Childhood: a bunch of awkward phases and lessons that taught you everything you know. We get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, but here are some reasons why you need to talk a walk down memory lane. Our cherished memories are replaced with bank account info and work schedules. Take a moment this week to take a break from being an adult and focus on being a kid again.
1. See how much your family adores you
Your parents look at you with awe and bask in the glow of your life. Whether it’s a few or a bunch; grandparents, sisters, friends, and others alike line up to get a glimpse of little you. It makes you realize how much your childhood was cherished.
2. See your parents in their prime
Chances are, it’s been a while since your parents have been hot commodities; reliving pictures or getting lost in old film brings back a certain, warm nostalgia. Go down memory lane with some good company and get lost in your childhood stories.
3. A great way to break the ice
Been a few years since you’ve had a family reunion? Dust off the albums and rewind the VHS tapes, because everyone wants to relive the old times. As you turn each page, another story comes to life. The pages fill with words as each member contributes a story or a bit of information.
4. Open your eyes to the world around you
Most childhood memories are extremely one-sided. As we age, we ruffle out our personality wrinkles until we learn to be productive members of society. While we mature and grow into adults, we also learn to comprehend and learn from others experiences. You’d be surprised how much you can learn from listening to your relatives for a couple hours.
5. Watch your parents learn to parent you
No parent can ever be perfect; whether you’re the oldest, youngest, or only child in their lives, they still would not be who they are without you. Each individual makes a family complete, and you will learn just where you fit in.
6. The importance of capturing memories on tape
On-the-go moms generally don’t have time to snap a picture anytime baby does something cute, but we must keep in mind that childhood is short. Before we know it, little ones walk right out of the house and move on to pursue their own dreams. Remember to take a moment to document the important things. I promise you’ll miss them one day.
7. Get acquainted with the decades
Whether your aunt is rockin’ 80’s glam or your brother has suspenders, we’ve all witnessed fashion disasters of epic proportion. Take a moment to get lost in the political and emotional events that happened before you can remember. Walk in the shoes of someone who has seen a world much different than you, and open your eyes to a world that’s been turning centuries before you came along.
8. Family pets are never gone
Remember that dog you had when you were five? You might not remember him well, but I’m sure your parents do. Pets are just as meaningful to a family as any child, and we treat them as such. See your kitten when it was just a few days old and appreciate the life you shared with a fur baby.
9. You weren't always so good with words
Long before there were boys and makeup, there were Barbie dolls and crayons. These old films bring you back to simpler times, when your hair could be a matted mess and you were still damn precious. A time when all anyone wanted was to see you flourish and play.
10. Remember when alone time wasn't a thing
As many of us start adulating, we learn to appreciate solitude. After a long day of work or exhausting day at school, we want nothing more than to unwind before the night ends. In the old days, it wasn’t like that; any visiting friend was an automatic playmate for the night. You were put in the care of relatives and friends for most of your life. Now, we can’t even shell out the time to give Ma a call so she knows you’re alive. Keep in mind our loved ones gave a lot of time and energy to make you into the awesome person you are today.
11. You have a reason to be proud
You see that drooly thing that can’t hold its own head up? That was you one day- maybe decades ago, maybe a couple years. You’ve grown and blossomed into the unique you that you are today, and that’s something you should hold onto. For a period of your life, you couldn’t even master putting one foot in front of the other. Be proud of who you are, and rejoice in your success!
