When my son was three weeks old, I took him to Brimfield with me (yes, postpartum insanity, but we survived) and there was a woman who pensively told me to cherish every day because it goes so fast. In the cycle of exhaustion that comes with a newborn, when I wasn't sure what day it was or whether I'd actually slept, time seemed magnified and endless.
She was right, of course, as I find myself with an almost 4 year-old who's lost all vestiges of babyhood, ready to head off to preschool for the first time. My husband has been feeling it as well and there's just the tiniest bit of sadness that accompanies this growth process (along with great relief that we'll finally have some uninterrupted time on our hands).
I've never gotten around to doing a baby book (though I have a box full of special items) and I'm not nearly as organized with the memories as I'd like to be. But one thing I did for the first year was take a photo of my son each month. I kept it as simple as I could, the photo taken in the same window (the only window that got light in my New York apartment) until he was 10 months old and we moved to New Orleans. I look at these now and it seems like just yesterday and such a long time ago. I'm so happy I did just that one thing.
As he heads off to school, I'm looking for new traditions to implement in our lives. What do you do (or have done) with your children that works for you?
I love these ideas and I'm going to start implementing them from day one. Thanks, ladies!
Posted by: Suzonne | 09 August 2010 at 08:14 AM
So sweet!! As for starting school. The morning of the first day I take a picture of the child with a hand drawn note, "Goodbye (insert grade) and Hello (insert grade)!". I let the child write the note themselves and it's wonderful to see the child as well as the handwriting change as the years go by. My oldest starts college this fall. Do you think I could get him to hold up a note this year? Nah... probably not. :)
Posted by: Wendy | 09 August 2010 at 07:58 AM
We pick one great thing that was learned or made at school and put it on our cork board in the kitchen. Our kids tell us what it is, how it was made, or whatever story they feel like telling. It is fun and gives us a good conversation over dinner.
If I could start again, I would have purchased some kind of big container and started saving the cutest work in an organized way from the start. Now I am just shoving both kids' work in a large drawer hoping to have the interest in organizing some day...maybe when I am retired??? lol
Posted by: lorrie spotts | 07 August 2010 at 09:48 PM
Those pictures are so sweet! Great idea! His eyes are gorgeous- those eyelashes too! It does go so fast and it is for sure sad... but there really are good things about each new stage. I can't think of any interresting traditions, but they all come home from school famished so we always head straight to the kitchen and while they eat they usually open up about the day and tell me random things that happened. That's nice to have a little happy time before I have to start being task master with homework and chores!
Posted by: Katie | 05 August 2010 at 01:27 PM
Awww. Love those baby photos. Wish I had done that with my four!
Special breakfast for the first day of school is always a must in our house. :)
Bring kleenex to his first day. lol You'll need it. You might make it back to the car, but you'll still need it. :)
Posted by: Sierra | 04 August 2010 at 10:01 AM