I have been working through my book 52 Lists for Happiness and one of the lists that is included is to list things that made me happy as a child. It’s a great exercise to make lists and it is even better to remember childhood memories that made me happy.
Here’s the start of my list which I hope will grow over time.
- My teddy bear Wuzzy. Confidante, snuggler and holder of secrets.
- Birthday celebrations made incredibly special by my mom who went all out to make our days memorable.
- Lighting the candles in the church on Christmas Eve and also having communion at home between services with my Daddy at home with our family.
- Practicing singing in the side yard with my sissy “The Hills Are Alive” from The Sound of Music. (Side note- our ring tones for each other on our iPhones is that exact song.)
- Putting on plays and commercials for family and friends.
- Going to meetings with my daddy and sharing a box of Chicken in a Biscuit crackers.
- Vacations and camping trips.
- All of our cats including the most memorable ones Peek, Tigger, Junior, Pumpernickel, Amaryllis, and Johnathan.
- Church potlucks and time with good church folk who loved me.
- Trips to the library in North Fairfield and time with the librarian Mrs. Chandler.
- Spending time alone at my Grandma and Grandpa’s farm in the summer with no other siblings.
- Jello salad with mandarin oranges.
So how about you? What would make your childhood list of things that made you happy? Share one or two in the comments. Only two more days to Comment for a Cause for the Dementia Society of America. Each comment during the month means a 50 cent donation.
25 Comments
Leave a commentAw, that’s such a fun thing to do. Absolutely love that your and your sisters ring tones are the song you sang together! I remember when “Chicken in a Biscuit (Biskit?)” crackers first became available in our area. My grandmother LOVED them!
I think I’ll start composing my list of things that made me smile in my childhood!
(Still haven’t read your tribute to Buddy….have to prepare myself for that one. You’re still in my thoughts, there, my friend.)
You are correct—it was Biskit! I think my auto correct kicked in on that. Please make your list. It was such a fun thing to remember some of those things that made me so happy then and obviously still make me happy. Thanks for your sweet words and thoughts. We are hanging in there.
My dad making us ‘sails’ to use when the lake froze clear without snow. We’d roll them up, two sticks with heavy duty plastic between, and skate way out on the lake, then unroll them and the wind blew us home.
Climbing trees to almost the very top and swaying in the breeze.
Bringing mom flowers from the woods, and her putting them in a juice glass on the kitchen windowsill.
LOVE those memories. Wasn’t this a great prompt? It made me think for sure and realize just how many wonderful memories I have.
Wow! One of mine is my week at Grandmother and Grandaddys! Grinding catnip to put in tiny paper bags for 10 cents which I then got to spend! Trying on her costume jewelry, finally climbing the tree over the driveway so I could drop grass clippings on Grandaddy as he came home!!
Oh Kathy – I absolutely love those memories. Isn’t a great thing that we have such great memories to recall ? I love the image of you dropping grass clippings on your Grandaddy! 🙂
This was fun to read, I will be making a list of memories too.
It was fun!!! I would love to read yours!!!
Yep, I remember those crackers too. And another kind of cracker called Vegetable Thins, which prompts one of those happy childhood moments. My aunt and uncle lived two doors down and one day I decided to go visit auntie without telling my mom (I was around 4 at the time). Auntie welcomed me in, gave me Vegetable Thin crackers, and let my mom know I was there. The special treat outweighed the scolding I got from Mom. 😉
Yes!!! Vegetable Thins!!! I remember those as well and that comment just took me back about 50 + years! I love your story and I am sure that whenever you think about it it makes you smile.
It’s one of my favorite memories of my aunt. 🙂
That’s a great list. I loved riding bike along paved and gravel roads and in the yard and through the grove. I also treasure all those gatherings with extended family.
Great memories as well, Audrey. Bike rides were part of my life as well but in our small towns and not on the farm. It’s fun to remember all of those things, isn’t it?
My partial listh
Throwing the ball up on the house roof and catching it when it rolled down.
Dressing Butterball, one of the cats, in doll clothes – though after she had kittens she didn’t let me do that any more!
Going to the pasture with my brothers to get the cows
Reading on my perch in the apple tree
Finding new kittens in the hay loft
Oh Joyce–those are lovely memories! I love dressing Butterball up in doll clothes because we did that as well with our cats. 🙂 Not always cooperative and sometimes there were scratches involved but it was fun. thanks for sharing yours!
Chicken in a biscuit… Solid choice!
Right? Do you know what I am talking about? I think they might still make them but not positive.
I love your list! I still have my teddy bear, “Teddy”! I have many happy childhood memories, some the same as yours! But one that makes me feel warm and happy all over is visits to my grandmother’s place in the city. Another is making up stories, often with my aunt, as we played on the farm. CGIT Vesper services were very special as was singing in the choir. Finding a quiet place to read and not be disturbed… The more you think about it, the more memories come to mind. A great exercise. Thanks.
Oh my goodness–i love your memories as well. We are so blessed to have such wonderful memories of our childhoods. Not everyone can say that so I count it a joy to be able to share those with you guys! Thanks for sharing yours.
After talking to many of my friends, I realize that I was indeed blessed to have such a wonderful life growing up. I thank mom all the time and dad too, even though he is not here. xo
I agree. I think we had really great childhoods and not everyone did so I am appreciative as well.
I think the list ideal is a good one. It is hard to pick just one or two. I loved running between my Grandmother and Uncle’s house and my parents. We lived close and had a path between our house and theirs in the woods. I remember some great times. Also one of my most favorite memories is with going to choir practice at our choir director’s house with my Mama.
Oh I love your memories! So many great ones to pul from and they all make me smile Thanks for sharing yours!
I love list posts. May have to steal this one. 🙂
I love list posts too and this one was especially fun for me. Maybe because I have so many great childhood memories to pull from.