What was your favorite family past time as a child?
By tjades
@tjades (3591)
Jamaica
April 24, 2008 1:54am CST
I used to love it when we all gathered around as my father told one story after another. Both mom and dad would teach us songs and games from their childhood.
Those were just heavenly times. There were times when they would come out in the yard and play bat and ball or baseall with us. On beautifuul moonshine nights we would maybe play moonshine games or be treated to more story telling.
I think these are great ways of passing on family values without being too parenty and stiff if you know what I mean. Sometimes some vital aspects of life can be brought across as a lecture and dont we all just hate to be lectured to? Great setting for a rebellion as far as I am concerned.
DO share. What was your favorite family past time as a child? Do you do the same with your children now?
8 people like this
17 responses
@AnakSuNamun (2084)
• United States
24 Apr 08
Well,when i was a kid,they used to shut off the electricity pretty oten,and not because we were poor or something,that was the policy in my hometown. I used to love it when we all gathered at the table with soft candle light and told each other stories or played games. Everybody seemed to be so close,I miss those times a lot
1 person likes this
@danzer (2723)
• Philippines
24 Apr 08
You are lucky to have such kind of environment where your parents spend time to telly you fond stories and songs. I don't have that privilege but I do enjoyed being with them in breakfast and dinner.
It's only during the night before bedtime that my mother would tell me a story before bedtime.
1 person likes this
@tjades (3591)
• Jamaica
25 Apr 08
Yes I do believe we where lucky. Even to this day we sit around and have a whale of a time reflecting and laughing about those days.
Sad thing is that if we are not careful we will end up not doing the same for our children. My nephew loves it when I read to him and sing little kiddies songs before he falls asleep. Some nights when he's here I am busy doing something else and he falls asleep without his story. I do feel guilty.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
24 Apr 08
going fishing. My dad and mom would put us kids in the car and take me and my sis and my grandpa to the Black Hills to go fiishing. I would fish and hike and look at wild flowers and watch the deer and the heard of sheep that wassometimes grazing on a hillside and think just how pretty the Black Hills were with the pine and spruce an fir and aspen trees and the meadows fullof wild flowers all red and pink and yellow and blue with blossoms. I caught trout and I caught sunshine and the scent of flowers and the wild mint growing on the Castle creek bank.
@NICKY_FERDIE (147)
• Philippines
25 Apr 08
There were lots of story telling by my grandma when I was a child. but my favorites was just lounging in our lawn and some of my aunts would play badminton. I love running after the grasshoppers and dragonflies. I love catching spiders with my male cousins and gathering the ripe guavas from the nearby fields. Wish I could be that little girl one more time.
@questionsnoanswers (622)
• Canada
25 Apr 08
as a child, my favorite family past time i would have to say is all the times that my family and i went camping every summer at this private like lake.
i love it, had lots of fun with smores, hot rocks, old fashion laundry and cleaning dishes, cooking lol...
brought our family close together, we didnt argue as much in the summers lol its like if you got mad you just went for a swim or walk :p
@agfarm (930)
• United States
24 Apr 08
Dear tjades.....I agree w/ you....my Father used to tell me and my Sister about how his FAther lived on a reservation , and the hardships he ( My Grandfather) had to endure. ( Stories which taught things)
I remember One story , that while my grandfather was really young and working in a Coal-Mine....( I think he was between 11-17 yrs. Old ) He had to Bury his twin sister Livinia , Because as a youngster he was the Only One in the FAmily with Money ( that wasn't primarily used for the FAmily expenses , although he contributed to the whole FAmily ) I can't remember what his sister passed away from. Nobody ever talked about it. But I do know that it was terrible for my Grandfather. He loved his sister.
Fantastic Topic tjades thank you.
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
24 Apr 08
My favorite past time was going fishing with my parents. We used to go to a place that had a little bridge that my parents fished off of and I loved to walk back and forth and watch the fish jump.
My father passed away 3 years ago so now it is a great memory to have. We will be taking my kids fishing this summer to and I hope they enjoy it as much as I did.
@tjades (3591)
• Jamaica
25 Apr 08
Now that is something I have never done. Fishing. I hope to do so some day.
I am sorry to hear of the passing of your father but I can tell from what you have related here that he is still very much alive in your heart. I do hope your kids will enjoy the trip and the experience as well.
@chanchalpal14 (248)
• India
24 Apr 08
You were really very lucky to have such wonderful parents. I was a bit unfortunate in this regard. Even then, I had a wonderful time as a child and teenager, playing and gossiping with my friends and bunking classes, going to movies and after girls also. But at home I was ahem, very serious, quiet and sober, as if I did not know anything.Ha,ha,ha.
@tjades (3591)
• Jamaica
25 Apr 08
Ah ah. Even to this day i find it hard to do one thing outside and behave another way at home. I do have friends though who were in a similar position and that was the only way they got to just let loose and be children Things at home were just too strained for them. I am happy you found an outlet as well.
@littleone3 (2063)
•
24 Apr 08
One of my favourite times as a child had to be on a sunday my mum would be cooking dinner and my dad would get out the record player and play his favourite records. Then me and my sister would dance, we had one that we loved to dance, to which was Bill Haley's Rock around the clock. Now every time i hear that song it reminds me of them sundays.
And yes i still listen to music with my children except its cds now and we will have a dance.
@emmasmomma (340)
• Canada
24 Apr 08
We used to play board games, play catch outside, or go to this big park out in the country! It was great. I try to play catch and go to the park with my daughter, but she's too young for board games! I only hope she'll be able to have fond memories of the time she spent with us when she gets older!
@revellanotvanella (4033)
• United States
24 Apr 08
We always had big picnics during the summer and usually after 'harvest' since I did live on a alfalfa farm and when we finished bailing hay we all pigged out, we were out in the field under the HOT sun all day and it was just a great way to wind down. Our neighbors family and grandkids came over so we got to play late into the evening and the food she brought over was sooo good, nice home cooking, she's originally from Kentucky.
@magrylouyu (1627)
• United States
24 Apr 08
My favorite pass time as a child was playing board games with my parents. Then on a Friday or Saturday night starting when I was 5 we would my dad would shut off the all the lights, blare country and oldies music and turn the Black light on and we would dance the night away until 1 or 2 in the morning. I'm hoping to start this with my children as it was fun for me as a child and it let me make a fool of myself in front of my parents while they were dancing silly with me! I really miss those days.
@tjades (3591)
• Jamaica
25 Apr 08
Oh whoppa to the country music and dancing. My mom used to be a bit stiff but they did have us doing dance offs and then say who can dance the best. Those were great compititions. That sounds like something I would definately adopt in my family as well. Thanks for sharing Magry.
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
24 Apr 08
i just loved playing with my brother and sister. we had so much fun together especially in the summer time when we would go swimming in our pool in the back yard. we would stay in the pool for hours and our hands and feet would be all wrinkled by the time we got out and our teeth sometimes chattering but we had the best times. i miss those carefree days of childhood....
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
6 May 08
Sunday lunches. We ALWAYS got together at our parents place for sunday lunch with my twin sister and three brothers and their children and other halves. Those were the best family pasttimes.
@jc_star10 (953)
• Indonesia
24 Apr 08
My past time as a child will be when my grandmother told us stories after eating dinner. She will told us many stories, even stories when my mom and dad still a child...:) love to see your parents embarrassed sometimes...^__^. But my parents love to hang out with us too after dinner. We laughed and tell jokes, and tell stories. It's really felt like a big one family sit together next to fireplace and felt really warm.
@mishastar (734)
• United States
12 May 08
When i was younger my whole family would go down to the county fair. It would be every summer and we would play carnival games and eat way too much junk food. Now that we are older, our lives have become more time consuming with work and school.
