My Memory Lane

Parents: What are your fondest memories of childhood, what memories r u trying to create for your children?

I know this sounds sappy but I want my kids to have nice memories even though I don't have enough financially to treat them to nice vacations, my parents were very poor and so my memories range from watching my mother sing while washing the windows to my dad sitting in his favorite chair and the smell of Marlboro Man lingering on his clothes as I hugged him. Simple moments. What are some of your favorite memories, and in what way do you try to create memories your own kids will cherish. Thank you everyone, have a wonderful weekend.

Public Comments

1. I remember family bike rides, and going to the lake, going to the zoo.. car rides, movies.. those are all simple and inexpensive.
2. Taking walks together, playing games together... rides to the country or to the mountains... those are my fondest memories. Our family now has a game night and I walk to pick them up from school so we can talk. We walk to the park together... we sing and dance together... and they love those things. Movie nights are fun too... inexpensive and cuddly and fun!
3. The comfort and security of my childhood home. My mother was a stay at home mom and was always there for me. My dad was always working and providing for our family. I had it good. My ex husband and I brought divorce into the lives of our children. They went through a lot however, they are good people. I am so sorry that I married so young without considering what God would want for me. I am listening to Him now and so are my children. I believe that they knew that they were loved when they were young though.
4. I didn't see my dad very much, but he would always take me fishing when we went camping. My mom would sometimes let me skip school and she would take me out to eat then to the park...little things like that, when I got to spend some alone time with my parents, were special. I want to make sure my son has a lot of good memories like that...
5. In a place we lived for about two years, we had a large field that was unoccupied next to our house. My mother went to the trouble of working out a deal with the owner of the field that if we cut the grass and tended it, we could use the space for a makeshift baseball diamond....though it was really overgrown at first, my dad, mom, and my family, along with some of the other kids in the neighborhood all pitched in and we cleaned the place up, and then set about constructing a pretty decent sized baseball diamond. For two summers, we had the full run of the baseball field, and not only my dad but lots of dads from the neighborhood played and taught us kids the great game of baseball. I try to instill a similar love for the sport with my kids, but mostly I think I just like spending time with them both and feeling involved with their lives and interests. You have a good weekend too!
6. My best and fondest memories are about the little trips we took- my Dad took us on jaunts to hike and see historic spots- most of them close to us, not always across the nation. We'd go to local dog shows, he'd take us to rodeos, to those car shows, boat shows, that sort of thing. He always was having us try new things. He'd say we are going to try new food this weekend! He'd bring home "exotic" things from where ever he had been- he was a salesman. This was way back in the 50's and early 60's and chinese food was exotic to us. LOL He would take us on any factory tours which had such opportunities available- we saw the Ford Plant, Pepsi plant, Kelloggs. We would go faithfully once a year to each museum. Those things don't cost too much money and are worth every red cent. We must stretch our children's minds to the world of possibilities out there. One of my Aunts brings back VERY fond memories- and all she did was spend time with us. She would let us hang out in her house on Saturdays, or after work. Let us try on her jewelry and fancy shoes! (she had tons of nice stuff, since she worked, and my mom didn't) She'd spoil us by giving us candy- (moms are strict about that) and take us to movies at least once a month. That meant the world to us. With my kids- since I was a stay-at-home Mom- I ALWAYS had an after-school snack ready when they got off the bus- and they had some time to snack, talk to me and play a bit before homework time. They now tell me how they LOVED that! How they would think about "I wonder if today's snack is brownies"? LOL We had Fridays nights as movie and rootbeer float night. They now tell me how they loved that and intend to start it with their kids. Yes, it is the simple time and attention given that we love the most, isn't it??