Mom enraged over new sleepover act: ‘Not what I expected'
When her son came to her begging for a sleepover, this mom pictured sleeping bags, popcorn, and the familiar chaos of overtired kids giggling into the night.
Instead, she got six children who looked like they were running an IT department.
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'Half of the kids brought devices. iPad or Nintendo Switch,' she said.
It was a harsh wake-up call to what a slumber party in 2025 actually entails.
5 When her son came to her begging for a sleepover, this mom pictured sleeping bags and the familiar chaos of overtired kids giggling into the night. Instead, she had six children with technology.
standret – stock.adobe.com
'This is NOT what I expected to happen'
'They are not playing together. Everyone is doing something different, yet they are all trying to simultaneously corral other friends into doing their thing,' she explained.
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'One kid has been staring at his Switch playing a game, and I've had to check on him a few times just to make sure he's breathing.'
5 'Half of the kids brought devices. iPad or Nintendo Switch,' the mom said.
Studio Romantic – stock.adobe.com
Baffled by the whole situation, the mum took to Reddit to vent and to ask if this is just the new normal.
It was her first time hosting a party like this, and it clearly didn't go as imagined.
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'What is this? This is NOT what I expected to happen,' she expressed.
5 'One kid has been staring at his Switch playing a game, and I've had to check on him a few times just to make sure he's breathing,' she continued.
Farknot Architect – stock.adobe.com
'Hand them Monopoly'
Looking for advice, she turned to the parenting forum for guidance. The responses were very supportive.
'Next time, just set a no-device rule beforehand. My kid's friends' parents are usually relieved when I say 'no screens at our sleepover.' Plan some actual activities instead. We did fort building and flashlight tag at my son's last one and the kids had a blast. They'll survive without their devices for one night,' came one solid suggestion.
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5 Looking for advice, she turned to the parenting forum on Reddit for guidance.
be free – stock.adobe.com
'Make an outdoor movie night, no iPads or switches allowed, or god forbid, hand them Monopoly,' a second commenter wrote.
A third pointed out that the other parents might not have thought anything of it: 'That's really disappointing, and I would have been caught off guard too. The other parents might have thought they were doing you a favor if their kids are addicted to screens.'
One thing's for sure: this mom doesn't plan on making the same mistake twice.
5 'Make an outdoor movie night, no iPads or switches allowed, or god forbid, hand them Monopoly,' one commenter wrote.
deagreez – stock.adobe.com
'Shame on me for not saying 'leave your devices at home, please'? This is our first party like this and probably our last,' she explained.
And for parents getting ready to pack their kids' bags for their next sleepover, she had one simple message:
'Hey parents, don't do this to other people. It sucks,' she warned.
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Tom's Guide
2 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I tried playing Mario Kart World with this racing wheel for the original Switch — and it works like a charm on Switch 2
After waiting in line at midnight without a pre-order and successfully picking up a Nintendo Switch 2, I've been testing out my new console and finally putting it through its paces. Back in April, I had a chance to try out the Switch 2 early at a Nintendo event in New York. While it was great going hands-on with the console right after its reveal and getting to play some games that aren't even out yet like Donkey Kong Bananza and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, there were so many things I couldn't test out at that time. Now with my Switch 2 unboxed and set up in my living room, I'm slowly working my way through the long list of different devices I want to test to see if they're compatible with the new console. From a few of the best webcams for Game Chat to the best Nintendo Switch controllers, I have plenty of gadgets and original Switch accessories I want to try out. With Mario Kart World being a Switch 2 launch game, there was one accessory in particular I couldn't wait to use in Nintendo's new open world kart racer. Keep in mind that this was an accessory I had gone back and forth on for years, debating whether it was truly worth the investment. Well, after playing Mario Kart World with it, I'm certainly glad I got it when I did. Back in 2019 when you could finally find the original Nintendo Switch on store shelves, Hori released two racing wheels for the console: the full-size Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe and the smaller Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Mini. Unlike other Switch accessories that ended up being discontinued over the years, these ones remain in production and on store shelves. In fact, you could probably find one or even both of them at any big local retailer right now. I don't know about you but when I'm dragged to Target on a family shopping trip, I often find myself killing time in the video game section. While the Switch games and Amiibos have certainly changed over the years, I can always find either Hori's Pro Deluxe or Pro Mini racing wheel on the shelf. I've lost count of how many times I've come this close to buying them over the years. Ahead of the launch of the Switch 2, both of Hori's Mario Kart racing wheels were heavily discounted on Amazon and I figured it was time to test them out for myself. Not exactly by myself though, as I picked them both up to play together with my son. He's still too young for video games but he knows his way around a controller and sure loves pressing buttons. Given that people were still playing Mario Kart 8 over a decade after its release in the runup to the Switch 2, I figure he'll probably be able to start on the Pro Mini and then grow into the Pro Deluxe well before we're talking about the follow-up to Mario Kart World. My son is getting a bit short changed with the simpler buttons on Hori's Pro Mini racing wheel but the Pro Deluxe one lives up to its name with a full suite of buttons and even some useful extra ones. Built into the wheel itself, you have ZL and ZR buttons and around back, you have paddle shifters for the L and R buttons. Then on the face of the racing wheel, you have almost every button you'd find on a standard Switch controller. There's also an Assign button on the top right which can be used to remap the ZL and ZR buttons, the left and right stick buttons (the ones you press when you click in a thumbstick), the left and right paddles and even the racing wheel's pedals on the floor. All of this gives you plenty of options when it comes to customizing Hori's Pro Deluxe racing wheel to your heart's content. Even without assigning buttons though, Mario Kart World makes things easy for you since the ZL button and L paddle both can be used for items while you can drift using either the ZR button or the R paddle. I tried out the Hori Pro Deluxe and Pro Mini racing wheels while playing Mario Kart 8 a few weeks ago when I first got the controllers. Everything worked well out of the box then but after setting up my Switch 2, it was time to see if Nintendo had made Switch controllers backwards compatible with its new console. This wired racing wheel from Hori is fully compatible with both the Switch and Switch 2. Along with a set of foot pedals, you get pro-style controls like paddle shifters and customizable buttons right on the wheel. It also has a sleek Mario-inspired design and works on PC too. Both of Hori's Switch racing wheels come with suction cups to attach them to a coffee table but personally, I like using the included clamp that only comes with the Pro Deluxe version for a stronger mount. After getting the racing wheel mounted, I plugged it into my Switch 2 dock and ran the cable for its pedals behind my desk and down to the floor. We really hadn't heard much about Switch 2 compatibility with third-party Switch controllers ahead of launch which is why I was pleasantly surprised when I turned on the console and the Hori racing wheel instantly worked without any issues. If, like me, you're testing out original Switch controllers on the new console, one thing worth noting is that Switch 1 controllers aren't able to wake the Switch 2 from sleep. All of their buttons and everything else should work as intended though. The same was true with the racing wheels' floor pedals which connect at the back using a connector similar to the ones you'd find on a wired telephone. I like how there are some small circles on both pedals to provide some much needed grip. However, the same can't be said for its base which slid around quite a bit on my wood floors. Back when I tested it out in the game room where we have a carpet underneath the coffee table, this wasn't a problem though. I started out testing the Hori Pro Deluxe racing wheel in the Mushroom Cup Grand Prix in Mario Kart World. Compared to a traditional controller, there was certainly a learning curve, particularly when it came to turning the wheel and engaging the right paddle shifter for drifting around curves. I also appreciated the fact that I wasn't stuck with doing things this way due to Mario Kart World's controls and the fact that Hori gives you multiple ways to use the same button on the racing wheel. For instance, when I needed to quickly use an item, I used the left paddle shifter but when the timing of using an item was more important, I found myself pressing the Item button on the left side of the wheel's hub. One other big difference between the Hori Pro Deluxe and the Hori Mini racing wheels is that while mine has a Mario logo front and center, my son's racing wheel has a ZL button in the middle. In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, using this button is a bit more fun as it does double duty as a horn when you don't have items. With Mario Kart World though, your character still honks their cart's horn but they also perform a short wave when you press it. This miniature-sized racing wheel works on both the Switch and Switch 2 and is a great way to let your kids get in on the action when you're playing Mario Kart. It's smaller size and simpler button layout makes it easier for kids to get the hang of using a racing wheel and like the larger Pro Deluxe version, it also works on PC After realizing I still had a ways to go when it came to using a racing wheel in an actual race, I switched over to playing Mario Kart World's Free Roam mode. This was a lot of fun with the racing wheel, especially when just cruising around. I really liked having all of the standard controller buttons right there on the hub. The D-pad on the left side certainly came in handy when looking at Mario Kart World's overworld map and choosing which course I wanted to fast travel to next. Now is it worth it to pick up the Hori Pro Deluxe racing wheel if you want to get better at Mario Kart World? Well, after trying it out for myself, I'd say probably not. Playing with a controller is always going to be the best way to play Mario Kart and this is certainly true if you're racing online or playing against your friends and family in split screen mode on your TV. Still, I had a blast playing both Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and especially Mario Kart World with this accessory. It almost feels like it was made for the latter's Free Roam mode, even though its initial release came a few years after the former had launched. Another great thing about Hori's Pro Deluxe and Pro Mini racing wheels is that they both work on PC too and after I finish this story, I'm going to give the larger one a try on my new triple monitor setup. Serious racing sim fans will likely scoff at the idea of using a more basic racing wheel like this one. However, I feel like at the price, it's a good way to see if using a wheel while playing racing games is something you're really interested in. Dedicated sim racing setups can get expensive real fast and you definitely don't want to invest all that money and put one together before knowing whether or not you'll actually use it. Given that the Hori Pro Deluxe and Pro Mini racing wheels came out back in 2019, I wouldn't be surprised if a wireless version, specifically for the Switch 2, was already in the works. This would make a lot of sense as the company already put out its wireless Racing Wheel Apex for the PlayStation 5 and PC. Only time will tell though. Even though I plan on primarily using a controller as I work my way through all of the courses in Mario Kart World, I can't wait to break out my Hori Pro Deluxe racing wheel and especially my son's Pro Mini one every now and again to mix things up. Given we'll probably be playing Mario Kart World all the way up till the release of the Switch 3, it's always good to have options.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
From Missing Money To "Allergies" — People Whose Partners Cheated On Them Are Sharing The Little "Red Flags" That Signaled Their Infidelity
Most of us know the major signs to look for when determining whether or not a partner is cheating. However, when a person finally discovers their significant other has been unfaithful, they suddenly remember the small "red flags" they overlooked in the name of love... That's why when Redditor u/ExerciseShort5622 asked, "What's the biggest 'they're definitely cheating' sign you ignored?" people who discovered their exes had an affair flooded the comments with the seemingly small things they wished they had noticed sooner. From friendly neighbors to bizarre accusations — here are 19 little-known "red flags" that might indicate infidelity: If you've ever overlooked a warning sign that a partner was cheating, you can tell us anonymously using this form. 1."Our neighbor had kids, both under five years old. We never did anything with their kids, so we didn't really know them. One day, out of nowhere, these two kids ran across the street and up our driveway to hug my partner while calling his name. Kids don't do this with strangers. He was cheating with the neighbor and had clearly been spending a ton of time over there with her and befriending the kids." —u/Lazy-Elephant-7477 "A similar thing happened to me. Our kids were in elementary school and attended an after-school club. At the end of the year, a church in town hosted an ice cream party for all the kids. While we were there, a little girl walked up to my husband, said, 'Hi,' and called him by name. The whole time, she gave me the side-eye and a confused look of 'Who are you?' He tried so hard to lie to me about whose kid this was, but we both know the same people, and I knew she wasn't one of their kids." —u/kelrose 2."My snacks kept disappearing even though my partner and I didn't eat the same ones!" "I'm a chocolate lover, and I knew something was up when my M&M's tub kept slowly declining. He hated chocolate, so someone had to be eating out of my candy jar! I set up a small camera, facing the pantry, and caught it in 4K. The divorce papers were served to him at work, and I've never looked back!" —u/wenchywitchy 3."He said goodbye to his 'mother' and called her sweetie. When I asked if he usually called his mother 'sweetie,' he said he did. I later found out it was his ex. I didn't know about her, and she didn't know about me. She kicked him to the curb." "I found out six months later that he was actually leading a double life. Thankfully, I never heard from him again, and neither did his ex." —u/KathAlMyPal 4."He kept taking money out of the bank, yet he never had money for simple things like his commute. I suggested we start tracking our spending together and turn it into a game, and he balked. No wonder! I was so naive." —u/AquaWoman_115 "My sister discovered this was how her ex-husband funded dates with his affair partners: He would get cash back at the register every time he went to the grocery store, and because he always ran those errands, she never caught on. She said she saved thousands of dollars after the divorce because she didn't realize how much he had been embezzling from their joint account until after the fact." —u/Fun_Importance_4250 5."She kept sending me out on little errands, constantly saying, 'I need a new toothbrush, can you go pick one up for me?' or 'I'm hungry, can you go get a snack?' Stuff like that." "She was just sending me out so she and my roommate could have sex while I was gone." —u/ERedfieldh Related: People In HR Revealed Truly Unhinged Reasons Employees Got Fired, And My Jaw Is On The Floor 6."They constantly asked me where I was and accused me of cheating. I worked 12+ hour shifts at a remote oil plant. When did I have time to get some on the side? I had to strategically plan going to the grocery store." —u/eugeneugene 7."He became mean, but only towards me..." "I thought he was working too hard, so I bent over backwards to make his life easier. I suffered for a bit, then called him out on it, and said, 'The way you are acting toward me is not in character for you, and I want to know what's going on.' He broke down and spilled his guts, grateful to finally not be living a lie, and transferred all that pain onto me. He'd been cheating for at least eight months with random people he found online. He eventually met someone he 'loved' and was already making plans for a future without me." —u/GentleComposure 8."She developed a 'metal allergy' and stopped wearing her wedding ring at work due to 'irritation.'" "I didn't catch on and believed her until the first part of our divorce. Then, when the paralegal we went to asked if there was any chance my partner was pregnant, she got a deer-in-the-headlights look before she finally said, 'No.' We had not been intimate for six months. The paralegal met my eyes, and he and I both knew. The look of sympathy in his eyes nearly broke me." —u/KharnforPresident 9."He constantly said things like 'I don't deserve you.' When I met his grandparents, his grandmother grabbed me by the hands and said, 'What is a beautiful girl like you doing with someone like him?'" "At the time, I took it as a joke, but in hindsight, it was honestly eerie. Why would a grandmother even jokingly say such a thing?" —u/Open_Hope4242 Related: 50 People Who Woke Up One Morning Over The Past Month And Accidentally Destroyed Their Entire Lives 10."When I came home after a long deployment, she had 'redecorated' the apartment (aka erasing any trace I lived there), even though she had technically moved into MY apartment." "She said she wanted it to feel like her space, too. But she literally took framed pictures of me/us down and put them in a back room. We went to Hawaii, and when we got back, that's when it was over. I saw a guy driving her around in her car about a week later and put two and two together." —u/FlameandCrimson 11."When she changed her phone password every week and said it was for 'security reasons.' Girl, who's trying to hack you? The FBI? Or just your conscience?" —u/Primary-Sir7427 "'Security' was one of the excuses I was given for my ex constantly changing passwords on personal devices that were NOT used for work. Other bizarre excuses that eventually tipped me off were blaming the 'battery life' for why he always hit the screensaver on his laptop when I walked in the door, and 'no signal' when he couldn't be reached in places where there most definitely was a signal. Excuses that would never fly with anyone other than a trusting partner or a small child are a big red flag." —u/OtherKat 12."He sat me down for a serious conversation and told me he had heard a 'nasty rumor' going around that he was cheating on me with a close female friend and that I was cheating on him with a close male friend." "He said he trusted me and knew I would never do something like that, and that he thought it was important for us to trust each other. Come to find out, he actually was cheating with his 'close female friend,' but no one ever thought I was cheating with my male friend." —u/ohboyitsnat 13."His moods didn't match what was happening. I was always confused by how suddenly impatient he would become, or how he'd start nagging me, even if things were going well. Sometimes his mood simply didn't align with how he typically responded, or how someone else would normally respond in a similar situation..." "He always told me I was losing my mind because I was so 'confused' or he'd just claim I was looking for problems. I wish I had trusted what I was clearly noticing." —u/Wise-Young-3954 14."I found a hairpin in his bedroom. I've never used hairpins, and he didn't have hair. I asked about it, and he said he used it to clean his ears. I knew the next sensible question was, 'Where did you get ONE hairpin, that incidentally smells like hairspray?'" "But I chickened out, pretended it was all good, and was genuinely surprised when he ended things without reason a few months later." —u/Madam_Hel 15."When 'I want an open marriage' turned into them leaving me for their affair partner six weeks later." —u/Far_Bet_5516 "This also happened to a friend of mine; his wife wanted an open marriage. He's sexually adventurous, so he was into it. He had a few dates with other women before she served him papers. She was already with another guy two weeks after it was finalized. Thankfully, his new wife is a much better person, and I think they'll stay together." —u/uberfission 16."It was at the beginning of the pandemic: He was from Newfoundland (we were in New Brunswick at the time) and when everything started locking down, he got antsy and pissed off and kept saying, 'They won't let us go anywhere.' Mind you, he didn't even have a license, let alone a car, so finally I asked, 'Where would you even want to go?' He got quiet and said, 'Well…I guess nowhere.'" "Flash forward a couple of weeks, and he broke up with me over social media before flying back to Newfoundland to get engaged to the girl he was cheating on me with." —u/Own-Assignment3532 17."I knew something was wrong when several of my now-ex's good friends started hitting on me. I later realized they knew she was cheating and were prematurely shooting their shot with me." "After I finally left and filed for divorce, a mutual friend told me my ex had an agreement with her affair partner that they would both get divorced and live happily ever after. She and I had been divorced for three years when he finally left his ex-wife and her for another woman." —u/PetroInvest3 18."Came home and the toilet seat was up. There was a 0.00% chance she put it up." —u/Sanity-Checker 19."She had told both me and her affair partner that she was house-sitting for a 'friend.' Turns out, I had been driving her to his apartment and vice versa." "She was staying at our places while both of us were ignorant about the other. He would catch missed texts on her phone from me, and she would ignore my calls sometimes. The wild part is that he married her after confronting me online because he thought I was luring her away. However, we figured out she was cheating on us both. I couldn't believe he stuck around, but I was just glad I found out before we moved to another state." —u/slashdash_85 Did any of these "red flags" surprise you? Have you ever overlooked a warning sign that your significant other was cheating? Tell us in the comments or answer anonymously using the form below! Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity. Also in Internet Finds: The History We're Taught Is Wildly Sanitized, So Here 28 Disturbing Historical Events Everyone Should Be Aware Of Also in Internet Finds: 18 People Who Took A Picture Of Something That — Oops — Is Super Dangerous Also in Internet Finds: 13 Tweets From Women This Week That Made Me Laugh So Hard I Might Need Medical Attention
Buzz Feed
6 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Adults Share Heartwarming Stories About Grandparents
As a certified Grandma's Gal, I always love hearing stories about other people's grandparents — especially older folks. There's something so nostalgic and comforting about them that feels like getting a big warm hug. Recently, older people on Reddit shared some of their fondest memories with their grandparents, and it made me grin from ear to ear. Here are some of the top comments: "Me and my sister would go to my grandparents' house almost every weekend. I had an Italian grandma. She showed me what love is. We would watch Lawrence Welk, and I'd dance in the crochet slippers she made me. My grandpa would tell us stories about Little Red Riding Hood, and in her basket were Liverwurst sandwiches. I lost my teddy while sleeping, and my grandma got into bed and snuggled me. So much comfort. So much love." —Present-Two-98 "I had only a grandmother who lived an hour away. Every year, I spent a week at her house. When I was about 10, she taught me how to play canasta, and we played a lot over the years. A couple of years later, while I was at her house, it was her turn to host the ladies' canasta party. All the ladies were in a tizzy because at the last minute, one player called to say she couldn't make it. Finally, Grandma proposed that I play as the 8th player. I could tell none of the ladies liked that idea until Grandma said I would be her partner. With relief, they all agreed." "Panama City, Florida, summers between about 1968 and 1977. Sitting on the front porch with my grandmother, shelling butterbeans or breaking snap beans in half. I hated the tedium of it at the time, but looking back on it, I'd love to be able to do that with her again. Being set up for bed, on summer nights, with my sister, on their screen porch, with blankets and a box fan. On some nights, they'd turn off the TV and just listen to the radio. Every now and then, my grandfather would pull my grandmother up from her chair and have a quick dance." "My grandmother teaching me how to shoot pool with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. She was born in the 1800s. Gramps was killed in a liquor deal gone bad. She was a 'woman of the streets,' so to speak. She was deemed not fit to raise my dad, so he left to go live with her sister, his aunt, who had seven other boys; he was the youngest. He ended up enlisting at 15, served in three wars, and became an officer. He always sent her money and letters, which she kept. The money she spent. I was her fave." —TinCupJeepGuy "My mema would always say 'Give me some sugar' and kiss me and give me the most awesome hugs when we would go visit." "My grandma took me to the movies to see The Beatles' Hard Day's Night when it first came out. She was in her 60s and looked like the typical grandma. She was carded to get in. My grandma built Mardi-Gras floats in Mobile. She did the work by herself, and was in her 50s when she started that work. She built frames, did papier mache, applied gold leaf by hand, etc. All her grandkids loved hanging out in the warehouses she worked out of. We would get any candy leftover after Mardi-Gras. I could go on. She was the most amazing woman. She had nine kids and 59 grandchildren. I'm honored to have had her in my life." "Our Opa would stand in front of the curtained pantry, reach up and grab a candy bar from the top shelf (that us littles couldn't see) and tell us the cloud man came to visit." —KWAYkai "Once I was really sick in the winter, but it was sort of a nice day, so my grandma let me sit in her car with her in the sun while she taught me how to play Gin Rummy." "My maternal grandpa played the fiddle, and my siblings and I danced." "My paternal grandfather was my favorite grand. I'd sit on his knee and we'd talk and talk. He called me by the Scottish version of my name and never teased me about my red hair. I fell asleep many times while resting my head against his chest and listening to his heartbeat. He died when I was 8. I'm an old lady now, but I still miss him." —PeaceOut70 "My grandpa taking me fishing at dawn. Paddling ever so quietly away in the canoe while everyone was still sleeping on their houseboat. Him telling scary bedtime stories as I nestled in my sleeping bag outside under the bright, shiny stars up on top of said houseboat." "Standing in my grandpa's kitchen with him as he opened a popcorn maker. Kernels were still popping and going all over the kitchen. Their little Pomeranians were dashing around, eating popcorn off the floor. With every pop my grandpa was exclaiming 'dammit! dammit' while I just laughed. Standing in the same grandpa's kitchen 20-something years later, as he taught me to make salsa." "In 1st grade Sunday school, I was approached to play Joseph in the Christmas Pageant. I didn't want to do it…no how, no way. My grandmother made a special trip to come see me with her proposal. She would buy me a special toy right there and then if I agreed to be in the pageant. I loved all things space and astronaut-related. I shot for the moon — Major Matt Mason Space Station. We made the rounds of the stores in North Jersey and finally found one." "When it came time for the pageant, I hammed it up perfectly. I made like I was searching high and low for an empty inn, mimed an argument with the 'No Vacancy' innkeepers, and doted over my Wife Of The Night. People ate it up! My grandmother had tears in her eyes, she was so happy. It would be the biggest toy I ever received, and I played the hell out of it!"—stilloldbull2 "My Grandpa was missing three fingers from his left hand from a saw accident. He could still play the piano just as amazingly as before the accident." "Speaking Sicilian with my Nonno (grandfather). During my most awkward years (12-13), he was my best friend. Playing cards, sneaking into his room after the house was quiet, drinking Brown Derby beer (from the closet), and smoking Lark cigarettes." "Mine mostly passed when I was quite young or before I was born. I was always kind of jealous of kids who had good relationships with their grandparents. My one surviving grandmother was strange. I remember she had a cat journal where she documented her cat Totsy's daily activities, like almost a fanfiction. Totsy also lived for like 20 years. She didn't write anything about my mom in them, just cat." —NeiClaw "Some of my best memories were with my grandma. When I was younger, we'd bake pies and she'd take me to the mall for lunch and shopping. In her later years, the roles were reversed. She was one of the most genuine, positive, and beloved people I've ever known. She lived to be 100. I'll miss her dearly until the day I see her again." "My grandparents were the most wonderful people. I think my best memory of them, together, was at a wedding when I was 8. My grandmother was dancing the tarantella scarf dance, and my grandfather was laughing and clapping along. They were so happy. With my grandfather, my favorite memory was around the same time; my grandfather was a train engineer, and he would take me to work and let me 'drive the train.' He died when I was 10, but I lived with my grandmother until I joined the Army at 18. Probably my favorite memory of my grandmother was when I was I high school. I was in a band, and we would practice at her house. One day, the neighbors complained that they couldn't hear their TV, and my grandmother told them they should turn it up. I always felt supported by my grandmother, no matter what I did." "The smells at their house: the cypress trees that framed the front door, the clay of the garden in the back, the yeast rolls my grandmother made every day, and the clove gum my grandfather chewed. Just one of those smells takes me back, even 60 years later." —Baebarri "We went to my grandparents' house every Saturday when I was growing up. Everything just tasted better when my Gramma made it. We had egg salad, tuna fish, or cold cut sandwiches for lunch (cookies for dessert). 'Supper' (as they called it) was either London Broil or Chicken Parm (with one of my Gram's exquisite homemade pies for dessert). My Gramma played with me and my sister while Knight Rider was on TV (she would say, 'That Michael Knight is such a nice boy!'). Haha. My dad and grandfather watched sports in the other room. They're all gone now except for me and my sister. I still remember every inch of it." "The fish fries my grandparents would throw on Fridays or Saturdays. My grandpa was an avid sports fisherman and would always throw down fried bass with hushpuppies, cole slaw, and roasted parsley potatoes. We'd all stay outside in their rural, pastoral backyard catching fireflies until it got too dark, and then we'd all come inside and listen to someone bust out some amazing music. Then someone would say, 'Let's hit the highway, y'all.' This time has come and gone. It is a sweet memory. I am grateful for it." "My Grandma had an electric dryer that, when done, played the tune 'How Dry I Am.' She got me up very early one morning and insisted I sing for the milkman. I got a glass bottle of chocolate milk." —Sknowles12 "My paternal grandparents lived 8 hours away. We had a reel-to-reel with speakers and a microphone. We would record messages to them, mail them, and they would send one back. My favorite was my grandfather whistling for the dog, and he barked at the player." "I remember my grandma making delicious Dutch Olliebollen every Saturday morning and going for walks with her through Hoboken, New Jersey, where she would point out the houses and apartment buildings where people she knew died from the Spanish Flu. Then we'd stop at a pier and watch the tugboats push ocean liners into their berths." "My grandmother flew to see us, early in the mid-50s, 1955 or 1956. She smuggled a little kitten in her purse. She had the purse under the seat, and the kitten got out and wandered the plane. The flight attendant (stewardess, then) brought the kitten to my grandmother and said, 'I think you lost this.' Without a blink, she said, 'Thank you so much. It is a gift for my grandson.' We called the kitten Smudge because of the irregular dark mark on the forehead of the white kitten." —Off2xtremes "My grandparents were from rural Alabama. In 1978, we dug their last outhouse. We got them running water to the house four years later, but the memory of taking leave from the Army that summer and digging that hole while my grandma made us sweet tea was such a yin/yang moment. She made another ten years but at least had her own 'shitshed,' her words, not mine." And finally, "My grandfather had a tin with boiled sweets, but he was famous for not sharing. Us grandkids would never be allowed to have any... until he left the room. Then my grandma would call us in and have us quickly grab two each, 'One for the mouth, one for the hand.'" What's a special memory you have with your grandparents that shows how much times have changed? Share it with us in the comments or via the anonymous form below:
