Over Christmas I gave our son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Rachael, the notebook of kids' quotes from our three children, as they are expecting their first child in April! It's a gift I am giving to each of our children as they await the birth of their first child.
You all probably know by now how much I encourage all mothers to scribble down the cute and profound quotes from their children, as well as the cute things they do. I know how busy all moms of young children are, because once upon a time, I was one. So I know it can be done. Believe me when I tell you, that if you don't write down their quotes now, you won't remember them in the years to come! The dullest pencil is sharper than the brightest mind. Some day your children will thank you if you do preserve their cute quotes! I have even taken my envelopes of "scrap paper scribbles" on trips and read them to our three children on long car trips. They loved hearing them and we all laughed and laughed! They kept saying, "Read us some more!"
At first when I attempted to record my children's quotes, I thought I had to write their quotes neatly in a pretty little book, but knew that would never happen - writing neatly when in a big hurry with little ones hanging onto my legs! You know the feeling! So I kept scrap paper (8 1/2" x 11" pieces of paper, torn into four pieces) in several strategic rooms of the house - kitchen, nursery, children's rooms, our bedroom, plus in the car - where most of the quotes were heard. Then when those cute, hilarious, and sometimes profound statements were expressed by my children, I simply scribbled the date, child's name and the quote or situation right when it happened or as soon afterwards. We even have a few funny quotes from the kids as teenagers. Then I kept each child's quotes in their own separate envelope - in a designated place - with some pictures under the living room sofa, if you must know! I still have those envelopes of scribbled notes, even though they have since been typed in WORD and put into notebooks.
Some examples of our kids' quotes:
Joy at 4 years - She had just learned how to tie her shoes a few days earlier. She was concentrating so hard on singing a new song she had just learned while tying her shoe. (Multi-tasking - something she does all the time now as a mom!) When she was finished tying her shoe she exclaimed, "Oh dear! I forgot to put my foot in!"
Jeff at 4 years - We got the game, Parcheesi, for Christmas. Jeff asked if that was the game where the mouse got caught in a trap!
James at five years -- He told me how when Jesus was made to die on a cross, some men sold his clothes at a yard sale.
The notebook Jeff and Rachael received also includes every little detail from each child's baby book, notes given to weekend babysitters of words they could say, foods they liked and disliked, as well as instructions. Fourteen pages of special family events and vacations are listed in some detail. A few special songs, poems, some scripture verses they knew, and a long list of my childhood memories are also included. Our daughter recently suggested that I add their son, Justin's quotes as well, so she sent them to me. I can see the next notebook could be even thicker, possibly with quotes from Ryan Elizabeth and maybe even our third grandchild! How fun is that?
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