It’s that time of week when another blogger is going to be sharing their childhood memories. This week’s Remembering Childhood comes from Jules at Pondering Parenthood.

Which decade were you born in?

The 1980s. Decade of Margaret Thatcher, the walkman and Ford Escorts.

What is your earliest memory? How old were you?

I think my earliest memory was when I was around four years old. It was my uncle’s wedding and I was a bridesmaid. Strangely, I have no recollection of the bride or the wedding itself, but I do vividly remember my grandmother being helped down a set of steps to a wedding car. It’s funny the things that stick in the mind! I think I must have been worrying that she might fall (she didn’t, thankfully!).

What was your favourite toy at 5 years old? At 10?

At age five, I definitely remember having a red plastic Snoopy lunchbox, in which I kept my prized collection of Neigbours cards! I remember my friend’s mum picking me up from school and she would always take me and my friend to the shop on the way home, to choose some sweets. I always politely declined the sweets but asked for a packet of Neighbours cards instead! I’m still a Neighbours fan now, nearly thirty years on!

At age ten, I think my favourite toy was probably my Disco Barbie; her hair went all the way down to her ankles. I vividly remember spending hours plaiting and styling her hair, and changing her outfit over and over again!

Do you still have any toys from your childhood?

I think most of my childhood toys are stored away in the loft at my parents’ house. I’m sure my mum will start producing them soon for Little M to play with!

Who was your favourite pop group/artist as a teenager?

It depends on when during my teens you ask! I had quite eclectic taste. I think I flitted between Lit, Greenday, Coldplay and was quite obsessed with listening to the Top 40 on the radio.

What was your favourite TV show(s)?

I think I was definitely of the Friends generation. I’m actually quite disappointed that they don’t still show the reruns on Channel 4. They never failed to make me laugh and great for cheering me up when I had nothing better to do!

What was the first film you remember seeing at the cinema?

My parents strongly dislike going to the cinema (I have no idea why, probably the thought of spending money!) so it was a VERY big deal when mum took me to see The Flintstones movie at the cinema. It’s just a shame the film wasn’t that great, or perhaps it was because the anticipation was so huge, it was bound to be an anticlimax regardless!

Do you have any dodgy haircut/ outfit memories that you’d rather forget?

Doesn’t everyone?! I have a tiny forehead and some idiot hairdresser thought it would be a good idea to indulge me when I said that I wanted a fringe. I ended up with this huge mop on my forehead with a centre parting as I had to get it out of my eyes somehow! Couple that with round, gold-rimmed glasses (it was the 90s!) and a set of train tracks and there you have it, the ultimate awkward teenager!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I was determined that I would be a barrister. I loved the idea of being in a courtroom and generally putting people in their place with my sharp questioning and biting remarks! Then reality set in and I decided that would be too much trouble and I’d actually rather do a psychology degree instead. I ended up as a primary school teacher!

If you could go back to being a child again what age would you choose and why?

The teenage years were rough for me so I wouldn’t want to go back to any age before them to be honest, as I wouldn’t want to have to live through them again! I’m much happier in my own skin as an adult. Being a thirty-something is pretty awesome. If I had to choose, though, I’d say probably being around nine years old and having difficulty sourcing daisies for my daisy chain as my biggest problem in life!

 

Thanks for sharing your memories Jules – I love the idea of you turning down sweets for Neighbours cards!

If you enjoyed this post then please do come back next week when another blogger will be remembering their childhood. You can also read all the other posts in the series here.