Rachel Kiser
Blogger | Mom of Two

The other day I had the rare treat of taking just my daughter out with me to get groceries. Normally these trips are a little more rushed, as I’m carting around her little brother who alternates between wanting to be held, wanting to ride in the cart, and attempting to run and grab anything and everything he can get his hands on (autonomy is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?). With just the two of us, we were able to take it slow. It’s still a chore that needs to be done, but it’s quality time together, too. I love being with her.

On our way back to the car, she hopped up onto the bars in front of me to hitch a ride as I pushed the cart in the parking lot. She quickly noticed the bumpy pavement and the way it was loudly rattling our cart. She giggled and made humming sounds, varying her pitch, just to hear what the bumps did to her voice. “Uhhhhhhhhhhhh…..UHHHHHuhhhhhhh” she droned, as I pushed her faster.

It was one of those moments of clarity where I so vividly remembered doing the exact same thing as a child. It hit me: if I have memories of doing these things at her age, she may very well someday, too.

I don’t know why, but I think, in some way, I’ve gone through my kids’ almost five years not realizing that their memories are being collected now. Not in the future. Today. We are in the thick of life, where the hours turn into days and days into weeks, and so on.

When we grow up and form significant relationships, there are instances from our past that we choose to reveal in conversation, because they’ve shaped who we are as a person. They offer insight into who we have become. When we hit the age of self-awareness, we look to the past to give us clues as to why we do, think, or feel what we do.

As I navigate adulthood myself, I’m realizing that these things are important facets of our being. We, as parents, play an active role in helping our kids form these earliest memories. What do we want them to remember?

I want them to remember that my husband and I were a consistent presence in their lives. Behind those giggling, bumpy rides on shopping carts, I stood firmly behind my daughter, keeping her from falling and pushing her forward just to hear her laughter.

I hope they remember their feelings of unadulterated joy and contentedness as they play and touch and smell and learn. The wonder of experiencing life’s ‘firsts’.

When they’re older, and they don’t need us as urgently as they do now, I hope they still remember that we were never too busy for them. That we said ‘yes’ often, and that being a part of their lives brought us so much joy. This is a beautiful foundation upon which their self-worth, confidence, and identity will hopefully be built.

So, knowing that these days are upon us, let’s do our part in mindfully creating childhood memories that are significant.

What are some of your most cherished memories from growing up? We’d love to hear! 

About Rachel Kiser

Rachel is a wife and mother living in Raleigh, North Carolina. She’s a fan of good coffee, wearer of gray t-shirts, and is constantly starting books she will never finish. Her family is her joy, and she loves to engage with other moms and dads on matters of parenting. Her blog posts have also been featured on the Today Show Parenting Blog and Scary Mommy.

View all posts by Rachel Kiser here.