Friday Flashback ~ my childhood home

This week’s Friday Flashback prompt is meant to jog our memories and get us thinking about our childhood homes, but because I’m busy today and getting ready to head out for a weekend trip to TN, I’m going to answer each question (or at least as many as I’m able) right IN the prompt.

Where did you live when you were growing up? In a house or an apartment? A mobile home or a duplex? The first year of my life was spent in an apartment (or 2 or 3).  But, when I was 1 year old, my parents built a ranch house and I spent the next 20 years of my life there!

Did your parents rent or own? Own

Was it big or small?  It was your average 70’s ranch-style home. Probably small, by today’s standards – since everyone has to build huge homes these days. But there was plenty of space for the 3 of us – and later my 2 brothers.  It was a 3-bedroom, 1-bath home.  We later built a 4th bedroom and 2nd bathroom in the basement (along with a large family room)

In a city, small town, or rural area? In a small  town in central PA.

In the USA or another country? Definitely the US.

Did you have your own room or share with siblings? Thanks to being an only child for 15 years, and for eventually getting two younger brothers, I always had my own room!

Did you have a say in how your room was painted/decorated? Yes, for sure.  It was usually “decorated” with clothes on the floor and lots and lots of books!

Did your folks update/redecorate periodically or was your house "stuck" in a certain decade? That house went through a lot of changes and updates over the years; but one thing remained a constant – the 70’s green appliances in the kitchen.

Did you have a yard? A swingset or other play areas? Yes, we had about an acre. It was built on a hill, which was a great advantage for sledding in the winter months.  I did have a swingset and spent a lot of time on it in my early years.

What was your neighborhood like? Were there lots of kids to play with? It was on a back street in this town, and was a relatively quiet place.  Unlike the street I live along today, it was safe to go out walking and biking and you’d see very little traffic. There were a few kids over the years that I spent time playing with.  One girl, in particular, spent a lot of time playing Barbie’s with me.  I often wonder what happened to her.  I should look for her on FB!

Did your family stay in one place or did you move? If so, how many times did you move by the time you graduated from high school? Did you like moving or long to stay in one place? As mentioned above, I stayed in that house for 20 years.  Same house, same town, until I got married . . .

Are your parents still in the home you grew up in (or at least the one you lived in when you graduated from high school) or did they move and you haven't lived with them in their latest house? Does it feel like home? My parents stayed in that house until my  youngest brother graduated from high school and went off to college.  Then, they bought a new house right up the street from where we live.  It’s another small town in central PA, about a 1/2 hour from the town I grew up in.  It’s where my mom’s family roots are.  At first, I was very resistant to their selling “my” house and moving.  But, we spend a lot of time with my parents and their new house seems like home now too.  At first, we actually considered buying my childhood home and moving back there; sometimes I wish we would have – but I’m really glad to have my parents close by and developing great relationships with my kids.

What were your favorite and least favorite things about your physical home? In 1985, my parents bought a waterbed and added a 4th bedroom in the basement, which they moved into. At that time, I inherited the master bedroom upstairs – complete with 2 closets and tons of space.  I loved that bedroom and having it all to myself.  LOTS of closet space – which I would love to have now!

How similar or different is it to where you live now? My home has pretty much nothing in common with the house I grew up in.  It’s an older home (built in 1929), and it’s a 2-story.  Aside from the fact that it’s a 3-bedroom (we’ve added a 4th in the attic) and has the laundry in the basement, I can’t  think of much else that is similar to my childhood home.

*I wish I had pictures to share.  I’d have to dig them out and scan them though and don’t have the time today.  Maybe later . . .