Keeping The Memories

Do you feel like time is rushing by? Your kids are growing and changing, but you are so busy handling the ins and outs of life that when you finally do get a moment to breathe and take it all in, you think “where has the time gone?  Wasn’t it just yesterday when…….?”
 

Through this journey you as a parent know how important it is to “take in” all of the moments of your kids growing up because one day they will be grown adults and these times will all just be a memory.  Did you do everything to the best of your ability? Will they grow up and tell others how much time you invested in them? It is at that time when I believe we will truly sit back and analyze each step along the parenting process.  Things that seem important to get done now may hardly seem as important then.  I use the example of laundry a lot, but it seems to fit in most metaphoric situations.  Laundry is important.  Laundry piles up to let you know you are falling behind in your responsibility and laundry never ends.  It’s a vicious cycle but just like laundry, your schedule is unrelenting and consistent.  It can wear on you physically and emotionally.  Where are your memories being made in the fog of your exhaustion?  I don’t claim to have any amazing answers to these questions; however I do have some tips that have worked well for me.

1) Set aside specific time with each child one on one.  Once per week, my son and I go on what I like to call “date night”.  This serves the purpose of teaching him manners and how to be a gentleman as well as is a fun time for us to get away and relinquish the “real world” for a short time.  This also seems to be where I hear most of his thoughts and feelings.

2) Keep a journal.  I have a journal that I write letters to my son in as often as I can remember to do so.  They are stories of something funny he did or said that day, thoughts I have as I go through this parenting journey with him, struggles that I wish he could understand about raising him…etc.  This is intended for him to have one day when he is grown.
 

3) Create a wall of blessings!  This is something we are putting together this week.  We will designate a place in our home as the “Blessings Wall” and we will pin up and write up any and all blessings God has given to our family so we do not forget.  When times get low or tough, this wall is intended to serve as a reminder that God will see us through as He has in the past.

4) Lunch time at school! If your child is young enough these can be really special moments.  Visit them at school on their lunch time and bring a special lunch that you both will share.  I monthly surprise my son with his favorites at lunch time and I sit with him and his friends and enjoy lunch on his level. He loves it and while he isn’t embarrassed to have his mom sitting with him, I am taking this time for the memory he’ll have of us sharing in that time.  This was thought of due to my own special times with my mom coming down to my level during elementary school lunches. 

5) Playtime.  This is probably the hardest thing to do with your child when you are strapped for time.  I know that when I’m home and have work to do, or housework, the fact that my son is quietly playing in his room is ideal for me to “get it all done!”  However, he LOVES when I drop what I’m doing and show interest in what he is doing.  He lights up when I come in his room and start playing with Legos and cars acting like I’m a kid too.  He just loves it.  That is going to be way more important to him and to me when we are older and have these memories.

These were just my suggestions, but I’d love to hear what you do to create memories!  Put down the laundry and life and enjoy your kids.  They won’t be kids for long.  Blessings to you!