When you are old and remembering happy things in your life…….

[Indigo Blue]

that your kids did to give YOU a happy memory…..not necessarily the big things…just some happy memories that might pop up in your mind when you are 80…..

I will have the happy memory of younger ds meeting us halfway between his house and ours for a walk in a botanical garden. It was Mother’s Day. He got out of his car and tried to hide a dozen red-orange roses behind his back. I walked around to him, and he gave them to me and hugged me. I felt so happy that day. It wasn’t the flowers. It was just how sweet that was. We found a way to put them in water and they made it home nice and fresh.  
 

We recently visited our older son who lives several states away. One night he wanted to make stir fry rice and vegetables. I am very hard to cook for because of many food problems. He was determined that night to find a way to adapt the recipe for me, and he did. Mine wasn’t traditional stir fry, but what I ended up with was so tasty and delicious. He was so sweet to do that. 
 

When I’m old, Ill remember that day when ds whipped out those beautiful flowers, and also that night when his brother made me special “stir fry”.

Sweet memories made.

Do you have some good ones?

[WildflowerMom]

I have a bit, but one of my faves is when ds was about 6 and sil and I were cleaning out my mil’s hall closet.  It was filled to the brim with junk.   Sil found one of those cheap velvet single roses that someone had put in there many years before.  She went to throw it away and ds stopped her, got it, and brought it to me.  I still have that rose in a vase.  🥰🥰🥰 

[Starr]

When ds was four he asked, "Mommy what will I do if you die? " Before I could respond he said,"I know, I will hold your hand and die with you." He is still a sweet adult.

[Tree Frog]

When my kids were in middle and high school, they gave dh and I an anniversary gift of a night at an AirBnB at a place about an hour away. We enjoyed that evening, but on the way home we were caught in flash floods and couldn't get home for about 4 hours. When we arrived home, we discovered they had set the table with flowers, a tablecloth, and nice dishes and prepared a meal for us as a family to enjoy together. That meal was delayed by the flash flood (they hadn't received our message on the landline soon enough), but they had done their best to reheat it once they knew we were on our way home. I loved the thought that went into the details and that they all worked together to accomplish it. It's a very sweet memory!

[Kareni]

We exchange gifts on Christmas Eve; on Christmas morning there was always a gift and stocking for our daughter from Santa. When my daughter was about fifteen or so, Santa left a little gift for my husband and me, too. The first time it happened, it made me teary (as it's doing now).

Regards,

Kareni

[DreamerGirl]

I associate smell with comfort and home a lot especially cooking.

Turns out my kids are like that too.

During the beginning of the pandemic, we talked about what makes home and what makes them feel safe. My son then 13, said the smell of my cooking. I became teary eyed because I have spent my adulthood trying to recreate the smells of the kitchen in my family home as it made me create "home" wherever in the world I was. 

I recently went back to my country of origin for a month. DH handled everything including the cooking. When DD5 came into the kitchen recently when I was cooking up a storm, smelly, sweaty, frazzled, sniffs the air, hugs me and tells me she missed my smell. She has been sitting close to me lately and sniffing my hands, so when I asked her why she keeps doing so, she said I smell like spices. 

Part of me is appalled I smell like spices and perhaps wash my hands with soap more thoroughly, but it makes me tear up too. 

[Lilaclady]

When my dd1 was 2.5, on Mother’s Day, all though the day she will come around to me every 30 mins or so and say “happy Mother’s Day mommy”. It was so sweet, I’m not sure she fully understood it but it is such a treasure to me. 

Another was when we picked up my dd2 from camp and her sister has missed her so much and she just burst out crying on seeing her. It was so unexpected as she hadn’t indicated she missed her that much. 

[Lilaclady]

2 hours ago, DreamerGirl said:

I associate smell with comfort and home a lot especially cooking.

Turns out my kids are like that too.

During the beginning of the pandemic, we talked about what makes home and what makes them feel safe. My son then 13, said the smell of my cooking. I became teary eyed because I have spent my adulthood trying to recreate the smells of the kitchen in my family home as it made me create "home" wherever in the world I was. 

I recently went back to my country of origin for a month. DH handled everything including the cooking. When DD5 came into the kitchen recently when I was cooking up a storm, smelly, sweaty, frazzled, sniffs the air, hugs me and tells me she missed my smell. She has been sitting close to me lately and sniffing my hands, so when I asked her why she keeps doing so, she said I smell like spices. 

Part of me is appalled I smell like spices and perhaps wash my hands with soap more thoroughly, but it makes me tear up too. 

We love spices here too. One of mine loves cumin so much she puts extra on her chicken. I’m just now roasting some star anise, cinnamon and cloves to make pho. 

[LinRTX]

Today is my birthday. It reminds me of one of my favorite memories of my son. He had his first job after college and lived 2 hours away (through some really bad traffic). He called me to wish me happy birthday which made my day that he remembered. But just a few minutes later the doorbell rang. I opened the door to my son! He had driven 2 hours through heavy traffic to have dinner with the family on my birthday! And since it was a weeknight, after dinner he had to drive home so he could go to work the next day. He loved his family. He was gruff on the outside and so tender inside.

 

Stephen died 4 1/2 years ago. Today I would love to hear his voice.

[Kassia]

1 minute ago, LinRTX said:

Today is my birthday. It reminds me of one of my favorite memories of my son. He had his first job after college and lived 2 hours away (through some really bad traffic). He called me to wish me happy birthday which made my day that he remembered. But just a few minutes later the doorbell rang. I opened the door to my son! He had driven 2 hours through heavy traffic to have dinner with the family on my birthday! And since it was a weeknight, after dinner he had to drive home so he could go to work the next day. He loved his family. He was gruff on the outside and so tender inside.

 

Stephen died 4 1/2 years ago. Today I would love to hear his voice.

What a bittersweet memory for you.  I am so very sorry for your loss and hope you can enjoy your special day.  Big hugs to you.  

[JustEm]

I will remember the Christmas dh didn't have full-time work so we were pinching every penny we could. We had just bought a new house that came with I fake Christmas tree. So, for the first time ever I was not going to have a real tree at Christmas, something that was always very important to me. But we just couldn't justify spending the money on it when we had a perfectly good fake one. 

Well when I had to break the news to the kids I cried. It just felt like we were failing them because of our financial struggles. So, for me it wasn't really about not having a real tree but more so what not having one symbolized.

My wonderful kids secretly gathered what little money they had and realized it wasn't enough. So, they went to my dad and asked for their Christmas money early so they could buy me a real Christmas tree. My dad took them and came home with a tree for me without dh or me knowing. It was a complete surprise and the absolute best gift I've ever received. I'm tearing up right now typing this. My kids have the kindest hearts and that they were willing to spend their Christmas money on me is beyond words.

[Kareni]

@LinRTX, what a lovely memory of your son and such a poignant day for you.

Wishing you joy on your birthday.

Regards,

Kareni

[Lilaclady]

4 hours ago, LinRTX said:

 He loved his family. He was gruff on the outside and so tender inside.

 

Happy birthday. So sorry for your loss. May his memory be eternal. 

[DreamerGirl]

7 hours ago, LinRTX said:

Today is my birthday. It reminds me of one of my favorite memories of my son. He had his first job after college and lived 2 hours away (through some really bad traffic). He called me to wish me happy birthday which made my day that he remembered. But just a few minutes later the doorbell rang. I opened the door to my son! He had driven 2 hours through heavy traffic to have dinner with the family on my birthday! And since it was a weeknight, after dinner he had to drive home so he could go to work the next day. He loved his family. He was gruff on the outside and so tender inside.

 

Stephen died 4 1/2 years ago. Today I would love to hear his voice.

Sorry for your loss @LinRTX.

May the warm memories of your wonderful son make you happy today and always.

Happy Birthday ! 

[EKS]

There was the time when my dyslexic son was maybe 11 or 12yo and he thanked me for teaching him to read.

[Ailaena]

So this is not exactly like y’alls’, but when my daughter had a bad breakup a few years ago, she called or saw me every day - sometimes twice/day - and screamed and yelled and cried.  And it lasted forEVER.  But I knew one day she’d move on, so I kept listening to her and being sympathetic and, of course, she did move on and is happier.

So why am I calling this a sweet memory?  Because she actually felt close enough to lay herself bare and vent to me like that.  At 23 years old, she still thought I would make things better.  

Idk, it’s stupid because she’s generally always kind and we talk constantly about everything so I don’t know why this specific thing makes me so emotional 🙄

[WildflowerMom]

@Ailaena, not stupid at all.  I think that’s what many of us are after (at least me anyway, don’t want to speak for others)— to be their trusted friend after the hands-on parenting stage.   I think it’s awesome your dd saw in you a trusted confidante.  

[WildflowerMom]

@LinRTX, thank you for sharing that sweet memory.  
Happy birthday!   

[Kareni]

I thought of one other thing. I actually posted a thread about it at the time.

Regards,

Kareni