Featured Article: Making Memories

Making Memories by Sarah L.
Originally published in the Summer Newsletter 2013

Have you ever thought about what memories you are making with your kids?  It is hard having little ones running around the house because there is always something to do. A mom is never, ever "done" with chores. There is the laundry, cooking, cleaning, potty training, nursing, diaper changing, errands....It can be both overwhelming and boring at the same time.

With something always on the "To-Do" list it is easy to get caught up in the list of things we need to get done and forget to spend time making memories with the kids. At one of the May MOPS meetings the Mentor Mom challenged us to think about what matters long term. Does a clean house matter or does spending time playing with the kids matter? The answer is obvious but it sure is hard to do when you are caught up in the moment and overwhelmed with housework.

Since I have two kids in elementary school and one still in diapers I have seen how quickly time goes by.  I also know I can't stop it either. If we don't stop and savor these moments they will pass by unnoticed. How do you find a balance?

I came up with a plan I think will work for my family. Each day we will do something fun. It doesn't have to be grand or expensive, it could be baking cookies, going on a walk and exploring nature, cloud watching, dancing, tickling, snuggling, making homemade Popsicles, or having a movie night.  Then once a week, we will just forget the chores and have fun. On this day we will go to the park and have a picnic, go to the movies, the zoo, have a play date, or try something new. We will schedule time together, maybe even put it on our "To-do" list. We created a Summer Bucket List of fun ideas we want to do this summer. At least once a week we are going to check something off our list and in the meantime we will be making memories that will last a lifetime.  I challenge you not to let the summer go by without making some lasting memories with your kids. Enjoy this short stage of motherhood or it will be over before you know it. The laundry can wait but our babies won’t.

The kids and I will be working hard on our summer bucket list and I will try to post the highlights for you.