The Best Parenting Tip I’ve Received
Kids say the absolute cutest and funniest things. You never know what’s going to come out of their mouths. Well, if you’re like me and want to remember all the silly pronunciations and one liners, I give you the best parenting tip I have received:
The List
I honestly don’t remember where I heard about this, but it is definitely a frontrunner for the best parenting tip. Each of our children has a note on my phone where I jot down all the adorable and funny things they say. From mispronunciations to made up song lyrics, it’s all in there.
So simple, right? Since my phone is always nearby, I can add things as my kids say them and before I forget! When my husband is away and misses a good one, I’ve got it written down. If I miss something, he tells me that he’s got one for the list.
We started my daughter’s list when she was about 2, right after we heard about the idea. It’s still going strong 3 years later. We started my son’s as soon as he started talking. It’s great, because we can look back and remember the way they used to pronounce words, like “durage” instead of garage, or “feeltor” instead of realtor. The incorrect song lyrics, the one liners, the sass, and attitude; it’s all there.
Even when the things my kids say are especially inappropriate or make me really frustrated, they get added to the list. Because later on I will look back and crack up at what they had to say or how they said it. It’s amazing how reading them can bring back memories so clearly. These little snippets of their personality are so special and precious to me. And maybe someday when they are grown, my kids will find it funny to look back at their “toddler-isms.”
How does something so simple rank so high for me? I mean, I’ve definitely received A LOT of parenting tips and tricks over the past 6 years. The List is something I never would have thought of! Sure, I would have tried to catch things on video, and some sayings and pronunciations would have stuck around, but I would have forgotten a lot too.
So the next time you’re sharing your best parenting tips, don’t forget things like this. Yes, advice for the more practical parts of parenting are great, but for me at least, stuff like this means so much more.
What would you share?
