FMM: Childhood Flashbacks

Read my answers, answer the questions yourself, post them on Kenlie's blog www.alltheweigh.com  PS. Kenlie, I really liked this particular FMM topic.

1. Did you have a set bedtime as a child?  If so, what was it?
I did.  It varied based on my edge, but it was always earlier than any of my friends.  We (my brother and I) also had to be in the house earlier than anyone else.  I remember complaining about that - coming in from hide and seek - but I don't think I argued the bedtime very often.  I like my sleep and I loved reading in bed (or straining to watch my parent's tv shows like Melrose Place from down the hallway).

2. Were you taught to be a member of the “Clean Plate Club?”
I was actually taught the opposite by my home daycare provider much to the chagrin of my parents, although they ultimately respected and supported this most of the time.  I was taught by my daycare provider to always leave something on your plate so your host does not think you are still hungry.  My parents taught me I didn't have to like everything but I had to try a bite of everything - there were very few meals I struggled to eat.  I was even a vegetarian for a number of years because I was picky about meat (veins, fat, grisle, etc.) so I learned to love lots of veggies early on.  I also had a family that ate homecooked meals, at the dinner table, together, every single night!  My parents also believed that as the adults they were responsible for providing one meal option- eat it or go hungry the rest of the night.
Did it have affect your eating habits as an adult? 
I still leave stuff on my plate as a habit most of the time.  I try a variety of foods (squab, sea urchin, conch, oxtail, shark, crocodile, etc.) and still follow the at least one bite rule ie. I don't like broccoli, but I eat at least one just in case my tongue has changed its mind.  I am much happier eating veggies than protein.  I prefer to eat at the dinner table with Chris - this happens most days if we are home together.

3. Share one thing that you were not allowed to do as a child.
Lots of things: stay outside late, go to friends' houses if my parents did not know their parents, play in the woods (I did anyway), argue back more than once on any topic, miss church, etc.

4. What is the cheapest gas price (in litres) you can remember? 
As a kid I have no idea why gas prices used to interest me, but they did.  Maybe because we travelled by car a lot to visit family and I lvoed the whole road trip thing singing along to Solid Gold cassette tapes of motown music given away by the gas stations with a fill up (they also gave away Winnie the Pooh books and coffee mugs among other things).  I also remember clearly having a conversation about how to read the gas price of 74.6 cents and how that is the same as $0.746 and wouldn't it be interesting if gas prices used the dollar slot because it wouldn't fit on the sign.

5. What was your favorite thing on the playground? 
I could swing on the swings forever, but the coolest thing at our small town playground I don't even know the name of so I will describe it.  It was like a merry-go-round in that it went around in a circle.  It was made out of wood planks and held at least 20 kids.  Several friends would sit on the benches or stand on the support beams.  Several friends would then hold on to the support beams and run around fast in a circle pushing the contraption.  When you couldn't keep up with the momentum you hoisted yourself onto it and hung on for dear life while it spun itself to a stop.  It was also cool to hang on and let it drag you through the sand.  It was kind of like this, but massive and painted bright yellow...

6. Share one thing that your parents always made you do that you didn’t like doing. 
My mom made us go to church.  I always wanted to stay home and play with my friends.  I'm glad she made us go now.

7. Do you remember your first kiss?  If so, share the details! 
I'm sure I was kissed when I was younger.  My mom tells a story of me coming home from kindergarten in hysterical tears because Scottie called me a "bag of chips".  Mom didn't get it and I thought it was an insult because neither of us had heard of the expression "she's all that and a bag of chips"!  So, my first boyfriend kiss was in grade 10.  I was avoiding it forever and one day he just got me by complete surprise after the bell rang for class.  I was pressed up against the stairway wall and it was sloppy and gross upon first impression.  It broke the ice though and got better from there.

8. Did you prefer to play inside or outside? 
As a child I remember liking indoor play better - My Little Pony and Barbie with my friends.  I also loved board games.  I was a quiet and independent child so I could entertain myself for hours in the house.  My parents liked me to have a balance of outdoor time too - very little tv watching in my house - so I also loved playing with the neighbourhood kids afterschool and after dinner.  We lived on a cul de sac and no one had fences so we had about 15 backyards, a quiet street, and a courtyard circle to play tag and hide and seek on.  We even played baseball in the church parking lot and rollerbladed in the mdeical centre parking lot.  My friends also lived close enough (within 2km) that we cycled everywhere together.

9. What was your favorite TV show growing up? 
I liked TGIF on ABC - Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, etc.  This was the bulk of my tv watching for the week.  When I got older I loved Touched by an Angel and Beverly Hills 90210.  Saved by the Bell was my only after school tv watching before I was sent outside.

10. Share one awesome childhood memory. 
Two of my girlfriends and I borrowed my mom's laundry bucket to collect clay from the creek.  We were threatened with our lives that we better not return without her favourite bucket.  Needless to say at some point it drifted away from us and we had to chase it for quite some time, both on the creek bank and in the freezing cold, "leech infested in our mind" creek for quite some time.  We brought the bucket back, but not much clay.  It was quite the adventure.

Bonus: Share a picture of yourself as a child. 

Me and my brother outside the house we grew up in.

Me in ballet class.