Just yesterday we were talking with our kids about heaven. My seven-year-old asked if there would be a library there. When I told her I thought there would be multiple massive libraries, she said, “Mom, bury me with a wagon!”
Everyone laughed. She said it with such fire in her eyes! She would definitely need a big one to carry all the books she’d want to read. I instantly knew I would be writing down that quote, adding to our collection of her funny and sometimes poignant sayings.
Kids have wonderful things come out of their mouths for a few reasons. First, they see the world with fresh eyes. Second, they say whatever they are thinking. And third, their knowledge and language are limited, resulting in oversimplified and/or confused expressions. Sometimes, they utter something so profound we are stunned into silence. Whatever the case, the phrases they say are worth the time it takes to document them.
Children LOVE to hear about things they used to say and do. As it turns out, so do adults! My parents recently moved to independent living, so my family has been cleaning out our childhood home. My sister came across quite a gem and emailed a copy to each of us. It is a list of quotes from when we were little. My siblings and I got such a kick out of them. One night I even shared them with my kids. They laughed and laughed. And we were reading together.
- March [no year] – Liesl grabbed her foot and said, “Daddy, my foot is starving!” (It was asleep.)
- April 1980 – We were at a movie. Sasha was removing her shoes and socks in the theater. When asked why, she replied, “Because, I’m too shoesy and socksie!”
- March [no year] – We were seated at the dinner table and Tawny put salad dressing on her rice. Later she decided she didn’t like it, so she said, “Let’s get Mikey!”
- April 1980 – Sasha asked Dad if he could buy another animal. Dad said he was broke, then she asked, “You broke it?”
- February 1981 – Nitza said, “Sometimes you’re mean, Mom, but most of the time you’re nice. I still love you when you’re mean.”
- February 1981 – Sasha asked, “How did Mrs. Wilcox die, Mom?” She had a stroke. “Did she have paint all over her?”
- August 1981 – Nitza, crying when Dad opened the windows at night, said, “I get so cold I feel like I’m in Alaska!” (We were living in southern California at the time.)
If you have a record of your child’s funny quotes, pull them out and read them with your family. Give your child a copy so she can read them whenever she likes. You might consider laminating it to keep it sturdy. If you’re feeling especially crafty, you could incorporate some photos and make it into a book to give your child on her next birthday.
If you don’t have a record of sayings, talk with your spouse, your parents, and anyone who was around when your child was little. Ask if they remember any of her expressions. Start now to keep an account. This will become a precious document to both you and your child. Should she ever lose interest in reading, you will always have this list to fall back on. Not only will it show her that you cared enough to record her thoughts, it will be a tool to bring you closer together and remind you of special moments in years past.
What is one of your child’s favorite sayings? Please share it in the comments!
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