What makes for an idyllic childhood?
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Anonymous
| Finding a chocolate cake in the pantry and eating it all. |
Anonymous
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There are things you can't control. My friend got cancer when her daughters were 3 and 5.
My friend's husband got laid off and then got a new job that involved a lot of travel. Another friend had their house broken into and the robber took a crap on their DD's dollhouse before stealing tons of stuff. During a hurricane when I was little a tree broke and slammed through our roof and into our bedrooms. My dad happened to be out of town for work, and my mom, brother and I slept in the car overnight while my mom tried to handle everything (pre cell phone, pre internet). You can't control everything. |
Anonymous
+1, my kids and I would agree to that but find it in the fridge... lucky they haven't figured out I freeze some and eat it when they are sleeping. |
Anonymous
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We prioritized:
Siblings Frequent get togethers with local, extended family House in a nice, quiet, safe tree lined neighborhood with lots of kids Close in suburb to cut down on DH’s commute and time spent in traffic Relaxed pace of life with SAHM, no daycare Lots of family time; weekly movie night, game night, nightly dinners together Family hobbies: skiing and hiking Frequent travel and new experiences Lots of holiday traditions |
Anonymous
I think this poster is due for some tree crashing or robber taking a crap! |
Anonymous
Why being so mean?! I am a NP and I love the list. The only thing that I would add is modeling a loving and a respectful relationship between parents. |
Anonymous
Stability is one element, but certainly not the only. Lots of children have stable childhoods and yet they don’t go anywhere or do anything or have any small little childhood adventures. |
Anonymous
? Most of this list seems idyllic to me... |
Anonymous
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Playing games and doing puzzles with family (I still like doing those things, so perhaps not all kids would be into it)
Eating outside (like BBQ in the summer, because it was special and not the norm) Sleeping in fun places (like building a fort in the den and having a sleepover in it) Themed parties (doll teas, fashion shows, etc.) Playing outside in different places (i.e. taking vacations to areas that aren't like where you live, so rivers, lakes, forests, whatever is different from your backyard) |
Anonymous
| I grew up in the PACNW and I spent so much time outside exploring. Picking wild berries, paddling kayaks and canoes on lakes and in ponds, thinking we “discovered” hiking trails that, of course, were well known to our parents. To me, all that outdoor time is what makes a childhood idyllic. Oh, and being able to get away from our parents. |
Anonymous
| No whispered background tension about money, finances, health, parent discord. |
Anonymous
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I disagree that growing up near family is necessary for an idyllic childhood.
Aside from having sane, stable, and loving parents who provided for us, growing up in an area surrounded by natural beauty with lots of time outdoors made my childhood idyllic. I spent summers sailing and swimming, ice hockey on frozen ponds in the winter, and hiking and biking nearly year round. My parents had a core of very close friends/“chosen family” that provided wonderful extended family-type relationships. Aside from my wonderful parents and siblings, it was the opportunities to be in and explore nature that made my childhood idyllic. |
Anonymous
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We all have different definitions of idyllic. For me idyllic childhood means...
Mom and Dad that love each other (no divorce or broken family) Living in a suburb/town with a great sense of community. Think lots of annual town events to look forward to. Friends that live in your neighborhood and time/space to play with them outside. Good schools Family dinners every night House decorated for the holidays Church on Sunday Being involved in a sport or some other after school activity A mom that bakes with you and lets you lick the bowl |
Anonymous
that poster is obviously jealous. Honestly, it was probably the mention of a "close in suburb" and "SAHM" that triggered it. Those things combined with "frequent travel" means they have $$$. |
Anonymous
| A nice fifty fifty custody schedule. |