Summer always reminds me of my childhood. I grew up in a small Texas town where you knew your neighbors, and downtown was a large courthouse surrounded by shops on a square. You could walk across town to a friend's house, and your mom didn't worry. We spent a good portion of my childhood living in a 2 bedroom bungalow that had belonged to my great great grandmother. If it wasn't raining or snowing, we were playing outside under the apricot tree. Many GI Joes got blown up and buried there with the occassional black cats that were left over from the 4th of July. We spent days climbing the tree and eating every apricot we came across, whether they were ripe or not. (No wonder I can't stand to eat them to this day!) We picked blackberries off the thorny bush that was nestled against the old garage that held treasures from when my great great grandmother owned a hotel in Arkansas. My mom rarely had enough berries left when we were done to make jam. We crushed the berries from the mulberry tree to make paint. We always dried clothes on the line, and when it wasn't laundry day you could find us swinging from the rusty metal poles that held the lines up. We didn't have central heat and air, so the back door and the windows were always open. My mom knew when one of us came in, because you could hear the screen door slam shut behind us. We didn't have to bother her, because she kept a pitcher of kool-aid in the fridge. We didn't get sodas unless we were at Grandma's house. Saturdays were cleaning day, and unless you wanted to help, you were out the door right after breakfast and back home by dark. It amazes me that my mom didn't know where we were half the time, but she knew we always stuck together. Even with as poor as we were, I couldn't have asked for a better childhood. Yes, it sucked at times, especially during the winter when you still had to get your clothes off the line and they were frozen stiff or when you had to wear hand me downs, but it was worth it because it made me who I am. My husband still doesn't understand it some times, but I hope my boys' childhood will be remembered by them just as fondly, even if they have a lot more stuff.
I really liked this post! I love to read how people turn some types of adversity into positive reflections. My childhood was a "when it rains it pours" kind of situation. My dad was a logger and when we had money, we ate like kings, but...when we had no money (which was often) mom got super creative. Regardless, money or not, my childhood was amazing. Thanks for inspiring my own little trip down memory lane. :)
ReplyDeleteI moved around a lot as a kid, but my favorite place to live was a small town outside San Antonio, and your post reminds me of what it was like to live there. We biked all over the place when we were just first and second graders! We stayed outside till the street lights came on, playing freeze tag and catching fireflies. My special place was under a big palm tree. We drank Kool-Aid too (sodas were too expensive and so was McDonald's!). But this all served me well, too. Thanks for the reminders of what makes a childhood a good one.
ReplyDeleteI was also allowed - or encouraged - to spend the entire day outside and not at home. We had to come running home when we heard the dinner bell, and later by the time the street light (yes, there was only one) turned on. Things weren't any safer back then. A few of my friends ran into exactly the kind of dark trouble that parents today fear. So, it's a mixed bag. And standards change. Nice, caring neighbors would call the authorities if I pushed my kids out the door the way my parents did to me.
ReplyDeleteMindy, I remember eating some creative dinners when all my mom had was a couple of dollars. Fortunately, we had my grandparents and aunts to help.
ReplyDeleteDreamfarm Girl, my mom called that time when street lights came on "dark thirty". Don't ask me why, but that's when we had to be home too. And I haven't seen a firefly in years.
Straight Guy, I know things weren't any safer then, but we stayed together, which is why I think my mom didn't have a problem with us leaving the yard. I have a problem letting my 6 year old go across the street without me, and he's not allowed to play in the front without an adult watching. Maybe I should lighten up a little. :)
Oh, sweetie...this is such an endearing post! And it sounds like you had a fabulous childhood! It's a lot less about the material things and a lot more about the love, don't you think? Sounds like you got plenty of what you needed...and I'll bet you'll pass that on to your boys as well.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful memories. Those hardships and simple life are what make us who we are today. I felt a lot of your childhood....loved the mulberry trees at my grandmother's house.
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss this post? I know I am behind, but gezz.
ReplyDeleteI loved this post! I love hearing about how things were for normal folks. My parents weren't normal. No going to friends houses or playing anywhere else put in the back yard (if we had a back yard at the time), we moved a lot! My parents kept us in most of the time, unless either mom or dad was with us. They weren't concerned for our physical saftey, they were worried people would inform us that they were wrong. Boy did that back fire on them with all of us kids.
Kathryn, I can only try to convince my boys of the wonders of the outside world. Maybe I'll just unplug the TV and see how far we get.
ReplyDeleteSuziCate, glad you can relate. Sometimes I really think simple is better.
Heather, for some reason I'm not surprised by this, from other posts you've written. What's that saying? The road to hell is paved with good intentions? lol