Since becoming a mom, while we have gotten our kids so many toys and they’ve been given so many toys – I want to give them more experiences and memories than toys that they will enjoy playing for a day or two, then get tired of it. People are always saying that I’m always taking pictures. Which is true. And while I do take a lot of pictures, I am still enjoying the moments. People say that when you’re busy taking pictures and videos, you can’t enjoy the moment. Well, that’s not completely true. I am almost always taking pictures and videos when I’m doing something with my kids AND I am enjoying the time that we spend together. It’s not a bad thing to want to take pictures of everything. People think I’m “over the top” with pictures and videos, but I honestly don’t care what they think about me. Especially when I’m taking pictures and videos of my family.
The sad part is – basically all of my pictures and videos with the kids are there because I take them. Myself. No one is ever taking pictures of me and my kids together, unless I get them professionally done. Which people also probably think I get done too much. But if I have to pay someone to take pictures of me and my family (that aren’t selfies), because no one else will, than that is what I will do. I want pictures with my children that aren’t selfies. I want pictures of me doing things with my kids, whether I ask them to take the pictures and videos or not. Which I usually have to ask for it to be done. And even then, unless it’s done on my phone, I hardly get those pictures sent to me. Which is also sad. But anyway….
Memories and experiences. I want my children to have more memories and experiences than toys that lie around the room and collect dust. While some toys can be good and fun and last awhile, I’d rather the kids and my family be gifted an experience (or money to choose what we want to do with the kids as an experience), since not everyone may know what we like to do and such. Or so we can maybe try something new. I’ve asked people to not give the kids toys and to give an experience or something of the sort, but they don’t always listen. Which isn’t exactly new with people! They rarely listen! haha!
Sort of like me, people say that I’m hard to read and get to know. But no one asks to hang out with me to get to know me more. I’m also not a hard person to please or get to know. I love soft fuzzy blankets, snow globes, iced coffee and Lord of the Rings! It doesn’t take much to make me happy! I’ve thought of asking people if they want to go out and do something, but I’m always the one to reach out, and honestly – I’m getting kind of tired being the one to reach out. Communication goes both ways. I want people to want to see me, too. Not just my kids. And since becoming a mom, that’s all people really want to do – see the kids. Just like after the baby comes – do they ask about the mom? Not really. They just ask about the baby. But anyway, that’s for another blog post!
Ughs sorry! I always run off on a tangent! But that’s just me, I guess! Sorry not sorry!
Anyway, after we are gone, what are our children going to remember? That they got a lot of toys as kids? Or all the places that they visited and experiences that they were able to do WITH their Mom and Dad? Life as a parent isn’t always easy or sunshine and rainbows, there are arguments. We don’t want our kids to remember or think that “mom and dad fought a lot.” and that’s all they remember. Adults aren’t always going to agree on everything. It is about how they go about the disagreement and act on things. It is okay for the kids to see the parents argue, to an extent. Because they need to see how the parents also makeup after said argument. Life isn’t easy. The kids don’t need to know all the problems that go on in the home, financial or marital. Those need to be between the parents to work out together.
I try to do a deep clean at least once a week, if not every 2 weeks. My husband always say that I’m angry-cleaning when I do that, but that’s how I am. Once I start cleaning and I get into a groove, that’s all it is – a groove! I focus on my cleaning. We have so much clutter, and I want to get rid of as much of it as I can. Whether finding storage so it doesn’t look so messy and cluttered or actually getting rid of it or giving it away. Another reason to have more experiences than toys – unless it’s souvenirs from the trip and such. Those are okay! š Again, they’re memories from that trip, that experience with the family. Like a snowglobe! Every time I go somewhere, especially with my family, I will get a snowglobe if I can find one that I like, and if it doesn’t have to location or the year on it, I will write it on the bottom of the snowglobe. So see?! It doesn’t really take much to make me happy! I’m pretty much an open book! If you don’t treat me or my family right, I have no problem with you! But I also don’t like it when you may talk to my kids and even my husband but basically ignore me. That – I don’t like. This part may sound kinda harsh or whatever word you want to use but…I birthed the children, they wouldn’t be here without me (and my husband). If you ignore me and talk to the others like I’m not there, or exclude me from things that you are trying to invite the kids (and their dad) to, but “forget” me – then we will have a problem.
I may have been excluded a lot, not just as a kid but even now, as the mother of my kids. I’ve also had people ask my husband if I’m okay because of some of the posts that I’ve posted, because they seem depressed and stuff. They don’t always mean that I’m depressed – it’s called sharing for others, so they don’t feel alone. But those people can also ask me directly. I’m not a hard or scary person to talk to.
But anyway, again, that may be for another post, if I’m feeling brave enough! š
Main point of this blog post – give your children experiences, not toys! Unless they’re souvenirs from the experiences! I’m sorry if you get offended at some of the things I wrote in here, but I feel like not many people read my blog anyway. At least people I know. It’s usually strangers that support you more than people you actually know. Isn’t that funny? But funny enough, it’s actually true, sadly. But anyway – hope you have a great week!
