Saving Memories: Tips to Preserving the Funny and Meaningful Things Kids Say
All of our kids say cute things at the most unexpected times. Sometimes they are hilarious, “Mom, can you make my sandwich? I can’t STAND the smell of mayonnaise in the morning!” Sometimes they are so sweet it brings a tear to your eye, “Mom, you’re too far away. I can’t touch you. Sit next to me please.” Either way, it’s something you want to remember, whether you want proof of how sweet they really used to be, or so you can laugh together when they’re all grown up.
I started to share my son Matthew’s funny sayings on Facebook. It was these quotes that always received the most “likes” and comments from my friends. And many of the comments had something to do with “you should write this stuff down so you don’t forget it”. So I did! One of the first memories I documented on my computer was a “sweet” one that makes me cry to this day when I re-read it. It happened on September 10, 2009 (I know, because I wrote it down!) when Matthew was 4 years old. I was talking with him about death and he said he hoped we died together. I said that would be nice but that I was probably going to die first. He asked "why?" and I answered that it was because I was older and older people usually died first. Then he looked at me and said, "When you die, can you leave tracks so that I can find you?" OK, cue the tears. My heart melted. It was just too touching to not record. I really wanted to remember that one. And that’s how I got started. I kept typing things into my file as they happened so that I could always remember.
Admittedly I am one of the more anxious people you will meet. I worry about everything all the time. We just had our last child, and these days what I worry about is forgetting all the things that she does every day because I don’t have another one coming that will help me remind me. Will I remember how she sounds when she speaks gibberish to me? Can I possibly remember how it feels when she wraps her legs around me and holds on? That look on her face when she waits for me to say something? Or how it feels when she cries for only me? Video is great but you can’t press “Record” after your 3 year old says, “I can’t eat my waffles because my neck is dry.”
Whatever you decide, I think it’s worth the effort now. With how crazy all our lives are every day, even Supermoms need a little help with the small stuff. These memories seem small now, probably because they are so fleeting and you think there will always be more. But they’ll hold a very big place in our hearts later and you don’t want to miss it!
Tips to Preserving Memories
The following are some ways to preserve memories so that you can look back on them years from now and smile, laugh, and maybe even shed a few tears:
- Start a scrapbook.
- Create photo albums.
- Fill notebooks with your favorite quotes.
- Make photo slideshows.
- Turn photos into art.
- Design decorative shadow boxes.
- Visit My Mom Memories and share your favorite quotes.
How do you preserve memories?
Sarah Fielding is a working Mom of 3 kids. She started the website www.MyMomMemories.com with her Dad to help preserve the amazing things her children said. You can create your own FREE account now to archive your precious memories. Share. Save. Never forget.
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