Summertime Making Family Memories | Replay

Summertime – Making Family Memories

Episode 277, Making Family Memories

Making family memories is one of the most important things you will ever do as a family. As homeschool parents, we naturally make memories with our children each day, but in this episode, we explore making positive memories!

Thanks to our sponsor – Media Angels.

The topic of making family memories is very important to me, and I recall my own parents trying very hard with a meager budget to create memorable events for us each summer. There were eight siblings and they all pitched in to buy a house in upstate New York. I remember the house being very small but most of what I remembered was the stream with running water that ran across the property and we happily played in, the baths outside in a big steaming metal tub, and the huge play balls we enjoyed with my cousins. The food was delicious, the fresh watermelon and barbeque chicken on the grill.

This was a family adventure and we spent time there every summer up until I was in the third grade. One of my uncles was part owner of this house and when he aged and retired to Florida, he and my aunt were frequent visitors to our home and family events. He would smile as he surveyed the table, the decorations or the big homemade cake and his comments resonated with me, he would say that no matter what we do with our children each day, making memories is the most important.

I recently heard the same quote at a business meeting – and that seemed like the Lord’s confirmation that this is something so many of us need to hear. The quote was something like this, “People will forget what you say, what you do, but they will not forget how you make them feel.”

This is the basis for so many successful businesses. How do you feel when you walk into a coffee house, or a small mom and pop business where people say hello when you walk in the door? There are several brands that focus on the user experience – and that is the key to their success. Another brand continually updates their food, their product line because they listen to the customers and again they want to make the customer welcome and a “regular.”

Applying business principles to our families seems rather cold, but in reality, it is a good way to look at things through a different set of filters. I know what it is like to be sleep deprived and wake up early to see my husband off to work, then stay up late with a little one who just would not go to sleep! There was nothing special I thought I was doing during those years, but I was wrong. Spending time with your children is so important – listening to your children is another aspect of parenting often overlooked. When I discussed this podcast with my husband I asked him for his input and this is what he said was important and foundational for him:

1. Sharing the children’s interests
2. Learning about their passions
3. Making an effort to listen and be involved

Making memories with your children takes into consideration so many different aspects of raising kids. It’s those little things that the kids will remember and believe me, the strangest things you’ve done as a family stand out. When I asked one of my kids what they enjoyed the most about their week, they said helping Daddy paint! I have to admit it was a bit of a messier proposition than my husband had hoped and of course, it took longer but my son remembered that as the fun activity of the week.

Top 10 Activities to Make Memories with your family 

1. Faith building events
   1. Retreats
   2. Camps – as a family
   3. Bible studies
   4. One day events
2. Camping
   1. Slowly build up your camping gear
   2. Look for sales
   3. Ask around or borrow
3. Campfire Stories
   1. Begin with a topic
   2. Each person adds to a story
   3. One person shares a made-up story
4. Cooking together
   1. Use a boxed set of ingredients
   2. Try something new
   3. Use skewers
5. Work on a project together
   1. Painting
   2. Planting a garden
   3. Set up a swing set
6. Pets
   1. Visit pet store
   2. Think about pet sitting
   3. Think about purchasing a pet
7. Road trips/traveling
   1. Day trips – upcoming podcast
   2. DIY trips – here and here
   3. Visit friends or family on the cheap
8. Volunteer work as a family
   1. Habitat for Humanity homes
   2. Soup kitchen
   3. Ask at your local church, adopt a family
9. Backyard or neighborhood stargazing
   1. Learn about the stars
   2. Invest in good binoculars
   3. Go to the planetarium or local nature center
10. Collections – rocks, shells, antiques, etc.
    1. Decide on a collection
    2. Figure out storage – box under the bed or shelves, etc.
    3. Go on trips to collect

If you loved this episode, listen to more Vintage Homeschool Moms episodes:

Homeschool Lifestyle
Last Minute DIY Tips
Money Saving Field Trips
All About Teaching
Raising Spiritually Strong Kids
Six Homeschooling Insider Tips
Best Staycations for Kids
Avoid Curriculum Pitfalls
Top 10 Parenting Secrets
45 Family Date Night Ideas

The post Summertime Making Family Memories | Replay appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.