I wonder what my kids will remember from childhood. I wonder if they’ll think of their own childhood as nostalgically as I think about mine. I am sometimes reminded, almost surprised to find out, that I play a huge role in the memory-making for them. The stuff I’m actively doing every day is the very stuff that’s filing itself away, burrowing deep in one of the crevasses of their brains to come out one day in the future in a remember when memory. I hope they have a lot of them, and I hope that when they come to the surface, they’re positively covered in love.
The other night we had hot dogs for dinner. Gosh, did I even make a side? I’m trying to remember. Wait, yes, I did! I remember now. I put salad on their plates first, ensuring that they’d eat some of it before they got their hot dogs. Fancy. It was just the three of us. Lindsey must’ve been at volleyball practice and Steve was working late. Upon discovering it was early enough to catch a whole sunset–I’d only caught glimpses through the kitchen windows through the trees night after night and I was desperate to really take one in–I quickly got them in their pajamas and loaded them into the car. We drove towards the beach where there wouldn’t be much tree cover. I pulled off, turned the car around to face west, and Parker climbed onto the roof of the car (so thrilling for a seven year old) for a perfect view. And there was the sunset and it was beautiful. It was beautiful for so many reasons though. For the changing of the seasons it represented (fall sunsets are the most beautiful ones, I think), the shedding of baggage, the ability to have this incredibly enormous role in their lives, to be the one who gets to say, “let’s go! we’re going to chase the sunset!”, for the reminder that we really are so small. Maybe it meant more to me than it should’ve, but sometimes things like this do that to you.
Beautiful post. There’s just something so mesmerising about the sunset. Nature is astounding! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Love this!! I often wonder what they’re going to remember and I PRAY that it’s not the moments that I totally lose my cool!
and even if it is… it’s a reminder to them that we are human!
It is about these simple moments, and they for sure will remember them forever. You are doing well mama and those cherubs are lucky to have a mother that has her priorities straight.
With Love,
#teamchasingsunsets
oh thank you friend. back at you, ya know.
Love this post. The memory making is such a beautiful and big responsibility! A few years ago, hugely pregnant at Christmas, I told my friend’s mom how that Christmas felt unique because I knew all future Christmases would be with the baby. “Oh yes! And then, you’ll be the orchestrator of memories!” she said. I love that, and think about my role as the Orchestrator of Memories as probably my favorite responsibility 🙂
Yes! I wonder this all the time. What will they remember? What kind of tone am I setting for their memories? What will the overall feel of their childhood be? I hope it will be one of warmth and connection! I love that you totally seized the moment and just went for it.
if you’re even asking yourself these questions, aimee, chances are the tone will be warmth and connection!
Such beautiful images, and memories. I am a big sucker for the little moments in childhood. I love to picture my kids remembering the way summer felt so hot, the way the sprinkler water fell just right to create that rainbow effect, the way the sun shines into the living room in the mornings making a pattern on the wall just so. In an effort to capture these and other moments for them and as a reminder to myself to truly appreciate all that a season has to offer I’ve started attaching merit badges for things to my daughter’s jean jacket. I love looking at her wearing it and seeing the “strawberry picking” or “canoeing” badges and remembering a day or moment of her life this summer. Being a memory maker is my favourite job.. I can put that on my resume right?!
oh my gosh, the sweetest. the sweetest! you can definitely put that on your resume.
Oh my heart, I love this!