We are back again for Throwback Thursday the brainchild of Lauren and Maggie. This week it is Maggie’s turn and she has picked the topic. Nighttime Rituals 💜
Did you share a room with a sibling, or did you have a room of your own?
From a small child I remember living in a crowded house! I shared a room with three sisters, cousins and itinerent friends and waifs and strays! We had the big front bedroom as there were more of us girls! When I got to about fourteen most of my siblings had left home so I got a room to myself!
Did you resist going to bed or did you go willingly?
I think , like most kids I would not always go willingly and would use all sorts of delaying tactics. I was the youngest so I always had to go to bed earliest!
Did someone put you to bed, tuck you in, or read you a bedtime story?
Yes there was always someone, Mum, Dad, sisters and even on occasion of needs must a brother! Wash, clean teeth bedtime story then prayers!
Was there a religious component, like prayers, to your nighttime routine?
Yes there were always prayers with long litany of relatives and friends.
Did you go to sleep immediately, or lie awake?
That depended on how the day had been, how noisy the house was and what was going on downstairs.
Did you journal, read a book, talk on the phone or with your siblings, or watch television when you were supposed to be sleeping?
I loved to read or listen to the radio, I used to love Radio Luxembourg, if the Radio was in our room . I was usually on my own being so much younger than my siblings. I loved it when my cousin Lindy came to stay we were the same age so would talk and giggle until we fell asleep.
Did you ever sleepwalk?
Yes often apparently we all walked and spoke in our sleep.. Mum often said it was like Paddington Junction some nights and worse than the days! One night I apparently put the plug in the bath and turned on the taps and lights and went back to bed in my brother’s bed. Luckily he was having an early night and stopped the flood happening and gently returned me to my bed!
Did you remember having dreams? If you dreamed, did you ever have bad dreams? Do you remember any dreams specifically?
Yes I often dreamed and I remember one recurring bad dream to this day.
I am walking though a long alley and I don’t feel safe, the alley was down the road from our house, I had to use it every Sunday to get to church, so I was there feeling scared and there was a woman dressed in black from head to foot her hat even had a black veil. I always woke up unable to breath aafter that dream. I could hear my heart pounding in my head and my blood pumping in my ears. I still occasionally get visited by the dream even in waking moments.
Were you afraid of the dark? Did you sleep with a nightlight or sneak into your sibling’s or parent’s room at night because you were afraid?
I was a little uneasy in the dark and they used to leave the landing light on for me until they all came to bed. God help anyone who accidentally turned the out and I was still awake.
Did you have or attend sleepovers or slumber parties? Feel free to elaborate.
Yes I did have friends to stay, and stay with friends. I always loved staying with friends because they always had bigger houses, less populated and big gardens! I think they liked staying at our house because it was mad, loud and there was always something happening. Also every summer holiday I’d spend a fortnight with my cousin Lindy at her grandparents house in Headington Oxford. We had a room to ourselves, a big garden and lots of places to play. After the fortnight we’d travel back up to London and have a fortnight at our house.😀
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