What did you love about your childhood?

[Rollermum]

I'm staring down at my DD (7 weeks) and panicking (mildly) about not having much in the way of resources to ease her path through life.

But then I thought a happy childhood isn't about stuff really - I hope. What did you love about your childhood?

As an adult I realise that I was so, so fortunate to be born to two parents who loved each other and my DSis unconditionally

As a child, it was the lovely cosy feeling of love and security which surrounded with a warm feeling all the time. I just knew that no matter what my mum would be there for me. This continued until her death at the age of 79. I've really tried to give my DC that wanted and loved feeling too. It was definitely not things, it was time. Time to chat, to laugh, to share, to cuddle and be together. Even now typing this, I have a rosy glow inside me :)

I loved when my mum or dad, or grandparents for that matter, played games with me. I loved being taken to the park. I loved big family gatherings where I saw aunties and uncles and cousins- especially at Christmas. I loved staying at my grandparents and being spoilt by them. Because both mum and dad worked, I remember particularly enjoying it when we were all together- holidays and stuff. I loved snow days from school, when mum would have to have the day off with me and we'd build snowmen and then come in from the cold and get all warm and snuggly and watch tv.

p.s congratulations on your LO too

Chottie and Citrusy thanks and thanks for sharing - that is really lovely.

We didn't have much money and never had family holidays or weekends away, but I loved my childhood. Great memories of playing with my siblings (there were 5 of us) of big family get togethers (at xmas, new year) of spending every saturday afternoon with my dad (my mum's day off :-) going to the shops with him, buying a cake, watching telly. Family dinners on the table at 5 every night (nobody watched telly during mealtimes when I was growing up - even though we had a portable in the kitchen) and my all time favourite was sunday night when we'd all gather and play cards until bedtime - it was great.

And like above, just knowing you were loved, not that I recall my parents saying it much during my childhood, but they didn't have to, it was felt in everything they did.

I also had (by todays standards) a lot of freedom, and have great memories of going on adventures and exploring fields and woodlands and rivers (behind my parents backs of course!)

Even now (my mum was 80 last week) I love spending time with my parents and regret the fact I only get to see them once a month.

I'm sure money helps a good childhood, but you don't need it - I just hope my boys have half as good a childhood as I had.

Playing boardgames with my mum.

I think looking back, the most important thing you can give your child (which I didn't have enough of), is attention and interest.

The fact that you're thinking about how you can do the best for your child is amazing. That will help you look closer at yourself, what you do and actually BE a parent who does the best for their child.

I grew up in a poor household. Best thing about my childhood was my younger brother - we were very close. I remember playing games like dens, climbing trees, going to the park etc... I don't remember many toys!

The love from my parents, and thinking how lucky I was to have them. My mothers perfume when she got ready for a rare night out. Playing outside a lot with my elder sister. We didn't have lots of money, but we always had a lovely christmas and birthdays, lots of food and chocs, and we may have holidayed in a mobile home but I remember those times as the best of them all.

p.s. nice thread!!

Bibbling around with my dad, sitting on the sofa with him and listening to his tummy gurgle waiting for Doctor Who to come on, being pushed around on his motorbike going brmm, brmm.

Following the neighbouring farmer and "helping" to collect the eggs and feed the pigs.

Digging a wide shallow hole in the garden, lining it with polythene and filling it with water on a hot day.

Thanks rrreow I really hope that is the case.

Seems a bit of a consensus - time spent with others, either siblings or parents, and being outside. Thinking about it, that's the sane as my favourite childhood memories too (well that a books ).

Thanks everyone.

My dad reading us bedtime stories. I still have very distinct memories of him reading 'Fantastic Mr Fox' and 'The Hobbit' with all the voices he put on.

As an teen sitting round the kitchen table with my parents and siblings until 3am talking about everything - stories from their past, is there a God, do you believe in life on other planets, ghosts. Lots of laughter.

Time spent together really. I miss those days even though we are still all very close.

My mums absolute unconditional love. She had an awful childhood, truly horrific, and made sure we never felt unloved or unsupported. She's my rock

Sitting on the porch every evening and chatting with all the neighbors was one of my favorite times. I had a great childhood and miss all the fun things like riding the bus to go to dancing school, walking to school with the neighborhood kids, going to the drug store for an ice-cream sundae, buying penny candies from the corner grocery store and sliding down the banister. Good clean fun and wonderful memories.

Aww these are so lovely!

Being read to, especially when we lived in Wales and the garden backed onto Snowdonia National Park. There was a rock on the hillside and I would climb up with my mum and she would read things like Charlie and the Charlie Factory while we watched the sun go down.
And climbing trees full of blossom and wading in streams that were just a bit deeper than wellies were tall.

Hmm, Chocolate factory not Charlie factory (sounds v. dodgy!)

Unconditional love, being given time, bedtime stories, playing cards and other games, lots of time to read books, being close to nature, the extended family and being on my uncle's farm and school.

We didn't have any money either, but I always felt safe.
Playing in the garden with my younger brother, an old dingy took us on many an adventure!
Saturday evenings, football results being read out on the TV and Mum cooking home made chips in the kitchen

Playing scrabble and being taught to play cribbage, gin rummy and brag by my grandad.
Walking with my nan every afternoon with her 6 rescue dogs
Baking fairy cakes with mum on a Sunday afternoon and getting to lick the bowl
Big, noisy family Sunday lunch (I'm eldest of 4) that would then decend into chaos. Mum would squirt the squirty cream straight into our mouths or we would see how many marshmallows we could get in our mouths in one go. I know that it sounds disgusting but was great fun as a kid. We only all get together a couple of times a year now and it's still noisy chaos.

my dad playing with us, making camps, making bows and arrows and running through the fields playing one man and his dog with us all playing the dog

This is lovely

Very true that you remember people and events, not how much money you had spent on you etc

I remember coming in from the snow after making a snowman and mum giving me and my sister hot black currant, it was such a treat and I remember feeling all warm and loved also going on holiday and playing cards as a family.
I'm hoping to re create similar with my daughter.

This thread is making me all gooey, thanks Op. Also proper snorted at the Charlie factory! Ha.

From mine... I remember craving attention Monday-Friday and my mum clearly believing that she shouldn't have to work full time AND do some active parenting when she got home. It was always 'oh you do pick your moments!'. She would be reading a book and watching Tv. I'm hoping to not do that to my DD. On the flipside, my parents made loads of time for us on a Sunday and we would have a great old gossip at the dinner table and be there for hours, it was fabulous.