10 Saturday Morning Habits I Remember Most From Growing Up

The weeks of my childhood took on a predictable rhythm and order, as most kids find comfort in. But Saturdays managed to inject some excitement into the mix by breaking the predictable script and offering something completely different.

Those special days of the week quickly became my favorite day. Where I grew up, there were no major obligations, chores to complete, or people we had to go see on Saturdays. It was a day for us kids to do whatever we wanted.

Best of all, they were filled with unique pleasures that only exist when you’re a child. I look back on those memories now with warmth and gratitude in my heart, and smile inwardly at all that we got away with back then.

Two things stick out to me. First, how vividly I can recall many of these details from my childhood. Days that only happened a handful of times still stick in my mind like they were yesterday. Second, how many of these memories center around food and drink. I’ve long thought that food is one of life’s simplest pleasures, and my personal recollections seem to back that observation.

I hope that this list of memorable Saturday morning traditions will inspire the adults among us to provide the children in our lives with opportunities to enjoy life to the fullest. I am so glad my parents provided me with the safety and freedom to do just that, and I hope to do the same for the next generation.

Sleeping in until the late morning

This might come as a surprise for those who know that I generally wake up at 5am most days. And it’s true, even as a young kid I was an early riser. But one of my core memories of being a child was seeing how long I could sleep in on a Saturday. Because my parents were behind in another part of the house, this became a sort of game or challenge to see just how late I could keep my eyes closed before caving to the temptation of the fun I knew I was missing out on.

Stuffing myself with French toast

I don’t want to exaggerate this next memory, so I’ll keep my description on the conservative side. On certain Saturday mornings, my mom would make French toast for breakfast. And that French toast was the best tasting thing on this entire planet— by far. Writing this down makes me realize I haven’t had good French toast in ages, and I’m suddenly craving a trip somewhere where I can get a really good slice, soaked through and topped with quality syrup.

Watching cartoons for hours

I don’t watch much TV these days, and when I do, I’m a little sad to admit, it’s not as magical as it felt when I was a kid. I guess nothing feels quite as magical in adulthood, except for love, and maybe a perfectly cool breeze on a warm day. Anyway, back when I was a kid, I was allowed to watch cartoons on Saturday mornings, and I soak up literally hours of this entertainment without feeling an ounce of guilt. There’s no denying I spent too much time watching TV, but some of those memories are some of my fondest and funniest.

Eating cold pizza for breakfast

In classic American fashion, my dinner on Friday nights consisted of large cheese pizzas delivered right to our door. Those cheesy boxes of bread were nearly as exciting as Santa himself. But what many might not realize is that Saturday morning offered another treat— cold pizza straight out of the fridge. While I was never a fan of pizza rolls or pizza flavored chips, I do believe that cold pizza, especially when you’re hungry for breakfast, is about as good as pizza gets.

Playing sports with my friends

Of course, I wasn’t glued to the TV all day long. I generally had a very active childhood playing sports and running around the neighborhood. It just so happened that on weekday mornings, I was allowed to watch cartoons and that memory sticks out in my mind. But equally strong is the memory of gathering a group of neighborhood friends for impromptu games of baseball or basketball that we’d play for hours into the afternoon.

Spending my allowance on candy

I don’t remember much about money from my childhood other than the fact that I didn’t really have any. At some point, my parents decided to give me an allowance, a sum so small you’d laugh, but it was big enough to be able to buy candy from the nearby vending machines. This tiny bit of independence and control over my life felt enormous as a kid, and I’m glad my parents taught me these small lessons in how to manage money.

Sneaking into my dad’s office to play PacMan

Another favorite memory from being a kid was when my dad would bring home a new computer, or a new monitor would show up in his office. I loved all those gadgets and loved hanging out in his office with him on weekend mornings. I’d sneak down after sleeping in to find him at his desk, but sometimes not even doing work— just reading the news or playing a game himself. Eventually, he’d let me play around on his computer, and one of my favorite games was PacMan, which I would play for as long as I was allowed.

Pretending to be asleep when I heard my mom cleaning

Not all of my memories are proud ones, but I’ll share this one for a laugh. On Saturday mornings, I’d hear my mom cleaning the house and I knew it was only a matter of time before she’d ask me to help. I was a responsible kid, but sometimes I’d pretend to be asleep when I heard her coming down the hall, and then wake up with a yawn when I was sure she had moved on. I’m sure my mom saw through this trick, but she was too kind to call me out. Come to think of it, maybe she somehow knew I knew, and so it was more like an unspoken game we played.