Mommy's Handbook - Entry #1 Making Memories

Making Memories....

I work outside of the home so it is very important to me that my children are surrounded with loving and fun memories during the time that I am with them. I am going to share with you some ways that I made these memories with them.

Let each child pick a day where they get to pick the dinner menu. Now this may end up being just mac n cheese but let them have full control over the dinner menu. If you have older children then let them not only plan the meal but cook it too. They can even prepare a special them night for the family. For example if they want to do mexican night they can fix tacos, they can research Mexico on the internet and create some fascinating facts to share with the family. They can decorate the eating area too. Let their imagination soar and give them the freedom to express themselves.

We also like to have special nights in our family. Like movie night or picnic day. We will make posters advertising the event and hang them up around the house several days before the event. This will make the day even more exciting and the anticipation will build more and more each day.

How about having a talent show once a month? You can make posters and each child can decide what talent they want to share. They can even make tickets for mom and dad to get into the event. Make it a big deal and host a special dinner or dessert that night.

Another good idea is to have an "I remember when..." night for each of your children. Each child is given a specific night when they are the star. Gather home videos of the child, special projects that they have made throughout the years, photos, etc. Serve that child's favorite meal and mom and dad share special memories they have of that child. Every child loves to hear about when they were little. The other siblings can get into the fun too by telling different things they remember about their sister/brother too.

One thing that we do at the dinner table is tell our high and low. We ask each child (and mom and dad too) what their high of the day was (the best part of the day) and what their low of the day was (the worst part of the day). This can open communication and allow your child to share with you their joys and sorrows. You can help them through their sorrows when you know what happened to them that day.

Have an art show....it works kind of like the talent show. Each child showcases their artwork as mom and dad take a tour of the show.

Have backwards day. Everyone comes to the table with their shirts on backwards and serve dessert first!

Creation Island -- Make hamburgers on the grill and have everything imaginable for each family member to top off their burgers with. (This can also work with baked potatoes and pizza)
For a twist have family members draw a name of another family member and they create that persons meal for them.

Make a big deal over small accomplishments. When my oldest recently came out from the dentist with a report of no cavities we did a little happy dance a song right there in the dentist's office.

Holidays...
Christmas -- don't just decorate your tree....get all the family involved. What we do is get the tree up and the lights on and then the family gathers around the tree, we put Christmas Carols on and as I pull out each and every one of the ornaments I tell the story of that ornament. Where it came from, when we bought it or who gave it to us. Every one of our ornaments has a story....if it doesn't have a story.....it doesn't belong on our tree. Then each child and mom and dad too, take turns hanging the ornaments on the tree. Our tree is never one of those picture perfect trees where everything matches and is all one color scheme. Our tree is a family Christmas tree and I encourage yours to be the same.
Another good idea is to have a goodie tree in your kitchen. This is a small tree that is on your kitchen table and on the tree is all sorts of edible yummies. Homemade cookies and candies all individually wrapped and hung with ribbon. Then the children can get a special treat off the tree every day. And visitors enjoy the goody tree too.

Thanksgiving-
This is probably my favorite holiday. Of course we go around the table and tell everything we are thankful for, the children create something homemade for the dinner table. Sometimes they create placemats sometimes it is placecard holders. I have a special meanu that I fix every Thanksgiving and my children and hubby know and love the meal.

Halloween -
We go camping every halloween. We decorate our camper and we give out candy to all the children who are camping at the campground. This provides a safe and happy halloween.

Easter -
Another one of my favs. We plant jellybeans Easter morning before breakfast and after breakfast we go outside and the magic jellybeans have bloomed into lollipops growing out of the ground...amazing! We do not do the Easter Bunny...we want nothing to take away the meaning of this most sacred religious holiday. Our children know what Easter is all about. We have a special meal and they get an Easter basket and outfit for church.

Other fun stuff....

Don't forget the special notes in the lunchboxes! It means more to your child then you can imagine. Sometimes spruce it up and send an inexpensive special card. Or maybe put a message on your child's banana peel -- it is easy just "scratch" a message on the peeling of the banana and by the time your child eats his lunch the message is easy to read. Make up little poems or cute rhymes about your child and stick it in their lunchbox. Make it fun and exciting.

Celebrate your child's half birthday....exactly 6mos from their birthday celebrate with half a cake and half the candles.

Have a special plate in your family and when a child makes an A on a test, wins the soccer game, or any other accomplishment have that child's meal served on the special plate. You may want to include a little notebook with the plate to record the special events that have been celebrated on that plate.

Create a time capsule. As a family create your very own time capsule and open it in five years together.

As you can see there are many, many ways to create fun memories with your children. These are all things that you can do on little or no money and they will be priceless to your family.