Are you having a challenging day, feeling frazzled and overwhelmed? Did the morning rush turn into chaos, leaving you feeling red-faced and shouting from the bottom of the stairs? “We’re late! Can we ever be on time?” As you hurriedly zip coats and tie shoelaces, frustration mounts. You’re exhausted—completely drained.
Is your patience stretched thin, barely at the surface? You didn’t even manage to eat your lunch, and your child’s face is smeared with remnants of breakfast. Are you hiding in the bathroom, just needing a moment of peace to collect your thoughts? Or perhaps you sit in your car after dropping them off at school, feeling regretful about the volume of your voice. “Why couldn’t I have been kinder today?” You might be banging your head against the steering wheel, wishing you could rewind the morning.
Do you worry about what they will remember of these moments? Are you concerned that when they look back on their childhood, they’ll only recall the angry words, the forgotten snacks, and the chaotic mornings?
Take a deep breath, Mama. Trust that they will not remember it all. Children do not analyze hours of their lives like a computer program. Their minds don’t keep score of your mishaps; they simply can’t.
As time passes, your children will view their childhood as a singular, comforting experience. They will merge the little moments, both good and bad, into a tapestry of feelings. The challenging mornings and your perceived failures will fade into the background.
They won’t recall the small mistakes: the time you forgot their favorite snack, or when you yelled, “Stop! I can’t take it anymore!” during that incessant practice session on their French horn. What they may remember is how you read them two stories even when you had work to finish.
Your children will cherish the memory of your face lighting up as they walked from school, the joy of being the first in the pickup line on a snowy day. They will remember the boot prints left in the snow, side by side, as you both playfully caught snowflakes.
They will hold onto how you shielded their eyes during bath time and the comforting scent of your neck as you kissed them goodnight. They’ll recall those Wednesday dance parties when their favorite song came on, unaware of your memories of a past romance connected to that tune. They’ll see you as vibrant and full of life, thinking, “Wow, Mama is beautiful.”
Your children will fondly remember your silly jokes, even if they don’t laugh at them anymore. They’ll picture you leaning in to apply mascara, your unique mannerisms etched in their minds, and how you allowed them to sit nearby, quietly observing.
They may forget that you burned the pancakes but will always remember the delightful smell of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls on Sunday mornings, cinnamon icing thickly spread. They’ll remember you apologizing when you raised your voice, acknowledging your imperfections while expressing your love for them.
This is what they will remember. If you doubt it, consider your own childhood. Reflect on what you recall from that time. Then, ask your children about their memories from last week, last year, and even when they were younger. What they share will likely surprise you.
Your children will not mention the small oversights or moments of frustration. Instead, they will remember your presence, your love, and your efforts. They will hold onto these memories most dearly. Trust that this is what matters, Mama, and cherish it.
If you’re interested in learning more about home insemination, you can explore our other blog posts, such as this one. For authoritative resources, check out Make a Mom for insights on artificial insemination kits, or Cleveland Clinic’s podcast for information on IVF and fertility preservation.