Photo by Steve Wilson
Written by Steady Mom contributor Kat of Inspired to Action
We were sitting around our dinner table when my six-year-old began her reminiscing.
"Mama? Wasn't it SOOOO much fun when we camped out under the tree at Christmas time? I liked staying up late and watching a movie together. I love when we do that. It was a blast! Can we do it again next year?"
The funny thing is, that's not at all how I remember it.
I seem to recall two very giddy, giggly girls and a somewhat grumpy mommy who wanted to go to sleep.
"Girls, no more talking now. It's TIME to go to sleep."
Giggle. Giggle. Talk. Talk.
"Girls."
Giggle. Giggle. Talk. Talk.
"GIRLS."
Quieter, but still present...
Giggle. Giggle. Talk. Talk.
"GIRLS!!!"
I think I then issued some sort of ridiculous ultimatum that I really had no intention of enforcing because, well, who wants to be the mom that ruins Christmas?
So I proceeded to just be grumpy and ruin it anyway. Or so I thought.
But apparently, my kids have better memories than I do. They both talked at the dinner table about that night as if it was the best thing EVER.
Which taught me an incredibly freeing truth.
I learned that sometimes, to be great moms and create great memories for our kids we don't need everything to be perfect. We don't need to get it just right.
We don't even need to always be in a good mood.
We just need to try. We need to set the stage and do our best.
We remember our regrets, but our children remember our intentions.
May that truth encourage you as you make memories with your kids today.
*Have you ever been surprised to find your child's memory of an event differs from your own?*
Kat blogs at Inspired to Action, a site helping moms develop the skills they need to manage their homes and raise children who are prepared to change the world. Kat and her husband Jimmy live in Texas and have 3 children ages 7, 5 and 3. Kat loves music, running, technology, Jesus and Tex-Mex food. Not necessarily in that order.
