Children have a quirky way of remembering things. They might cling to a moment from when they were just toddlers while forgetting where they left their shoes five minutes ago. My 5-year-old often reminisces about the time Dad burned the brownies two years back but fails to recognize the countless delicious batches we’ve made since. Wouldn’t it be great if we could handpick the memories they keep? Imagine them cherishing the bedtime stories while completely forgetting the mad dash for the school bus! Here’s a list of 12 things I hope my kids will remember—and 12 I hope they’ll conveniently forget.
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The enjoyable outings to the park, complete with water bottles, snacks, diapers, and changes of clothes, where we had a blast. (Let’s ignore that one chaotic day when one child bolted left and the other right, both heading toward the street, and I was there screaming and swearing as I chased after them, before cramming them back into the car as I continued to rant.)
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The peaceful walks to school, hand in hand, joyfully chatting about the leaves changing colors. (And let’s not revisit the day I found myself yelling in the hallway, “PUT ON YOUR ^&$%ING SHOES OR I’LL TOSS THEM ALL OUT!”)
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The time my little one accidentally knocked over the humidifier, and I calmly said, “No big deal, accidents happen.” (Versus the moment he knocked it over again, and I erupted with, “OH, FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE,” leading him to cry out, “It was an accident,” which stabbed my heart.)
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That rare occasion when my hair wasn’t a mess, and my outfit actually matched. (Not all those mornings I scrambled eggs in my pajamas while pondering if I had brushed my teeth.)
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The tender moments when I kissed little boo-boos and adorned minor scrapes with superhero Band-Aids. (Forget the time I brushed aside my child’s pain, telling him to “just shake it off” when he had a broken ankle.)
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The grilled cheese sandwiches with crusts trimmed, the peanut butter and jellies shaped like Mickey Mouse, and the pancakes poured into Eiffel Tower forms. (Let’s skip the memories of cheese sticks and oatmeal dinners because I forgot to grocery shop, either due to a hurricane or just plain forgetfulness.)
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The single time I was on the phone researching fun enrichment activities for the kids. (Rather than the countless times I was scrolling through Twitter instead.)
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The one glorious night I packed all the lunches and signed all the forms, laying out clothes for the next day. (Not the millions of frantic mornings we dashed out the door 20 minutes late, still munching on breakfast.)
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The many times I successfully remembered to pack lunches. (And not the moments I had to turn around halfway to school, all while cursing, to retrieve the forgotten lunches.)
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The Thanksgivings where the table looked stunning, with an array of elaborate sides and a perfectly cooked turkey. (Not the Thanksgiving when everything was ready—except for the turkey that never thawed.)
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The nights I read “Blueberries for Sal” cover to cover, even though a pint of ice cream and a new episode of my favorite show were tempting me. (Not the evenings I rushed through “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” in half a minute.)
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The Halloween when I sewed my son’s ninja/pirate/spider costume and walked him door-to-door for three hours. (Not the year I wrapped him in duct tape, dubbed it a robot costume, and told him to be home before dark.)
So here’s my wish as a mother: may they remember the joyful moments, the times I shined, and not the instances when I lost my cool in traffic or when we were perpetually late. And certainly not the multitude of burnt brownie incidents.
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Summary
In this humorous exploration of parenting, I share 12 cherished memories I hope my children will hold onto and 12 I wish they could forget. From fun outings to chaotic mornings, it highlights the ups and downs of parenthood, reminding us that while we may stumble, the good moments can shine through.