Childhood Memories

I have a date this evening!! I am so excited about my date!! I can't wait to get home, dress in something nice and go on my date!!  We're not going very far.  In fact, we're not leaving the house.  Tonight, A'jamaani has invited me to join her for a tea party!! I'm pretty sure Jamaal and Drake are going to join us and I absolutely can't wait!!

What is your favorite memory about your childhood? I always think about my memories from my childhood and the impact on those memories.  I wonder if my parents ever thought about the memories I would have.  I must say, it's the one constant thing on my mind as I raise my children.  I wonder what my kids will say when asked the question as an adult.  My favorite childhood memories are clear.  I loved all the time I spent with my parents and my sister and brothers.  It's funny, I can't remember the clothes or shoes.  I can't remember the over the top birthday parties.  Those things does not have an impact on my life today.  However, I do remember my mom and my sister teaching me to ride a bike.  I remember my mom's face when I finally did it on my own.  It's a memory that lives in my mind.  I remember my dad bringing home the best goodies from his job and letting us really enjoy them.  I remember my sister bringing me to the school ground and letting me skate with her and her friends.  I remember the baseball summers and the bike club.  I remember the barbeques and crawfish boils when my parents were throwing down on the food.  I remember Saturday mornings with my sister and brothers.  I have all these memories and for some reason I can't remember the "stuff". 

As a parent, I hope to help create the same memories for my children.  I want them to remember the times we spend together not the amount of money I spent on them.  I want them to remember story time and tea parties.  I want them to remember learning to ride their bikes.  I want them to remember the road trips that we take and how much fun we have singing in the car.  I want them to remember all the times I went to their schools just to check in on them.  I want them too remember how involved we are in their education.  I want them to remember this because I know the impact of these kinds of memories. 

So many parents are really friends with their kids.  They think their kids are going to remember all the toys they bought them.  They think their children will remember the new phone they gave them.  They think their children will remember that brand new pair of shoes.  They think they can buy their children's love as a child and when their children become adults the children will remember all the things.  I love to be the bearer of this news: your children will not remember any of that stuff.  What your children will remember is if your face lit up every time they entered a room.  They will remember their favorite book that you read to them.  They will remember you cheering them on for getting an A on a test or a smiley face on their homework.  If you think you have to buy their love now then I can assure you will be in debt to their love later.  Look at your life and the foundation it has been built on.  You can always tell the kind of parents someone had by the way the raise their children.  I know some things about the way you raise your children will change but if the foundation is strong then you will value the time you have with your children. 

I know so many parents who have spent more money on their children than they have spent time.  It's a sad thing but the reality is very real.  I'm not saying I'm the best parent but I am saying that I would rather spend 10 quality minutes a day with my children that to spend $1,000 on something that holds no value to a child.  So again I ask, What is your favorite memory about your childhood?  If you are honest with yourself about your childhood then you will probably notice the impact you are having on your children.  Just as a test to yourself, do something that you know will be create more of an impact to the memory of your children's childhood. 

I know so many parents who are creating the best memories for their children.  To you, I say, keep doing what you're doing and maybe we can be the parents who change the world for the better.  If we continue to raise our children with positive minds then we will create a cycle of happier children.  So while I'm enjoying my tea party with my kids this evening, I will make a toast to Happy Memories!!!!

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