My Memory Notebooks

“It’s an alligator, Mom!” exclaimed my three-year-old son as he chased me around the kitchen with a clothespin.

Eight-month-old Sharon grabbed me around the neck and planted a wet kiss on my cheek. She looked at me with her big blue eyes and giggled.

Those were precious moments in a hectic day. I always want to remember those special times. But children grow and change very quickly, and too many of the funny sayings and little daily happenings are forgotten.

To help me remember the sweet moments of my children’s growing-up years, I bought a notebook for each child. At the end of the day, I often take a few minutes to jot down some key words or a couple of sentences about what the children did that day. Sometimes I record their likes and dislikes, special talents, or character traits they are developing. It takes less than five minutes to write in the notebooks.

Recording these moments not only preserves the memories but helps me appreciate my children and the sweet people they are. I enjoy looking back and reminiscing over past entries, and I’m sure my children will have fun reading them, too.—Cristy Cole Crump, Bonney Lake, Washington