the open fire drying my hair, while watching the old BBC The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe. Mum would make toast or crumpets with lots of butter for supper.

Original poster
NoEffingWay · 09/10/2022 20:03

I think you are both right about the beauty of simplicity and regularity. I work shifts so sometimes our weekends are punctuated by work, but this has been a rare weekend off.

I work so hard to make our home a nice place to be, but sometimes we don't get to appreciate it. DS was given a few options for today but asked for a nice day at home, so that's what we did-the trip to get sandwiches, cake and plants aside (but he liked that too so that's all good!).

He's just on the right side of pubescence where spending time with his Mum is fun rather than a drag. I can only hope he stays as much fun as he goes through the teen years optimistic!

OP posts:
Neverfullycharged · 09/10/2022 20:06

I used to love Friday nights as my dad would take us swimming and we’d be allowed something from the vending machine - chocolate and sweets always taste better from them!

Going on a long walk with my dad, playing on the park and feeding the ducks on the lake, then home via the pub (with a play area!)

nomistake · 09/10/2022 20:10

I do think its the simple things. The other weekend we had toad in the hole and my 6 yo boy said it was the best day ever. It was cosy, we were all there, no rush to get anywhere or get anything done. Just happy.

Rockingcloggs · 09/10/2022 21:57

Sundays when my dad was on his beat he would iron his blue policeman's shirt using newspaper and then after he went my mum would tip all our Lego on the floor (there was a lot!) and we would just build random things all afternoon. Then my mum, sister & me would all have a bath together and she'd hug us to sleep in her bed! I also used to love when they'd go out to the pub across the road and when they came back my dad would come upstairs smelling of the cold night outside and give me a goodnight kiss calling me his 'matey peeps' and emptying the pockets of his trousers of all the change for me to put in my piggy bank.

Sandsnake · 09/10/2022 22:03

Rockingcloggs · 09/10/2022 21:57

Sundays when my dad was on his beat he would iron his blue policeman's shirt using newspaper and then after he went my mum would tip all our Lego on the floor (there was a lot!) and we would just build random things all afternoon. Then my mum, sister & me would all have a bath together and she'd hug us to sleep in her bed! I also used to love when they'd go out to the pub across the road and when they came back my dad would come upstairs smelling of the cold night outside and give me a goodnight kiss calling me his 'matey peeps' and emptying the pockets of his trousers of all the change for me to put in my piggy bank.

Gosh, I feel warm, cosy and loved just reading your post! Beautifully put - your parents sound terrific.

CoralBells · 09/10/2022 22:12

I have a lovely memory of going to brownie camp and us building a den in the woods and it winning the den building competition. I still love woods. My family were dysfunctional so my memories of family time were tainted by that. I think I'd have had happier family memories if my parents had split like you actually. It would have removed a lot of stress.

Fuckitydoodah · 09/10/2022 22:22

Stupidbonfire · 09/10/2022 19:35

Awww what a lovely day. It’s sounds so simple, and safe and content. It’s important to take note and appreciate these quiet moments isn’t it.

i fondly remember Sunday evenings, having a bath and sitting by the open fire drying my hair, while watching the old BBC The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe. Mum would make toast or crumpets with lots of butter for supper.

I remember doing the same on a Sunday evening. If we were really lucky we'd get to toast the crumpets on the open fire. I also remember a phase of all sitting down to watch Heartbeat and we'd be allowed cheese and biscuits.

Babdoc · 09/10/2022 22:30

My happiest childhood memory was the day I left home to go to university, finally free of my narcissistic emotionally abusive mother and violent father.
I did my best to give my two DDs a happier childhood than I had, but it was difficult while grieving for my lovely DH, who died when they were both still in nappies.
Life is a bugger sometimes.

Dougieowner · 09/10/2022 22:30

On Saturday's mum and us kids would hop on the bus, go shopping in town and afterwards walk to my nan's. My dad would drive over, we would have a family tea before going home.
It is a lovely memory.

HighlandPony · 09/10/2022 22:44

Pre puberty and highschool? Fishing and ferreting with my grandad or curling on the loch when it froze over. Riding ponies bareback and hatless over the fields, swapping the tattieboggles clothes to annoy the farmers. just being a bit feral really.

Highschool years? Boys, raves, parties and trouble. Lord help me I have a daughter.

Whataboutno · 09/10/2022 23:13

My Dad used to put the initial of my name made out of sugar in the readybrek in the mornings. Such a simple thing but I always remember it and it makes me smile!

Dave20 · 09/10/2022 23:29

Early 90s, my mum and dad would occasionally do night shift on the same night ( not the same jobs). We’d get a cab to my nans house where my mum would drop me and my younger brother off to stay the night. Mum would stay in the can and go to work. Only had one car in those day which was quite common then.
At my Nan’s, my brother and I would go to bed but when he was asleep I used to sneak downstairs where my nan would let me stay up a bit later. She’s make me hot chocolate and buttery toast.
It was our secret, I never told my brother or mum and dad !
Simple times , but happy times!

BalonzIsASurreyName · 10/10/2022 03:01

@CoralBells i relate. Childhood was painful for me but did have the odd nice memory here and there . And I adored my guinea pigs

BalonzIsASurreyName · 10/10/2022 04:07

Babdoc · 09/10/2022 22:30

My happiest childhood memory was the day I left home to go to university, finally free of my narcissistic emotionally abusive mother and violent father.
I did my best to give my two DDs a happier childhood than I had, but it was difficult while grieving for my lovely DH, who died when they were both still in nappies.
Life is a bugger sometimes.

@Babdoc 💐

CoralBells · 10/10/2022 08:17

Babdoc · 09/10/2022 22:30

My happiest childhood memory was the day I left home to go to university, finally free of my narcissistic emotionally abusive mother and violent father.
I did my best to give my two DDs a happier childhood than I had, but it was difficult while grieving for my lovely DH, who died when they were both still in nappies.
Life is a bugger sometimes.

I'm a widow too, although my dds were 11 and 13. My dh was exceptionally lovely too. My parents are still alive. It's so unfair isn't it, to grow up in an unhappy family, but to then make your own happy family with a lovely man and kids, only to have the injustice of losing your dh far too young.

Babdoc · 10/10/2022 08:53

I’m sorry to hear that, CoralBells. In some ways, that is worse, as your DC will remember their dad and know exactly what they have lost. My DDs have only photos, and no direct memories. I think I still succeeded in giving them a better childhood than mine - at least they know they were loved unconditionally, and even if I was too grieving to be able to be much of a spontaneous “fun mummy”, I took them on all the holidays and outings I knew DH would have wanted for them.
He taught me what love is, and I will always be grateful for that.

mamabear715 · 10/10/2022 09:03

Another widow here, @Babdoc & @CoralBells but weren't we lucky to be LOVED?
So many happy memories of childhood too. I could fill a thread on my own. I'm so sorry for those who didn't have that, & I hope you are creating it now, with your own children.
@NoEffingWay your DS sounds gorgeous!
My kids have been lovely through their teens, too, so I can't see you having problems as he gets older. Kids know when they are loved unconditionally & when their parent(s) have time for them.. nothing to rebel against!
I too think simplicity is key. So disappointing when you've saved to go somewhere like Alton Towers & it falls flat - but a walk in the woods, 'discovering' - is free & wonderful!

ElectedOnThursday · 10/10/2022 09:07

When my sister would play her guitar and sing to me, also when we had matching skirts 😂 I felt so happy. I liked playing with my brothers and sisters and I loved when it was someone’s birthday, it was so exciting to have a party and cake.

ChrisPriss · 10/10/2022 09:08

Any memories that did not involve my parents

DesMoulinsRouge · 10/10/2022 09:15

Urgh I still get the Sunday angst when I hear the antiques roadshow music!

I used to like Friday night/Saturday morning if my mum and dad went out. I loved the girl who babysat us and in the morning my mum's glamorous going out handbag was always downstairs and I used to play with it (and put her high heels on).

I liked it when my dad came back from working away as he would always bring a Chinese takeaway home with him and give me some of his chips!

SeptemberSon · 10/10/2022 09:20

None of my favourite memories really include my parents. Although I was very loved, I don't remember them playing with me or engaging with me much. However, I did grow up in that era of going out to play first thing and not coming back til tea time, so many of my favourite memories are about building dens in the woods, playing 'Block', climbing trees, making up dance routines and all that good wholesome stuff.

LT2 · 10/10/2022 09:27

That's so lovely, OP.🥰

Some of my best childhood memories (1990s-2000s) are of being at home - playing in the garden, playing with our dog and her puppies (it was amazing to watch her give birth when I was 7), going down the slide, making 'soup' or perfume from things in the garden😄
Friday nights were always exciting- we'd always have treats - a chocolate or sweets and rent a family film from the Choices store.
Christmas, my parents always made special - we'd all open our stockings on mum and dad's bed. I'd get simple, useful things like a toothbrush - it was exciting no matter what it was, because it came from Father Christmas.
💕

fortifiedwithtea · 10/10/2022 09:33

Happiest memory. I was 4 years old going on holiday with parents, grandparents and uncle. Self catering. On the way , stopped for lunch in a pub. My dad and uncle found 2 gorgeous black kittens still with blue eyes abandoned in the car park. They knocked on doors, nobody owned them but a family did take in one of the kittens. Leaving us with the most amazing ball of fluff.

The kitten became my childhood friend. She was so loving. I was devastated at 16 when she died in a cattery. Ironic we found her on holiday and lost her on holiday as well.