When you where little
By Gabs
@gabs8513 (48686)
United Kingdom
January 23, 2010 4:34pm CST
I was just in the Kitchen, making up my Hot water Bottle to put in my bed so it is warm when I go and I made myself a Hot Chocolate, while I am standing there shivering I was thinking back to when I was a little Girl, to how my Grandmother used to dress me when it was Winter and the Winters then where cold and lots of snow
Then it used to make me mad, as my Grandmother used to put on me a vest, a T-shirt, 2 Jumpers, these horrible itchy woolen tights that I used to scream when she put them on as I hated them, I never screamed for long though as my Leg would have a red Hand print where I got smacked which hurt, or a clip round the ear, and then a pair of trousers, then came the big heavy winter coat which would be 2 sizes bigger so it would fit over the rest of clothes and then the scarf woolly Hat and Gloves, I felt like Michigan Man and found it hard to walk. When I got to School I would go in the Toilet and remove one of the Jumpers and the horrible tights, put them in my School Bag and put them back on before going home, I was born with Chronic Bronchitis, so yes keep me warm, but goodness, I mean all that could be seen of me was my nose and eyes, the thing was, I was wasting my time complaining as my Grandmother would not take no and she was more stubborn then me and I always came of worse if I argued so I gave up on that one
So how did your Parent/Grandparents use to dress you in the Winter
9 people like this
23 responses
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
23 Jan 10
Awww, that reminds me of the movie "Christmas Story" when the mom dressed her youngest son up in all these clothes. He could barely walk, and if he fell down, he couldn't get back up, haha. I'm sure she felt she was doing the right thing, as we all did when we had kids. Yeh, the good old days when you got a smack if you didn't listen, but it worked then. Now you can't even look cross-eyed at your kids without someone yelling abuse. I think it kept kids more in line, not like today, where they're running around like maniacs. Of course I don't mean anything like a beating, but a good smack usually clears things up. I'm probably going to get alot of flack on this one.
4 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45487)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
23 Jan 10
Not from me... but then, I didn't have kids (my choice).
4 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
23 Jan 10
No Kash you will not as you are so right with saying that
My Children now and again had a slap on the Legs there is no harm, not very often as they where not bad Children at all, but now and again, it always worked and never did any harm
Anyone starts and you will have us backing you
Lol that is how I felt like that little Boy, and every time I see the Film it reminds me of me lol
4 people like this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
23 Jan 10
Randy was Ralphie's little brother....I'm losing it. I had to go look it up..duh.
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45487)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
23 Jan 10
My mom made sure I was dressed warmly but nothing like you (or Ralphie's little brother in the movie A Christmas Story). When it was extra cold, she would put Nivea cream on my face for added protection.
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45487)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
23 Jan 10
BTW, why was it your grandmother who dressed you?
3 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
23 Jan 10
hi gabs well it seems our moms or grandmom in your case had much the same idea. I would be so stuffed into so many layers of clothes then the coat,the mittens and snow cap, and I could barely walk. I also took off half the stuff at school and did the same thing. Also when it got spring I would bring ankle socks and push my long handled underwear up above my knees then off with the long stockings and on with the anklets. then reverse the process before I went home. one time my mom caught me with the anklet at school and after that if it was warm enough I got to wear anklets instead of those scratchy long stockings. boy I had forgotten those days.
3 people like this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
24 Jan 10
To be honest i don't remember anything about it so must not have been a big seal for them. Your grandmother must have loved u an awful lot to have dopne that even tho u hated it she was just trying to keep u warm.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
24 Jan 10
I'm sure i wouldn't have liked it either. Knowing me i would have gotten in trouble knowing my big mouth, lol.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
30 Jan 10
Thank u so much for the best response. Happy sunday to u.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
24 Jan 10
Hey gabs! Yes, I do remember having to wear so much clothes
that I couldn't walk either! My mother would also make me wear
tons of clothes too! I also used to get Chronic Bronchitis and
was sick alot when I was a child too! In those days we weren't
allowed to wear pants to school so I had to wear tights and
leggings which did make it very difficult to walk! And we
did have to walk to school! It was miserable! I remember how
much I hated being all bundled up like that too!
2 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 10
Lol Leslie I know it was awful but for the best I suppose and looking back now it was quite funny
I used to walk to School as well till I got a Bike then I would cycle to School I used to love it but I loved my Roller Skates more lol, but was not allowed to skate to School, no matter how much I begged the answer was no 
@sanjana_aslam (4187)
• Malaysia
24 Jan 10
hi gabs, my grandparents were not the types to enjoy "making up" grandchildren. but my mother was.. i remember my mother like to dress me in "spagetthi straps" when i was young but what i don understand now is why at age 6 i was so concious ~ until to day i dont use any sleeveless attires" ~
6 was the age i gave up being shirtless in the house, i used to run around in panties only until 6 ~ the weather in my country is so hot everyday .. its worst than summer there .. we bath at least twice in cold water
cheers
2 people like this
@indonesiain (47)
• Indonesia
24 Jan 10
Hai everyone...
Maybe i have a litle different lifestyle in my Country Origin, i'm from Indonesia that have only 2 type of wheather, Rainy and Summer. So i didn't know how the fill like Winter, Snow, etc...
Thanks for great discussion..
2 people like this
@nannacroc (4049)
•
24 Jan 10
About the same,gabs. I wasn't well as a child and my parents were of the older generation, e.g. they were grandparents before I was born. I was the same as you and often had clothes stuffed in my school bag.
1 person likes this
@nannacroc (4049)
•
24 Jan 10
Did you do the rolling up of the skirt as you got to the teenage stage?
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
25 Jan 10
I remember layers of clothes too. One thing that we often wore to keep our feet warm was plastic bread bags over our socks. That kept the warm in and the wet off our feet too. When my kids were little I did the same thing for them. They were thankful that their toes didn't get cold. Some of their friends thought it odd, but when they came to our house and I gave the bread bags too, they thought different.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
24 Jan 10
Cant remeber all that but am sure I was dressed warm.
I seem to remeber some stupid long socks that would always fall down and they were an ugly color.
Also think I had some kind of under shirt.
not sure on that one.
always rubber boots to wadein the snow. and I was always out in it.
But I doi remember that I couolld move ok had to to slide and throw snowballs and of course run!
1 person likes this
@kayrod2 (1304)
• Australia
26 Jan 10
Wow, you poor thing. I think i would of ended up cutting them up or something. I can understand why you took them off at school. We never had it as cold as you. I am so glad of that. I hated rugging up. My mum never made me wear things that i didnt want to. I did have some daggy things though when i look back at photos though. I simpathise with the itchy tights. I had a jumper like that which was made for me. I couldnt stand it. I hardly wore it, but i felt bad cause my mum made it. I remember when my eldest was young and she used to go to her nanna's place on her dads side (whom i had split with when she was little). Her nanna would buy her clothes to wear there and they were all lacey. she hated it, but couldnt say anything. Best wishes to you.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
24 Jan 10
Hi, gabs8513. My grandmother made sure that I was warm during the winter time. I had this soft pink and white coat. It was very warm inside. I had an arm muffler. I called it that.
I would place both of my hands in it to keep warm. It was very warm inside when I did this. I had this coat for a very long time. I always wondered what happened to it. My grandmother made sure that I was dressed warm and that I had plenty of clothes that I needed. She took care of me after my mom passed away. So, I was in her care until I grew into an adult. I don't think that I had to wear any uncomfortable clothes that made me feel like a bear.. But, for church I had this long light gray coat. I did not like it because it was old fashioned looking. I have always wanted to get rid of this coat, but I could not. I had no choice but to wear it. I did get rid of it when I got older. I always wanted an more up to date coat from an name brand coat store. Like Burlington Coat Factory.. And the strangest thing about it now is that I don't still have an coat of my own choice to wear..
I would place both of my hands in it to keep warm. It was very warm inside when I did this. I had this coat for a very long time. I always wondered what happened to it. My grandmother made sure that I was dressed warm and that I had plenty of clothes that I needed. She took care of me after my mom passed away. So, I was in her care until I grew into an adult. I don't think that I had to wear any uncomfortable clothes that made me feel like a bear.. But, for church I had this long light gray coat. I did not like it because it was old fashioned looking. I have always wanted to get rid of this coat, but I could not. I had no choice but to wear it. I did get rid of it when I got older. I always wanted an more up to date coat from an name brand coat store. Like Burlington Coat Factory.. And the strangest thing about it now is that I don't still have an coat of my own choice to wear..2 people like this
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
24 Jan 10
I also live/d in a cold climate, and had to walk a mile to school in the winter time, so it was an undershirt, a top, a sweater, flannel lined pants or winter weight tights, snow pants, coat, boots, hat, scarf, mittens, heavy socks...not in that order lol.
Thank God, no wool, as I was and still am allergic to it!
But yes, we walked outdoors with stiff arms and legs all winter long.2 people like this
@Intra_Trader (241)
•
24 Jan 10
I Put 3 Pairs Of Socks, Sleeping Warm Trousers and Shirt... Of Course-in The Room is Electric Heater.
2 people like this
@Alexandria37 (5717)
• Ireland
24 Jan 10
Oh gabs, you too! You have just brought back some fond memories to me. My mum was very ill when I was young so I had to spend practically all of my school holidays with my grandparents and my gran treated me just the same as yours treated you. However, I didn't really mind staying with her as she fed me well and she also gave me lots of treats. I just wish I wind the clock back to the good old days.
1 person likes this
@royal52gens (5488)
• United States
24 Jan 10
I don't really remember being dressed differently. I wore what ever was appropriate for the time of the year and the area I lived in. I still do. I am sure your grandmother was just trying to keep you healthy. It was her way of letting you know you were loved and valuable.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
24 Jan 10
I live in Texas and I have pix of decorating the Christmas tree in shorts, I also have pix of riding a Christmas bike in a heavy winter coat and scarf and gloves.
That's just Texas for you.
Or, on January 8th, the high for the day was 35º F, for January 15th, it was 55º F and on January 22nd, it was 75º - just to show you what a few days can mean in this crazy state! (tonight its 54º at midnight the 23rd)
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
24 Jan 10
We also had those heavy wool snow pants.....when we would go outside we would have to put them on...and when we came in mom dried them on a heater and they would stink! The wool had an unusual smell when it was heated! We also had heavy handmade mittens...scarves....etc.
1 person likes this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
24 Jan 10
I don't really remember having to get really bundled up in the winter time. It got pretty cold in the winters where I grew up too. I know I had a hat that I hated putting on because it made my hair look stupid the rest of the day at school, but I did not have to put on a bunch of layers.
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
24 Jan 10
I don't remember, I do know that when we went to school all girls had to wear dresses or skirts, no pants allowed, this meant our legs were always cold. I can also remember the feel of wool against my skin and how it smelled and how I hated it, but I have no mental picture of the offending garment. Old age I guess.
1 person likes this
