FMM: Childhood Flashbacks

We had a busy but lovely Easter weekend, complete with visits to both godsons (each of whom live about 45 minutes away from downtown Dallas in pretty much opposite directions).  I have to do a separate post to showcase our big Easter weekend project. 

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Childhood Flashbacks
 

1. Did you have a set bedtime as a child? If so, what was it? Yes, but I don't remember what it was.  I think it was around 8, but I remember in high school it was 10:30, after the local news.  By the time I could drive, I had a curfew but there wasn't any enforced bedtime. 

2. Were you taught to be a member of the “Clean Plate Club?” Did it have affect your eating habits as an adult? Yes, and I think it worked well for me.  If growing up we didn't finish what was on our plate, that was usually okay -- but it meant that we'd get that very same plate at the next meal.  So yes, I remember having pea soup for breakfast.  Ugh.  In general, my mom is a great (and healthy) cook, so if I'd been eating crap and having to clean my plate, that could have been a bad habit, but it worked out well.  I hate waste, and I hate it even more now having been to places in Africa and Asia where people really struggle to have enough to eat, and so I am glad my parents taught me to finish it or save it to eat later.  At restaurants, I get doggie bags.  Sometimes not even for much food -- but if I'm not eating it all, I try to make sure it doesn't end up in the trash. 

3. Share one thing that you were not allowed to do as a child.  I was not allowed to color my hair, even though I really wanted to.  I remember saving babysitting money in 7th grade and being at the drug store with a friend's mom and insisting that I was allowed to buy "Sun In" and then smuggling the bottle into my house and using it. 

4. What is the cheapest gas price you can remember?  I think it was about .94 when I first remember seeing it, but I couldn't say how old I was.  What I remember best was when my best friend in high school, Tracey, who was one year ahead of me in school but about 2 years older, got her car.  I would sometimes pay for gas since she drove me to school and we would go out cruising together.  I remember very clearly the first time we did that and I had $10 for gas.  She was pumping, then I was going in to pay.  I told her to stop when it was around $9.50.  I had wanted to make sure I had enough money for tax.  Haha.  And then I lied to her and told her I'd wanted to buy gum because I didn't want to seem stupid for not knowing there wasn't any additional tax on gas. 

5. What was your favorite thing on the playground?  Probably that thing that looked like a big circle with about 8 railings on it where you could sit and one person would run around the outside and spin everyone.  A merry-go-round?

6. Share one thing that your parents always made you do that you didn’t like doing.  My primary chore growing up was folding laundry, and I hated it.  I had a lot of brothers and I thought folding boys' underpants was disgusting -- and what's funny, is now I still don't really like folding my husband's underwear, but I do it (it's a trade-off, I do laundry, he grocery shops).  But I refuse to match and fold his socks. 

7. Do you remember your first kiss? If so, share the details!  Yes, I was in 9th grade and his name was Jason, and it happened outside the roller rink -- and to my embarrassment, it was witnessed by my parents who were in the line of cars to pick me up. 

8. Did you prefer to play inside or outside?  Either one.  I loved reading, I loved drawing dream home floor plans, I loved looking for prom dresses in magazines.  And of course there were Barbiesm house, puzzles and board games too!  But I had a mess of brothers, so there was always lots of time outside on bikes, playing ball, jumping on a trampoline, or making up various games. 

9. What was your favorite TV show growing up?  I didn't really wach much TV, but we were allowed to watch on Saturday mornings -- I'd say Smurfs.  In terms of non-cartoons, definitely ... blanking on the name.  4 girls who lived in a house together, Jo, Blair, Tootie and one other.  Mrs. something was like the house mother.  I should google it, but I'm sure it will come to me...
UPDATED:  Facts of Life!  I knew I'd remember!  Runners up would be Eight is Enough, Little House on the Prairie, Gilligan's Island and The Waltons.

10. Share one awesome childhood memory.  One time my next youngest brother cut a worm in half and I got really upset (I think my vegetarian sensitivities were already developing) and I started to cry.  That brother was generally a real jerk to me, so I was surprised that he didn't just make fun on me for crying.  Instead he apologized and kissed the worm half.  Ewwww....  I still remember exactly what I was wearing that day, what the yard looked like, which house we lived in, the dirt on his lips and how he looked at me to see if kissing the worm had made me feel better. 

Bonus: Share a picture of yourself as a child.  Digital cameras weren't invented yet, and I don't have anything scanned in here at work.  Sorry!