An on-line friend, Mike Henneke, wrote a blog that I haven't been able to get out of my mind. You can find it here:
http://mikehenneke.mvourtown.com/2010/07/08/words-in-the-dark/
It takes so little time to make a memory, but oh how we fight it. Mike's post reminded me of memories my parents made with me and my siblings, and later with their grandchildren. It reminded me of memories my husband and I have made with our own children. It also triggered a knee jerk for all those times when life seemed too busy to make a memory. I was saddened for those times. What could possibly have been so important? What was I thinking? I'm sure my children don't remember how important it was for me to make that phone call, wash that load of laundry, or rearrange the furniture. They just wanted to go to the park, or have a water fight, or pop popcorn.
Before you all think I was an uncaring parent who never spent time with my children, that's not the case. We made lots of memories together. But is it ever enough? There were also those times when I jokingly told them to go play in the traffic. I remember being tired enough to quote my own mother, "I can't. I have a bone in my leg."
Every parent gets tired -- and who can possibly keep up with the energy of little children -- or even teenagers? There will certainly be times when all parents will be justified in saying, "Hey, take a chill pill." I just hope that in the end of our days we can look back and say, "We really did make some good memories! Remember how much fun we had!"
So here's a reader's challenge: Make a memory this week. If you don't have the time, make the time. Cross off some things on your "to do" list -- you know, the ones you won't care about ten years from now. Nothing is more important than our families.
Ideas for Summer Memories:
Watch a sunset while blowing soap bubbles
Pick berries
Barbeque and make smores
Have a water fight
Go for a picnic (even if it's in the park)
Go to the airport and watch the planes take off and land
Make homemade ice cream
Go to a kid-friendly museum
Take a tour of a local factory
Watch the clouds and look for pictures
Find the north star and the big dipper
Do simple science experiments
Go for a bike ride
Learn a new skill like yo-yo or hula hoop
Play card games or board games
Put a jigsaw puzzle together
Take a historical cemetery tour
Make shadow puppets
Camp in the backyard
Tell ghost stories
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Good advice. I'm often melancholy for the times that have past - when fond memories were made. I wonder how quickly the melancholy would fade away if replace by the intentional making of a new memory.
ReplyDeleteThanks - it was a good day to read this.
Thanks for the comment, Sharon. It's something I've been thinking a lot about lately.
ReplyDeleteYou can never make enough memories, but trying to is enough to make a happy childhood (I think ... I hope!)
ReplyDeleteCharlotte, you're absolutely right!
ReplyDeleteLaurie, you need to add "Picnics at the Garbage Dump" to watch "Garbage Dump Flies" (seagulls) and trips to the "Sewer Plant."
ReplyDeleteI agree, there can never be enough memories! And the time just flies by too quickly! The first two years of my children's lives went by so fast. Now I feel I am trying to get this memories thing down - it takes work on those days we are tired but I know it's worth it. I got a book called Traditions and it has all sorts of cool things to do that help make memories and traditions over the years. I like your ideas, too. This week we'll go do a picnic, that's a good and easy idea. They'd love that.
ReplyDeleteCheri -- those are all good topics for future blog posts.
ReplyDeleteGabby -- traditions are great. I'm a firm believer in family traditions. Except my kids think that if you do something twice, it's a tradition and can NEVER be changed. LOL!