I met a good friend yesterday who I have been friends with since school, at a park in a nearby town so that our children could meet up and play together. There was an open aired pool and it reminded me of many summer days spent at the swimming pool in Newbury where I grew up and lived until I was 12. I have fond memories of that outdoor swimming pool: it had a kiosk where you could buy Wham bars and those Highland toffee bars, and Monster Munch back in the days when pennies really could buy crisps! I would spend long days there with my friends during the summer holidays, sitting in the sunshine and playing in the pool.
I was sharing this memory with my friend, when she told me that she had been chatting to her neighbour only a few days earlier who had said that she was sad because her 40 year old daughter has no memories of her childhood. This neighbour was devastated because her daughter could not remember the things she did when she was a girl. My friend then told me that she would feel the same if her daughers said this to her in their adulthood, because she has always done so much with them. From crafty activities to swimming, walking their dogs, to holidays, to visits to the beach and all the other things they have done – it would make her think “why did I bother if none of those events evoked any memories good or otherwise?”
It got me thinking too. Obviously, my children will not recall the things we did when they were babies or toddlers but I hope to goodness that the things going forward will be. Thats why digital photography and my blog is so amazing because I am able to capture the things we get up to, our lives from one day, one week, one month and each year to the next. This will be a memory bank for my both my boys to look back on when they are older (and an aid to assit my failing memory as I also get older!), so even if they were to forget themselves (eeeek lets hope this is not the case), my blog will show them all the good (and bad) times we had and all the things we did as a family.
This week has been a ‘fun’ week for getting out and about as the weather has been dry which always helps. It has also been another week of doing as many things for as little money as possible, which I always enjoy because it means we make the most out of the simple activties but they are ones which the boys love. As I have said before, it is the everyday little things which make them happy and as long as we are doing something together then they enjoy themselves
bike riding
blackberry picking and eating
being a skater boy
at the park
picnics
visiting the Burton Art Gallery (yes that is its name much to his amusement!)
swinging from and climbing trees
splashing about in the sunshine
Happy days = happy memories and I look forward to making so many more with Burton and Jenson and recording them here in my special memory bank.
This post was brought to you as part of Flashback Friday
Remember – a flashback can be from any time whether it be yesterday, last week, last month, last year or yesteryear! It can be a flashback of your own, your children, your partner or your friends.
Helen
I’m sure your boys will have lots of great memories & your blog will help jog them when they’re older. I remember spending our 2p locker money on highland toffee bars or tomato flavour Snaps after swimming!
X
Jenny Paulin
cant believe you could get a locker for just 2p!!! x
pinkoddy
Your boys will be so proud to not only look at this blog but to show it off, to show just what an amazing mum you were (are). Looks like another great week.
I didn’t realise a flashback could be to yesterday – going to cheeky link up my yesterdays post, hope it counts.
Jenny Paulin
awww you say the nicest things 🙂 thank you
and yes a flashback can be from yesterday to yesteryear – a memory can be what you want it to be lol x x
Sal Jacobs
Ahh lovely idea, looking forward to all the nostalgic posts !
Notmyyearoff
This is why I started my blog – it was me that couldn’t remember anything about anything we did together and I’m really glad I did it. Lovely photos!
Kierna
Lovely as always Jenny & never fear, you are creating amazing memories whether you have proof through the blog or not. Love the tree photo & the one in the tyre swing. Hope you’ll add this to the link up as well. Thanks Kierna
Jenny Paulin
thank you Kierna i really hope so x x
Flashback Friday: 12th Century Ruins & Doctor Who | Whiskey For Aftershave
[…] perfectly with a blog-hop-linky-thing I’ve just discovered hosted by mummy mishaps called “Flashback Friday”. You basically post about a memory, old or recent, & include a photo or 2 if you […]
Mum's The Word 30
My memory is terrible, I can never remember what I do yesterday never mind many years ago. I fear when my little one asks me questions when I’m older and I’ll not be able to tell her. I’m sure your boys will remember many of the things you’ve done and it’s great that you do so much together. Lovely post and photos x
Louise
My memory is rubbish compared to my sister, but I know I had a lovely childhood x
emsyjo
It’s one of the reasons I love blogging as even looking back a year or so I’ve forgotten things. I was very lucky in that my parents took loads of photos (well, not by todays’ standards but for the 70s and 80s it was loads!) and Mum always took great care to put them all in albums so I ‘remember’ lots about my childhood even if I only remember from the photo if you know what I mean!
LauraCYMFT
Such gorgeous photos. Jenson is getting so big. I love taking photos. The idea of not having photos of our memories as the kids grow up is a bit scary! x
Melksham Mum
Lovely post Jenny. I often think about the memories I had and take the kiddies to the same places to create similar memories for them – obviously I have no control on what they actually remember but we are having a great time along the way! x
Kim Carberry
Aww lovely memories & fab photos x
JallieDaddy
Making memories, & recording them, is so important isn’t it? I’d’ve loved it if there was digital photography when I was youngl It just allows so many more photos – & videos to be taken. Great post, great photos 🙂
The Reading Residence (@ihavecards)
He has his own art gallery! The blog will show them all of the fun they had, and I’ve no doubt they’ll remember it as they grow – so much fun and you work hard to make their days enjoyable 🙂
Jaime Oliver
I started my blog to capture all the memories we missed. I am loving the fact we record so much of our life for the kids when they are older 🙂
Your pictures this week look fantastic it looks like you have all had a massive amount of fun x
katie
That seems so sad to not have memories from your childhood. I can remember quite a lot, the earliest being when i was 3 which is the age my eldest is now. I hope we are starting to make some lovely ones for him 🙂
Coombe Mill - Fiona
I’m sure the boys will remember their happy childhood but it will be nice for them to see the photographs of all the great fun they had making those wonderful memories. Thanks for sharing all your outdoor fun with Country Kids.
Emma T
Looks like it’s been a brilliant outdoors week
Mama Owl
What lovely photos, and I know just what you mean!
Cheryl
I have fond memories of going to a outdoor pool with friends, all summer long.
I started my blog for the same reasons. I wanted to remember the things we do and places we go. Even now, when a question comes up about when we did something, the children will tell me to check my blog!