Life moves sooo fast, and the faster it goes the quicker it seems that our big moments pass too. With the increased use of technology in our daily lives, we tend to take more pictures, telling ourselves it will help the memories last longer. I’ve learned, in my short 26 years on this earth, that the pictures don’t help us enjoy the memories, they simply give us proof that events happened. They can be very meaningful later in life when we want to reflect on and cherish the past, but what if we look back and find they aren’t meaningful because we never truly experienced them? When we spend too much time behind our phone and cameras, we never get to really experience the moment and become part of the memory. Let’s strive to begin making memories. Here is my promise to myself as I raise my babies. I want to truly live in those memorable moments.
1. I’ll get out from behind the camera and into more pictures. I want my kids to have proof that I existed from behind the camera. I tend to shy away from the camera sometimes, for various reasons. I may not like the way I look that day or I will make some other excuse. I don’t want to set an unhealthy example of body image for my kids. I want their little minds to have fun and enjoy taking photos with mommy and daddy!
2. I’ll enjoy the important moments with my babies and if there is time for a photo, I’ll take it, but not without enjoying the fun first. I want the moment to last and to remember the deep and meaningful parts of my child’s world before they are too big to hold tight anymore. I know I’ll look back someday and wish I had spent more time with them. Time is a precious thing that we can never get back. I don’t want to waste it.
3. I won’t be afraid to put on the swimsuit, wear the shorts, go on that random adventure, or do the thing that I worry others will judge me for. I want to be present and involved in every fun moment that I can. I don’t want to waste time worrying what others will think. Teaching my kids all different parts of life may include doing things that are outside my comfort zone. I pray that I can set aside my own fears and anxieties in order to help foster a sense of adventure and inquisitiveness in my children. I wont let my struggles hold them back.
4. I will put down my device and make eye contact with my babies. I will show them one on one face time. They deserve the entire me, present and smiling. I can’t be sticking my nose in a phone or tablet and also enjoy the smiles on my kids faces while they make memories, it’s simply not possible.
Technology is amazing and can connect us more than we could have ever thought imaginable, but it can also take away the precious moments if we let it consume too much of our attention. It is my hope and prayer that I am mindful of this temptation. I want to make lasting memories with my children, before they are gone from my home and raising their own families. The days may be long and tiring while my babies are so little, but these are the moments that I have now and I don’t want to waste them.
