Remembering Yesterday
May 14 2010 I am participating in Momalom‘s Five for Ten. Today’s topic is about Memory.
One: A boy, 6 and a half years old. Dirt under his fingernails. He wore camouflage pajama pants with a hole in the knee. His shirt wound up with a chocolate streak down the front. One more loose tooth in a body that seems far too large for the little baby I could have swore he still was. He is constantly in wonder, his life these days a perpetual question. Today, as we fed ducks, “Are ducks birds? Why do ducks like bread? Do birds like bread? Why do birds lay eggs?” This went on for awhile.
Two: His brother, just turned 4. The brightest smile I’ve ever come across and mischief in Transformer shoes. Yet when he’s on, I know what a great kid he can be. “Make a face”, he says in the morning when the bathroom mirror is foggy. He worked so hard to maintain his concentration at class today, putting together puzzles and picking up the pieces to put in a bin. A Buzz Lightyear sticker that he wore on his arm. We held hands and laughed as the wind tried to blow us away.
Three: A girl, on her way to 2. How could that be possible? Knows exactly what she wants and doesn’t accept any substitutes. The fiercest temper. Curls forming at the sides of her hair, long wisps sticking out from behind her ears. I could hear her calling for “Mommy!” before I ever opened the door today. She makes my heart melt and cry at the same time. She skipped her nap and fell asleep on daddy’s chest, barely waking as I tucked her under her soft covers.
The narrations of today are tomorrow’s memories of yesterday.
Time is a funny thing. We try so hard for it to speed up and then wonder why it won’t slow down. Day in and day out is easy to forget. That’s why I write, here. So that I can remember, at least partial pieces. Before it’s all nothing more than a blur in a disjointed memory.
32 Responses
on May 14 2010
“That’s why I write, here. So that I can remember, at least partial pieces. Before it’s all nothing more than a blur in a disjointed memory.”
Amen to that. It’s the same reason I write.
Here’s to the Memory Keepers!
.-= Justine´s latest blog post: 18 months baby! =-.
on May 14 2010
Writing is a powerful gift to have. I am often glad that I have kept a journal for so many years of my life, because without it there are SO MANY things that I simply would not remember. What I wouldn’t give for some “narrations of today” from my own mom…they would be so, so precious now! Keep on writing. You need it now, and some day, your kids will thank you.
on May 14th, 2010
@Jenn M, I agree. My mom was pretty good about keeping photo albums and mementos, but nothing takes the place of words on paper (or blog).
on May 14 2010
I love this…yes, todays moments are tomorrows memories.
.-= SuziCate´s latest blog post: Freaks, Geeks, And Squeaks =-.
on May 14 2010
Also one of the reasons I try to get it all down. So I don’t forget. Or at least have a hard copy for when I do.
I liked the last part the best…about wanting to speed it up and then wondering why it won’t slow down. so true.
on May 14 2010
What a sweet way to remember the day! It’s probably best, if I did it, to write it down immediately, because I can’t remember anything these days.
.-= Krystyn´s latest blog post: It’s your turn|PSF =-.
on May 14th, 2010
@Krystyn, I have a hard time remembering most, too, which is why I try to write it down as soon as possible.
on May 14 2010
“We tried so hard to speed it up and then wonder why it won’t slow down.” So true, that was a total lightbulb moment for me.
My oldest is about to turn 4. Aren’t they the most amazing, thinking creatures at that age. To see them blossom into themselves, just wow!
.-= Christine LaRocque´s latest blog post: Wisdom to hold on to =-.
on May 14th, 2010
@Christine LaRocque, Mine’s still a little rambunctious. OK, a lot rambunctious. I’m hoping he calms down here pretty soon. But when he’s briefly sitting quietly or taking it all in, those are great.
on May 14 2010
I love this little snippet of time, preserved. THIS is what blogging is about, isn’t it?
.-= Amy @ Never-True Tales´s latest blog post: ‘Member Me =-.
on May 14th, 2010
@Amy @ Never-True Tales, It really is.
on May 14 2010
“We try so hard for it to speed up and then wonder why it won’t slow down.”
Yes. I often wonder why I can’t speed up the icky parts (sleepless nights) and slow down the incredible parts (cuddles). Then I remember that even those icky parts are needed.
on May 14th, 2010
@Amber, If you can find some way to speed up the sleepless nights, though, could you pass it on. It would be appreciated.
on May 14 2010
It is easy to forget the day in, day out. But it’s so important to try to hold on to some of it, to make sure our kids have good memories of it. Not to let it all fly by. Nice post. I really like “We try so hard for it to speed up and then wonder why it won’t slow down.” So true!
.-= ShannonL´s latest blog post: Five for Ten: Childhood Memories =-.
on May 14 2010
I love what you say at the end about why you write “here.” It’s why I started to blog, as well. To preserve what I could and remember. Great post!
.-= Jane´s latest blog post: Selective Memory – Crazy or Coping Mechanism? =-.
on May 14 2010
In my book, memory is 9/10th documentation! Thank goodness for blogs!
.-= Sue Campbell´s latest blog post: The Gift of Forgetting =-.
on May 14 2010
“The narrations of today are tomorrow’s memories of yesterday.” Absolutely. Storytelling is our way of weaving memories into our heart. Pausing to absorb the moment, to take it all in, is the key to great memories!
.-= Eva @ Eva Evolving´s latest blog post: It’s alright to not be happy =-.
on May 14th, 2010
@Eva @ Eva Evolving, I’ve noticed so much more now that I’ve been making a conscious effort to write it down.
on May 14 2010
I love that line too, what happens today will be our memories tomorrow and forever more of these days of magic and wonder with our children. Knowing all the while that all too soon they will be grown and fly the nest.
Lovely post
on May 14 2010
Time is a funny thing. We try so hard for it to speed up and then wonder why it won’t slow down. – Love this. It is a constant tug and pull with time. We want to hurry through what we deem as the trivial moments, but in reality, I think those are the moments that count and become etched in our memory.
.-= Rudri Patel´s latest blog post: Diamond Courage =-.
on May 14 2010
“mischief in Transformers shoes…” that is awesome! I love your description of all of them.
.-= TheKitchenWitch´s latest blog post: Veg-Head Monday: Zucchini Stuffed Tomatoes =-.
on May 14 2010
I find myself often frozen and petrified that I’m going to Forget. Forget the moments. The tiny toddler voices. The funny little sentences. The cute little looks and fine hair brushing against my cheek. So many yesterdays to keep track of. And tomorrows come to fast…
Great, beautiful post.
.-= becca´s latest blog post: Memory Do Over =-.
on May 14 2010
“We try so hard for it to speed up and then wonder why it won’t slow down.”
This is so true!
.-= Alisha´s latest blog post: I’ll Still Remember =-.
on May 14 2010
Your little girl and mine would get along fabulously… those tempers and the power of knowing what you want out of life
It doesn’t get any better!
Lovely post.
.-= Corinne´s latest blog post: {Five for Ten} Courage =-.
on May 14 2010
This is exactly why I blog. I love how you’ve captured it so succinctly. Also, I have a One and a Three. Such perfect descriptions!
on May 14 2010
Wonderful memories! You are blessed to have such wonderful kids. It made me to remember my childhood days full of fun and frolic. It was absolute madness. Its a great feeling now to think of old memories. This post is too good, it made me memories come alive. Thank you.
.-= Anto´s latest blog post: I Am What I Am, I Have No Substitutes – Day 19 =-.
on May 15 2010
This is exactly why I write too. The good, the bad and the loud…and especially the days I want to race through. Because, like you said, one day I know I’ll wish I was still stuck right in the middle of it all.
Great post!
on May 15 2010
Your details here are picture perfect, C. I think I need to take a page from your book in recording more details of ordinary days with my sons. When I write, I tend to reflect more about how I’m feeling than what they’re doing. I think both are important to capture, but the memories of how they played and ran and fought will be harder to get back.
.-= Kristen @ Motherese´s latest blog post: Memory is a Muscle =-.
on May 15 2010
What is that saying? The days are long but the years are short? It does go by fast, but at the same time, there are days I think will never end.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
.-= Cheryl´s latest blog post: Ballpoint Pen on a Paper Bag =-.
on May 15 2010
This is a great post…and why I write too!!
on May 15 2010
It’s funny, but I think about making memories for the kids far more often than I think about storing up memories for myself. I think they’re both important, Though, so maybe i better adjust my tactics…
on May 17 2010
“We try so hard for it to speed up and then wonder why it won’t slow down.”
This is such a lovely post. So so so so lovely. I don’t often write like this, picking specific bits about my kids and putting them into posts. I write a lot more about how I feel about them, my life, this crazy, hectic life. But I love how you have done this, and it makes me think perhaps I should start something just for them and me. Something to look back on.
.-= Sarah´s latest blog post: Lust for Lust =-.