When you were a kid
@GardenGerty (160663)
United States
May 18, 2019 3:32pm CST
When you were a kid did you ever get to play outside in the summer rain? Hubby said "no" that would be no fun and all you would get would be wet clothes. We did. Maybe once or twice in the summer we were allowed to play in the rain.
I know mom and dad made sure there was no thunder or lightening as that could be dangerous.
It was a chance to cool off, but the water was not icy cold like from the hose. I am from the south, and I was not old enough or well off enough financially, to go swim a lot. Hubby was from the north and his family made trips to the lakes all around them.
Today we had thunderstorms, but the birds played out in the rain. They flew and fed. They sang.They fought each other for the choicest places to sit.
What did you do when you were a kid?
24 people like this
24 responses
@Bensen32 (27610)
• United States
18 May 19
Most of my preteens and teen years I lived about a block from the lake so we went there all the time. It was free and the water was cold but we loved it. If it rain we would go out and play in the rain, a little water wont hurt you. Of course as you say if it was lightning out we would find something else to do where we were indoors. We rode bikes, skateboarded. We were always outside, not like kids today who seem afraid of the day light.
4 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
19 May 19
I biked and skateboarded too!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
19 May 19
Hubby grew up near lakes and creeks. The boys hunted and everyone fished. The family had a "deer camp" with a sauna as well. Yes, we spent hours outside, not in. Unless we were reading. Also a fun thing to do.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
19 May 19
We would collect bottles and sell for change when I was a kid. I was born after the Great Depression but we still did not have money for things. Sometimes not for meals. That is why I love food.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
18 May 19
Rain was something to welcome during hot summers in the Philippines so yes we played in the rain just like most kids we even biked in the rain lol except during times when I stayed with Grandma and my aunts cause I was not allowed to go outside to play.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
20 May 19
So you probably did not enjoy those visits. Biking in the rain on pavement can be slippery, I hope you were okay.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
23 May 19
@louievill You had riches in your childhood because of both the play and the learning.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
21 May 19
@GardenGerty I did enjoy staying with Grandma and my aunts but at a different level, this was where I learned to paint and draw and to read good books. My aunts never married so I was pampered with a lot of good things and money for being a good boy lol!
My rough alter ego when I was in our own house did not care much about risks, guess all kids are, we all had the confidence of youth that made us think we were invincible besides we heal faster when we got bruised and cut.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106226)
• Marion, Ohio
19 May 19
We played in the rain a lot. I still love to be out in a nice summer shower.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
19 May 19
It felt great, and feels great. I am not a fan of umbrellas. I had rather get wet.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
20 May 19
@wolfgirl569 Sounds like me. Why bother?
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106226)
• Marion, Ohio
19 May 19
@GardenGerty I dont think we even have an umbrella around. I wouldnt use it if we did, even in a cold rain.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79833)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 May 19
I did not play out in the rain but in the summer afterward, I made sure to go through all of the mud puddles everywhere much to my mom's dismay.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
19 May 19
We had a ditch with the run off. We would fish for tadpoles in it.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67085)
• United States
19 May 19
We always played in the rain, especially in the summer. Though we also had a sprinkler, and pool at home to play in, as well as beaches and ponds to go swimming at. We also played all those fun games of red light green light, red rover, tag, and ding dong ditch. Plus rode bikes, rollerbladed, skateboarded, played hop skotch, etc. We were very active and stuff.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
20 May 19
@Courtlynn One think I used to not realize, with all the parents working, it is not safe for kids to play outside. . . they might get snatched.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
19 May 19
Yes. I grew up in two different neighborhoods. We were always outside playing one game or another. It was great. We used our imaginations and our bodies.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67085)
• United States
19 May 19
@GardenGerty yup. Wish parents had their kids doing that now. But cant force them.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
19 May 19
We loved playing in the fields and hollows in the rain. Swimming in the rain was a lot of fun too. Getting all muddy was the best! I need to squish my bare toes into the mud and muck again sometime.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
19 May 19
One of my earliest memories, my grandma came to visit. She let me play in the hose in the back yard. I made a mud hole, she thought it was grand. She probably was there due to my mom having a miscarriage. That seems to have been the only times grandma came to our house. I loved the attention, though.
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
18 May 19
i played'n the rain, too, 's most oft 'twas gentle mountain showers. 'round where i live now, ya don't go outdoors coz there's almost always lightnin'. i grew'p'n the mountains 'n did any 'n e'erything i could :) the forest 'twas my playground 'n the critters their intrigued me'n still do to this day.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
20 May 19
When I visited my grandparents I got to explore the woods. It was always nice.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
20 May 19
@GardenGerty i wish more young'uns 'd the opportunity to do such. e'en if'n not the woods, jest the freedoms we'd back'n the day.
@TheHorse (218789)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 May 19
Heck yes I played in the rain in Summer! In Chicago, our Summers were warm and humid. If it was raining, the raindrops were (usually) warm and delightful. We wore jean cut offs, the boys took their shirts off, and we played in the rain. Often until we were called in to dinner. And sometimes after.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
20 May 19
I forgot you were from Chicago originally. Yes, kids are pretty much the same everywhere.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218789)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 May 19
@GardenGerty Here in CA, the rains tend to be colder than they were in Chicago. Kids don't play outside like they did "back in the day."
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
19 May 19
Yes we did and yes I still do! We were a big family and mom let us play with the water hose, we had those swimming pools in the backyard, mom took us to the holiday inn to swim after the public pool closed.We did enjoy water in the summer.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
19 May 19
Hoses, sprinklers, slip n slides. All kinds of fun. If it was not raining we could sure have fun with an old card board box, too.
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
19 May 19
Oh no!! We always had permission and did not have to hide.
@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
19 May 19
Lots of things I did when I was younger. I did come out with friends to play with the rain many times! It was wonderful, and so fun!
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47308)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
19 May 19
I can't remember playing in the rain when I was a kid, but there was one summer when I was an adult and I had plumbing problems, that I did go out in the rain to have a shower...
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
20 May 19
The year I had bad plumbing problems it was in the winter. We showered at the Y. Just my hot water was frozen, but we had a membership, so that was easy. We also had an old gas free standing stove. We put buckets and pans of water on it to heat for dishes and such.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
23 May 19
@BarBaraPrz I have really appreciated this house. Nothing freezes. My last house it usually did not, but one winter it did, ruining the heater, air conditioner and two hot water heaters. I was glad for insurance.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47308)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
20 May 19
@GardenGerty I had frozen pipes in my last house. I'd melt snow on the stove so I could have something to flush the toilet with.
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
20 May 19
We had to beg a lot to get mom to let us.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471500)
• Switzerland
19 May 19
Exactly like your husband, I never liked to go out and play in the rain, you get wet and t's unpleasant. When I was a kid and I spent time in my grandmother farm we played outside, we jumped rope, we used the bike, we played Badminton and lawn bowls, but we did not play outside when it rained.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
20 May 19
You had lots of fun outside. I am sure they are good memories.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
23 May 19
@LadyDuck I did the same at my grandparent's farm.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471500)
• Switzerland
20 May 19
@GardenGerty We lived in an apartment in a big city, it was such a good moment when it was vacation time and we could play outside with our cousins. I have good memories of those old times.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
20 May 19
That is the key, no lightning and thunder.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50249)
• United States
19 May 19
I can remember playing in the rain too.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50249)
• United States
20 May 19
@GardenGerty we had many afternoon showers when I was at my grandparents in Florida.
@thelme55 (77061)
• Germany
19 May 19
Yes, I did play outside while raining. It was a good feeling. I did that dancing in the rain while in my Philippines garden a few years ago. My small nieces followed me dancing and playing in the rain when they saw me enjoying the rain. It was a lot of fun.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
20 May 19
That is the best!! Fun with their aunt. I imagine the rain in the Philippines is warm.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (77061)
• Germany
20 May 19
@GardenGerty yes, it was the best fun I had with my small nieces. The rain was indeed warm and refreshing after a hot sunny day.
