Dinah and Eloise had birthdays this month!
The 4 year old!
The 6 year old!
Each year I write the girls a letter on their birthday.
I also do it at random times throughout the year... but
I make sure to do it on their birthdays.
I tell them a little about themselves, silly things
they have said or done, their favorites, and about
their special day. Since I got a polaroid instamax
camera for my birthday this year, I took a little
picture of the birthday girl, put it in the envelope
with my letter and sealed it up. I put their names on
the outside and then stick it in their memory box.
Recently, I had to go out and buy BIGGER memory
boxes! I went through the old ones and shed many
tears at the memories of pictures, special baby items,
drawings, little notes and ultrasound pictures.
There were many sealed envelopes (from me!) in
the boxes. My hope is that one day when they are
older (out of school or even older than that), they
will open those boxes and appreciate the memories
and, especially, the words that I have written just
for them. We never know what circumstances we
may find ourselves in. If something happens to
me - young or old - I want my girls to remember
the good (and bad)... and how much I love them.
I know you don't need notes and trinkets to express
your love. We can show love to each other every
day - but I'm quite the sentimental type and I
hope my girls appreciate the time I've taken to
write things down for them.
I've even started a Memory Box for the new baby
(due in July!). So far it only contains ultrasound
pictures, but I plan to start adding to it with a letter
or two before baby is born.
My mom's mother passed away unexpectedly
from a brain aneurism when my mom was only about 6
years old. She has a spiral bound steno notebook
(from the early 1960's) that has her mother's
words and handwriting in it. It's a journal of sorts that
tells little bits and pieces of her life with her husband
and 3 kids. What a special thing to have so many
years later! It may seem silly - but I treasure that
book! I will never know my grandmother here on
earth, but I have a glimpse into who she was and
the joys she shared.
Do you (did you) keep a memory box for your
child/ren?
