Hellobee Boards

So I have two. The first was that when I was little we used to live like 2.5 hrs from the Gulf Coast, and my dad used to take me and my three older brothers to the beach like one weekend a month. We'd camp in a tent and dad would make chili and hot chocolate (in a separate pot, obviously) over a campfire (thinking back it was probably pre-made and reheated). There were these big dunes that we used to climb, and my brothers would put on goggles and roll down them (I wasn't allowed).

The other also involves my dad. He used to work the night shift at the newspaper, so we didn't see him much during the day. He'd get out a few hours early on Friday nights, though, and would come home with a snack (popcorn or Popsicles or something), wake up me and the boys (it would be like 2a) and we'd all huddle in the living room and watch a movie (I remember The Three Stooges more than once).

@mrbee: Ha sorry, I didn't feel like trying to type it on my phone! I added it to the original post

@mrbee: Well, we were sort of a non-typical situation. My parents were separated off and on for a few years before they divorced, and then for too many reasons to recount here my dad got full custody of us and I saw my mom maybe once or twice a year until I was in the 7th grade, and then maybe once every two years (we moved to a different state). It was a messy situation, but even when they were still married my mom wasn't there....physically or emotionally. I honestly have maybe two memories of her at all from before the divorce, and neither is good. I have lots of memories of my dad, not just because he was our solo custodian, but because he was present and went out of his way to be present, even before the separation and divorce. The beach photo? They were still married, but my mom chose to stay home....every time.

Christmas and summers in Minnesota with my grandparents. Grandpa would take us sledding in the winter (he stayed in the car while we went sledding, but he was the one that got us there) and for walks at the nature reserve near town. He would sit and watch us catch frogs and turtles for ever! He had this idea about what childhood should be like, and that included lots of playing outside, lots of toys and lots of dessert.