I grew up in a small South Georgia farming community.   There was plenty of work to do after school, and during the summer, on what we called a one-horse (100+ acre) farm. 

There were cows to milk morning and night, year round, and tobacco, cotton, corn, peanuts, and tomatoes to cultivate and gather during the summer.  Life was good, but as a young boy, it was very hard work.  I got my share of “pretended” stomach aches to avoid some of the work. I’m not sure Dad ever figured that out. I do not remember getting a whipping for having the stomachache!
Dad was a staunch believer in “Spare the rod and spoil the child”, or better said, “Do not spare the rod and do not spoil the child”.  I only remember whippings for fighting with my brother, which happened too often.  My brother is two years older, so he always had the upper hand, strength-wise. I always needed an equalizer, such as a baseball bat, a big stick, and I remember, one time, even a shotgun.  The gun was not loaded, but my brother didn’t know that.  I didn’t know he could run so fast!
One of the best memories that I had in my childhood was when my Dad joined the church.  I walked in for church service one Sunday morning after Sunday school, and Dad was seated on the front row.  I didn’t know what was going on at the time, but he was there to be baptized and give his life to Christ.  My Dad was a good, gentle man, even before he was saved. 
I grew up in the Presbyterian Church in my hometown.  At age twelve, I attended catechism class, taught by the pastor for a few weeks, and was baptized and accepted Christ as my savior at that time.  I remember attending Sunday school, and one of my teachers always ended his lesson each Sunday with Matthew 6:33. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”.  This became my favorite scripture and still is today.  
I remember our Sunday school class of boys, about age 12-13, got a little rowdy one Sunday, and the teacher became “impatient” with us, and walked out.  I don’t remember the repercussions of this, but the pastor’s son was in the class, and I expect he got in trouble when his father found out.  Of course, I didn’t tell anybody until now.
One of the funniest stories about Dad involves Alan.  Alan was spending the day with Dad and Mother, when Alan was about 6 or 7, I think.  They were in the car driving down a rural road, and I am sure Dad was driving about 35-40 MPH.  Alan was in the back seat, leaning over the front seat, and looking out the windshield, when Alan spotted a turtle slowly crossing the road.  He told Dad, “Granddaddy, watch out for that turtle!”  When the car got to the turtle, Alan heard a loud “SPLAT”.  Dad had run over the turtle!
Alan was surprised, to say the least, since he had warned Dad about the turtle.  Dad’s response to Alan was, “Alan, that turtle must have sped up on me!”  This is one of our favorite family stories. 
While Dad was the disciplinarian, Mother was the encourager.  I remember I had a particularly hard homework assignment when I was in 8th or 9th grade, and I had tried to figure it out for a long while late into the evening, and was frustrated that I just couldn’t get it.  Mother said, “Just go to bed, and you will be able to complete it in the morning when your mind is fresh”.  This was very comforting to me, and I heeded her advice many times.
 Mother was only 4 feet 11 inches.  She didn’t describe herself as “short”; she was just “low”.  Her description of herself has always been funny to the family, especially Gayla.  There were times when Mother would decide that my brother or myself would need a “switching”.  She would get a peach tree “switch” and come after us.  We would run away from her, and being as short as she was, she could not catch us.  Then she would get tickled at us, sit down on the front porch, and the proposed “switching” was over.  Whew!! I’m glad she was a good sport, because that switch would have hurt!  To my knowledge, she never told Dad that we ran from her.  Another, Whew!!!!
These are just a few of my childhood and family memories.  There are many more.  I hope you have fond memories of your childhood and family.  I was blessed to have grown up with Christian parents and a strong fundamental teaching of Christian principles.  
May God bless you and your families as you grow in Him!!
Joe Hardwick