In all the times we've moved, whether across town or out of town, there are a few boxes and Rubbermaids that get moved but never get opened or unpacked. These four boxes were found in one of those special forgotten Rubbermaids. These spectacularly decorated treasures are our Memory Boxes. Back when I was a cute mom, each new year I would get an old box, let the kids decorate it, and then we would fill it with favorite memories from the previous year and our hopes and dreams for the new year. We would trace the hands and feet of the little people, record heights and weights (for adults too...vomit!), and throw in some photos of our favorite moments. If the monkies were feeling especially generous, they would drop a little trinket or toy in the box, never to play with it again, but to be donated for future walks down Memory Lane.
Lil G was only 2 when we put together our first Memory Box. Her goals were to go to a movie and learn how to go potty. Hall Monitor was 3 that year. Some of her goals were to "eat snow", "learn to ride my bike", and "leave mom alone". As funny as those little goals sound and as much as we laughed at them as we read them earlier this week, I realized that my little Hall Monitor is quickly approaching her teens. Yikes! And looking back at that year of her trying to learn how to "leave mom alone", it was most likely because I was overwhelmed with 3 kids and told her to leave me alone. Ouch! Not good. Here comes the motherly guilt. So in honor of her, I devote this year to her not wanting to leave me alone and me not leaving her alone. (She's gonna hate me.) It's time for some serious bonding, whether she wants it or not. I've gotta kick it in the butt before she's too embarrassed to admit that we're related.
