Growing up, there was always something special about going to grandma’s house that made any regular day feel so much more fun, especially during summertime when days are long and the kids are, well, bored. Leave it to a Southern grandma to be able to turn the mundane into summer magic, and looking back, it was often little things that cost no money that we loved the most.
From sneaky ways to get her grandkids outside to turning tiny household tasks into exciting activities, here are the nostalgic summer things your Southern grandma would use to entertain and delight on a trip to her house.
Outdoor Shenanigans
Beth Dreiling Hontzas
Playing in the Sprinklers
Whenever the kids started getting stir crazy, it was time to send them outside, and there’s a perfect simplicity about running through sprinklers to cool off in the Southern heat. No pool needed!
Making Sun Tea
Yes, it really gets hot enough to make tea outside in the sun. What made up a fun activity for kids to do (it only calls for a pitcher, water, and tea bags placed in the sun) also doubled as help with dinner. Tea’s ready!
Going Wild Berry Picking
Summer meant waiting until those wild berry bushes hidden in the woods near grandma’s house were finally ripe for the picking. Sure, sometimes a bout of poison ivy was contracted in the journey, but it was worth every sweet bite.
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Catching Fireflies
Or lightning bugs, depending what you call them. Nothing beats the thrill of chasing the blinking bugs in grandma’s backyard in the dark, zooming around with Mason jars in hand.
Tending the Garden
Summer in the South means that certain veggies are thriving in grandma’s garden, and when kids are in need of entertainment, the garden makes a great spot, whether that means picking out veggies that are ready to eat or snatching out weeds, which is easy enough for anyone.
Sitting on the Porch During a Thunderstorm
Afternoon showers tend to hit when everyone is having a lull, and what better way to ease into quiet time than sitting on the porch during a thunderstorm with the earthy aroma of wet grass accompanying grandpa’s snores—because he’s dozed off in his favorite chair, obviously.
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Related: The Rain Porch Is A Southern Architectural Innovation We Love
Frying an Egg on the Sidewalk
You’re not living a Southern summer if you haven’t experimented with what you could possibly cook on the hot pavement. Frying up eggs is a grandma trick for captivating young audiences, but the older children might push their luck with other foods. Now, whether or not that food should be eaten…
Going “Junkin’”
Grandma was always looking for an activity, including pulling up to any yard sale, antique tent, or junk store she could find—kids in tow and warned not to break anything.
Singing in the Car
We’ve all groaned at our grandmas’ taste in music and her in-car crooning to her favorite songs, whether she was into Johnny Cash, Elvis, George Straight, Jimmy Buffett, or ABBA. Her car, her rules.
Household Fun
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Shucking Corn Cobs
Summer corn means shucking—and lots of it. Grandma usually trades in her love and care for some choice chores, including help with shucking fresh corn for creamed corn or buttery sauteed corn.
Salting the Tomatoes for Sandwiches
Tomato sandwiches are a staple lunch at grandma’s during summertime, and bored kiddos tend to love chipping in. Usually, that meant simply shaking salt and pepper over the tomato slices.
Shaking the Saltines
Snacks are a necessity of a summer spent over at grandma’s, and you can make all sorts of goodies with a sleeve of saltines. Quick favorites include shaking saltines up in a baggie with seasonings to make Firecrackers or Ranch Crackers.
Shelling Peas
When it’s pea season, it is all-hands-on-deck before dinnertime, including kids who would rather help with that than take a nap.
Having to Watch Her “Show”
Many of us remember the dreaded hours when grandma’s favorite shows would be airing, whether it was a morning talk show, afternoon cooking show, or—every kid’s worst nightmare—a daily soap opera.
Packing the Cooler
Packing up drinks and snacks for a picnic, beach day, or lake day is a big task, and little hands were called on to choose the must-haves (lest grandma risk a tantrum on location).
Read the original article on Southern Living
