How do we Make Memories?

With LIZARDS!!



Yes, lizards. My boys and I have been playing a "gotcha last" type game with my mom for some months now. And the boys LOVE it. I started it on our trip to the lake this summer. I happened to pack a container of lizards for the kids to play with while we were there. (yes, it was just by chance--no pre-conceived intention at all) Real lizards love the lake...and it gave me an idea. I proceeded to hide a bunch of these cheap, plastic lizards all over the place so my mom would find them. Coffee pots, silverware drawer, her make-up bag, next to her toothbrush. And after a few days, the boys caught on and started playing along. These little characters love it and we have spent a lot of time coming up with new places and ways to get Nana!! And don't be fooled by my ever-sweet and genteel mother...she plays right along with us!!


Making memories is a part of life. Some memories are so much fun and some we would rather leave behind. My mom has tried to teach me that everything has memory-value. Even those things that do not seem fun at the moment. She has said to me in moments of complete disgust: "We are making memories." So, I strive to make as many happy memories with my kids as I possibly can. I am not always very good at it. Because I have found I am not very creative. But it doesn't take much. Sometimes all it takes is a little plastic lizard.


I will even stop here and share a very fond memory from my childhood/teenage years. All it took then was some oddly placed, cheap waterguns. My middle brother decided he was going to start something. Instead of screaming and hollering that the house was going to get drenched, my mom chose to join in! At the time there were only 4 of the 5 of us at home. My oldest brother must have already gone off to college. But the rest of us played water-gun-war in my house that day!!! It was simply a blast. I don't think it lasted a very long time. And I personally don't remember a huge mess. (but I probably wasn't the one that did much of the cleaning either) But the simple fact that my very orderly and good-housekeeping mom was able to let down her clean-house guard and have some real light-hearted fun with us was precious!!! And I will not ever forget it.


I hope that I will remember it enough that it will make a positive difference in my children's lives.

"Don't sweat the small stuff." And go out and make some sweet and fun memories with your children!!





And by the way, mama, we got you last!!!!