What are your favourite memories of childhood

[pbdr]

I have a 20 month old daughter, and like most mums I am absolutely besotted with her, and my life's mission has become to give her the best childhood and life that I possibly can.
I had a happy childhood myself, and certainly am trying to emulate the happiest parts for her, but I am aware that there are lots of different types of happy childhood, and plenty of people's fondest memories of childhood will be things that I didn't experience or wouldn't occur to me. So please let me know what your fondest/happiest memories of childhood are to help me figure out how to give her the loveliest one possible.

Thanks!

Interesting thread OP, I'll be following as I have two young children.

My answers a bit shit but I had a bad childhood so .. but my happiest memories are of Christmas and days out when my parents actually made time for me.

My dad was always at work and my mum had undiagnosed autism so was asleep on the sofa all day everyday so Christmas was nice as we had dinner together, played games, laughed you know the things normal families do.

I don't know if it's like this for every child but I think some of them just like spending time as a family, being valued.

It's definitely something I want to do with my kids.

Most of my best memories are the things I did rather than the things I had. Going various places - I don't mean expensive things either. Things like walks we did regularly, etc.

I also remember stuff that went wrong so I'd also say don't sweat the small stuff and remember to laugh about mistakes.

Every Sunday me and my parents would do a big grocery shop and then have big lunch with rotisserie chicken when we got home. It’s such a little thing, but now my dad’s passed away, I think of that time fondly.

Lots of good things from childhood. Being outdoors a lot on bike rides etc. We lived near a huge forest so blackberry picking etc. Also day trips into london to go to museums etc. My kids are a bit older but they love an adventure and it doesn't need to cost money..... swimming in the river etc. Not having to rush to be anywhere I think is really appreciated. I think we're all on this treadmill now of trying to tick things off to make memories, but a sunny day and just enjoying time and space together without stress is much more appreciated by them.

My mum has young onset dementia, and when I’m missing her, I go back to those Sundays in my mind.

We always went to church in the morning (I’m aware that’s not for everyone, I haven’t been for years) and then to supermarket where we got lunch … lunch was always French bread with salady bits and a muller yoghurt … then we’d go for a walk, or go to my grandparents (lived a mile away) … when we got home sister & I would play with barbie dolls, do homework, mum would be cleaning the house with music on stereo, and would always cook a proper tea. Sundays will always be associated with the smell of polish, tumble dried school uniforms, ironing, and roast dinners. We always got proper pudding on Sunday too. Then we’d watch whatever was on BBC1 (in the days of only having 4 channels), mum would put Heartbeat on and we’d get a bath and sent to bed.

Also Friday nights - I’d walk round to my granny’s from primary school with an handful of others who lived on the same street, and my mum would meet us there. I’d be given a magazine (P6/7 it was usually something like Mizz, once I hit secondary school I was - reluctantly - allowed to read Bliss, and Sugar - but More with its sex tips was always banned!!) and a yorkie and a can of Diet Coke. Sister and I were allowed to sit in the lounge with sky TV - we used to watch cbbc/music channels and wish we were allowed to call in and choose a song (in the days that they had a rolling banner at the bottom of song titles that you could phone up to request). Could hear my mum, granny and grandad in the kitchen watching Deal or No Deal. Granny and Granda are both now passed away too sadly.

The other thing that always stands out was years and years ago - my granny had 5 vhs tapes for us to watch but we weren’t allowed to borrow them, when she went in holiday once my mum took us to her house (we lived on the same street at the time) and put on the jungle book … and had my sister and I crawling on all fours down the corridor as the elephant march did .. mum in the front. That must have been 28 odd years ago but it still makes me laugh now.

We had a chaotic time - various things were happening so life was difficult … and we never had money really, it wasn’t fancy stuff, but it was so safe and so ‘home’ and so comforting that whenever I can feel the tears building up now I just go back to that in my mind. I think what I’m trying to say is it’s not what you do, it’s not money or massive treats or expensive holidays but how much love there is (without sounding too soppy) that makes the difference, if you see what I mean.

My favourite memories are definitely the simple stuff: playing chase games in the back lane with other kids, exploring the nearby valley with my best friend. Lazy summer days making home made lemonade or ice lollies.

I remember once my parents hired a tiny caravan in a field for a holiday - very basic, and the farmer's wife was complaining that one of her sheep had given birth to two spastic lambs and they wouldn't feed. My sister and I begged to feed them, so we gave the bottles of milk and they grew strong and did learn to walk. The farmer's wife said that she had decided to keep them now - she'd been going to kill them as she hadn't had time to hand rear them so she was glad we had taken on the job. By the end of the holiday they came up to our caravan and head butted the door for us to get up and make their milk bottles. I loved every minute.

I also loved any rituals. Things like decorating the tree and hanging up stockings at Christmas or carving out lanterns at Halloween. Or my mum baking a cake because it was Sunday. My dad and I would lay a real fire and we'd have cake on Sunday afternoons and watch whatever BBC costume drama was on.

Enjoyed days out with our dad and my brother. I have fond memories of going to a park and having 'funny faces' ice cream. Going with mum to a hamburger joint (don't eat meat now) after a hospital visi8t. I felt so grown up and they played Coz I Luv U by Slade!

I did NOT enjoy going to a Christmas fayre in Cheesemans in Lewisham with my Nan cos she made me go in a Dalek and I was such a ninny I thought I would exterminate everyone.

Mum buying us a kitten from a petshoip (I know!). Even though Dad then refused to speak to her for about 2 weeks afterwards! He went on to be so soppy over the cat!

Our holiday (only in UK but still...)

Dad buying me a 'gonk' on holiday and a fake fur (bright orange!) rug on a day trip to Eastbourne.

A trip to a museum where I got a rag doll mum had to sew up.

My little brother coming into the world (even though I wanted a sister called Sarah!)

Bike riding with brother or friend.

Going to our local park which had ducks in it.

Going to classical concerts with My Aunt,

Christmas time!

Mum's cooking!

Should also say going round to my Nan's who always over fed us but there was always an 'atmosphere; between my Nan and her mum!

Going out for the day to the beach or beauty spot.

We always took a picnic and - other than petrol - there was no cost unless we went to one particular beach where, if we were lucky, we would have an ice lolly and a ride on the swing boats.

Climbing stuff. Still love doing it. Not in any proper sporty way. When my dd was little I would be happy helping her on climbing frames and stuff. Miss having the excuse to go on them

She's on holiday with her boyfriend just now. She's sent me photos of them clambering over rocks.

At one point we live 2 miles from the beach in rural Scotland. School holidays, packing sandwiches , crisps and squash and riding our bikes down there with mum to paddle and dig in the sand all day.

Caravan trips with my cousins and exploring in nature, being allowed to stay up late sometimes as a treat under a blanket with tea and toast and movie

I didn't have the happiest of childhoods due to an emotionally abusive and narcissistic mother, but I have happy memories spent on days out with my dad ( it was a break from my mum), and other extended families, mostly all now sadly passed.

Camping in France.

Cooking Sunday dinner with my dad
Losing a day or a week in a book or making a model

My mum and how utterly safe and loved she made me feel. She was a single Mum in the 70s, 3 of us. Looking back she would not have had a lot of money but we never went without, always well dressed, well fed and had a lovely time at Christmas. As a child, I had a recurring nightmare, I’d be in the hallway of our house and I’d open the front door and there’d be a scary skeleton. It chased me down the hall and I had to get to my Mum in the sitting room. She was always there and to escape the skeleton (Mr Boney), I had to get behind my mum in her armchair. I always did. I also remember snuggling into her as a small child. Also, I’m rambling now sorry, as a little girl I loved Miss World. It was always on quite late but she always let me stay up late and we’d watch it together.
She was just the best. She died in 2013 and I miss her terribly.

Lots of small things.

Birthday cakes for birthdays (we didn't have parties). The whole family singing Happy Birthday to the birthday boy or girl. Blowing out the candles and making a wish.

New clothes for Easter. Getting Easter eggs from Mam and Dad (we didn't do the Easter Bunny). Eating lots of chocolate. Making towers with the empty boxes.

Playing out with our friends all day in summer. We'd head out after breakfast and only come home when we were called in for dinner. Or called in for bed. We spent hours riding bikes, skating on our roller skates, skipping, playing tennis or playing ball games (where you throw tennis balls against a wall and chant rhymes), playing chasing or hide and seek or bulldog or red rover. When the horse show was on TV (Dublin) we'd make 'jumps' using milk crates and a plank and time each other running around the 'course'. You lost points if you knocked over the plank. Making fake nails by sticking fuchsia leaves on top of our own fingernails with spit.

Holidays were always in Ireland and mostly involved a caravan. The excitement of living in a miniature house and having foldaway beds! The freedom of wandering the caravan site and having easy access to a beach. The joy of the amusements. I think we went to Butlins twice during my childhood and we thought we were in paradise - a swimming pool, a roller rink and unlimited access to the amusements. Bringing home sticks of rock as presents.

Days out at Dublin Zoo (Dad always saying, "There's your relatives". at the monkey house) or the beach. We'd bring sandwiches and a bottle of Club Orange and buy chips and tea from one of the many vendors.

Hallowe'en and the excitement of putting together a costume (the shops didn't sell costumes back then) and knocking on doors for treats. Watching the fireworks and checking out the bonfires. Bobbing for apples and trying to extract coins from apples that were hanging from a string. Dad trying to open the bigger nuts with a hammer and the nuts flying everywhere.

I didn't enjoy school much but I loved doing arts and crafts. At Hallowe'en we'd make witches' hats or decorations to hang in the window. At Christmas we'd make paper chains or home made wrapping paper with potato prints or other decorations. And the last day of school before Christmas or the summer holidays when we'd have a little party and the excitement was sooo intense.

Christmas and the excitement of Santa. We'd move our dining table into the sitting room for the Christmas period and eat our meals there - I'm not quite sure why, but it made our meals extra special. Playing with our new toys, reading our annuals and playing board games as a family. Coloring books and new paint sets.

Having a roast dinner on Sunday followed by apple tart and cream or maybe an ice cream float in the summer - we thought the latter was ever so exotic . Strawberries in summer.

Playing at home with my siblings. Sliding down the stairs or making up tents with sheets and chairs etc.

I was a girl guide and we met once a week in a big hall. We played lots of games and in the summer we went for hikes and went camping etc.

Your mum sounds amazing. That's the relationship I wish I'd had with my mum. She's trying to make up for it now but it's too little too late and I'm damaged inside. I wish I'd had a mum that was caring, warm and loving like yours instead of aggressive and scary. Thanks for your lovely memories, it gives me hope that my own kids will have similar memories to yours in the years to come.

Going on days out - didn't get holidays, so it was things like school or Brownies trips, mostly.

Sitting in my grandparents' bedroom with the sweet peas GD grew for GM under the window giving off their scent, looking through the sparkling clean window to a sea of forget-me-nots and playing with the things she had on her dressing table - a silver hairbrush, sparkly perfume bottles, a powder puff - and trying on her hats.

Helping polish their furniture and brass - the scent of beeswax and Brasso.

The smell of lavender on the linens.

Being taught basic embroidery at infant school by an older lady and her choosing a pattern that was of all the flowers I liked.

Your DD will benefit from scent being part of her memories.

Something that springs to mind for me, which probably isn’t the safest option 🤣 but having fires outside, wether we were camping or just my parents having a fire in the garden with friends over, I absolutely loved it. Also just camping and going to lochs, beaches and things.

I always loved being around my mum and dads friends and kids because we had so much fun, this is one thing I worry about with my kids as I don’t have many friends at all 🥴 and none with kids my one’s ages. I feel like I’m going to have to work extra hard to make things super fun.

also If you drive i recommend you invest in a caravan, we had so much fun growing up with it, and my mum and dad still have one that my 2 year old absolutely loves, we borrow it and go to caravan parks with beaches and parks, and take his scooter and bike and he is honestly just so happy. We’re going away next week and he is the most excited little boy ever, also it’s so cheap compared to anything else. When he is a bit older we will start going camping too.

Eating cheese and apples sat in front of the telly watching the Generation Game.

Friday after school, watching Blockbusters waiting for chips for tea.

Food and telly seem to feature frequently!

I had a very happy childhood. Things that I remember best are small things like the game my mum would play when we dressed the beds (she was Mrs. Mulcahy and I was Mrs. Murphy), the stories, my dad playing with us and bringing us to the park. Every saturday morning they'd make a big breakfast and bring it upstairs on a tray and we'd all pile into their bed to eat it (of course we grew out of this age about 11 and refused to do it anymore). The time we were on holidays and my dad had to go back for a day and we had cakes for dinner.

On christmas day the rule was you couldn't ask permission for anything. So if we forgot and asked if we could have a chocolate, for example, my mum would pretend to get cross with us.

They were lovely parents and even better grandparents. My kids each have a drawerful of notes and letters, some really funny, from granny and grandad.

Biking to visit relatives with my Grandad every Sunday, he always wore Old Spice aftershave . Pickling onions with my Dad on our backdoor step .
Enjoying watching Saturday night TV together - Generation Game , The Two Ronnies, Starsky and Hutch .

Our annual train journey to Cornwall in a compartment train - so different and stress - free in comparison to modern journeys.
Lovely thread op x

Fishing for sticklebacks in the stream with friends

My space hopper!

Watching Champion the Wonder Horse in the school summer holidays

The day my dad took me canoeing

Fishing tiny newly-hatched brown shubunkins out of our pond and keeping them in a tank in the dining room until they developed their patterned colours.