Flashback Friday - Writing Your Story One Week at a Time

 

I’ve had fun reminiscing about life as I share these write your story prompts with you each week. Don’t forget how important it is to make some sort of notes about these stories in your life, because if you don’t, the generations that come behind you will be missing personal family history notes that are so fascinating! I know I wish I would have asked my grandparents about the question I’m posing today. I would have loved hearing the answer!

            Today’s prompt is to write about your favorite toy(s) or game(s) from your childhood.

·         What toys or games did you play with most often, and what was it about them that made those items your go-to choice?

·         Did you play alone or with siblings? Friends?

·         Was there some toy you JUST had to have and you finally got it? What was that like?

·         Was there a toy you always wanted and never got?

·         Were your toys new or hand-me-downs from older siblings or cousins?

·         Do you still have these toys? Did you keep them for your children and grandchildren?

I had many beloved toys as a child, but the one that popped into my mind first? Barbies. Most of my Barbies had belonged to my older sisters, and they became mine by default when I was old enough to play with them. I remember one in particular that had short, bobbed hair and a much more realistic figure than most Barbies. I don’t know if she was a different brand or if Barbies changed from back in the day, but that one always fascinated me because it was so different.

My mom had also made clothing for my sisters’ Barbies, so I had a whole doll-closet full of one-of-a-kind clothing. (I have a much greater appreciation for that now that I realize how intricate that work would have been! I can’t sew. It’s impressive when people can!

When I was little, my parents had a black leather couch in the basement that had a full-length ottoman. I’ve never seen anything like it since. The ottoman was crafted like a bench – fully open underneath its top. In the summertime, when it was so hot outside, I would set up my Barbie compound in the basement, turning that ottoman into a giant house. The first floor of the house was the floor of the basement, and the second floor was the top of the ottoman. As I began to collect accessories, I would set them up around the “house” and spend hours creating stories for them and making those stories come to life.

I did have the hot pink car and a couple of full furniture sets. I had the Barbie 6:00 news set, which was pretty cool, and I had the pool set. The pool was a little sad because the sides always collapsed in and wouldn’t hold over about an inch of water.

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Though they were not in the Barbie family, I did have the Heart Family – Mom, Dad, and twins. Did any of you have those? When Mom gave me all my old toys, I think the Heart Family was the only nod to my Barbie love that I kept.

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I know the whole Barbie world can be controversial, but I will say that I spent hundreds of hours lost in imaginative play with those dolls, so they were good investments in our family.

How about you? Favorite toy?