Making memories

I once saw a little plaque that caught my eye and pops into my mind often “You never know when you are making a memory,” When you really think about it, are your memories based on what was going on, or on how you felt?

Try it. Remember something from your childhood. I bet your memory is based on a feeling. Whether it is a memory from Disney World or from sitting on your front porch. You remember it because of how it made you feel.

Originally this plaque conjured up thoughts of my kids having sweet images of fun family vacations and cuddling on the couch reading as their memories. Then it hit me. You never know when you are making a memory can mean bad memories, too. I don’t get to pick and choose my kids’ memories. So now when things are getting a little ugly, I try to remember that my children may be making a memory. Do I want them to have memories of being guided lovingly and treated with respect and grace? Or psycho mommy memories? Cause psycho mommy doesn’t leave a case of the warm fuzzies tucked away in the ol' memory bank. Anyone? I fail miserably so often, but hopefully nice mommy outweighs psycho mommy in their minds.


One Christmas when I was growing up, my grandfather was in the hospital. We ended up spending Christmas day at the hospital with him and my grandma. You can imagine my unChristmasy feelings about this memory, huh? Well, my memories from that Christmas are really fun. My memories are of eating snacks and being silly and taking hilarious pictures of my dad being a goofball in the lobby. My memories are of going up and down elevators and getting drinks from the coke machines. Now the truth is, there is a chance that we sat in a depressing waiting room. That we were bored at some point. That we were a little sad. But if that was the case, I certainly don‘t remember that part of it. My parents knew the potential of spending Christmas at a hospital and they worked overtime to seemingly effortlessly execute a fun Christmas for me and my sister.

It comes down to this.

It is what we make it.

It takes effort.

And I think the effort is going to be worth it.