There’s nothing more important than family, the people you hold dearest and love the most. And as your children grow and achieve different milestones, there will be many moments you’ll want to cherish forever. With the cameras on our phones becoming increasingly more sophisticated, snapping photos all of the time, in an effort to retain those valuable memories, seems to be our go-to solution.
But, are there other, more creative ways for us to preserve those magical memories, so that we can return to them down the road? The answer is yes, and here are some of the best ideas on how to do just that.
Create a Gratitude Jar
Well, it doesn’t really have to be a jar. A nice box will do just fine as well. The key is to make it a habit for you and your little ones to take a small piece of paper and write down what you’re grateful for, at least once a week. It’s also crucial that you don’t forget to date each of the messages.
Afterwards, fold or scroll that piece of paper and place it inside a jar or a box. Another option is to make a journal, so that you can organise these notes properly and keep them in a chronological order. Aside from keeping the memories alive, this is also an amazing way to create a new one, as you’ll get to spend time with your kids, which is especially significant if you’re a working mum and are always looking for new ways to bond with your family.
Develop Your Photos
Although it’s practical to keep your photos on your computer, phone or an external hard drive, some memories simply deserve to find themselves in a physical photo album. We make a bunch of photos every day, but we don’t always develop them, which is something you should try to change.
From time to time, take some of your photos and find a company which will print them for you and send them to your address. Some of these companies will even create stunning photo albums for you, but if this is something you want to do on your own, it’s fine if you just have them print your photos and let you do the rest.
Get a Photography Session
It sometimes seems that, no matter how hard you try, your photos don’t look as nice as you’d like them to. Yes, your kids are cute in them and you’ve recorded some pivotal moments, but you know that these photos can look much better. Hiring professionals is something that could upgrade the quality and the appearance of your family portraits. Some of these photographers are extremely good and they will go out of their way to capture each of your family member’s personality in their photos.
Also, some of the most esteemed ones have breathtakingly beautiful studios, so that the background for your photos is as memorable as the moments you want them to preserve for you and the final products are genuine pieces of art. This way, you can also have some wonderful photos to put on your walls or display them anywhere else in your home.
Create a Scrapbook
If you want to make your own scrapbook, a physical one, you can do so without too much effort. You may think it’s necessary for you to be at least somewhat artistic, and if you aren’t, you might give up on the idea quickly. However, this doesn’t necessarily have to be true.
Namely, there are some simple online guides to making scrapbooks, and all you’ll need is to run to your nearby craft store, but also to have some printed photos of you and your loved ones. Plus, if you turn this into a regular activity for your entire family, this is another fantastic way for you to spend some quality time together and have some good old family fun.
Digitize Videos and Photos
In case you have a bunch of old photos lying around, or you have some awesome videos of various family events on VHS tapes, take some time to digitise them. The goal is to keep them from deteriorating or getting lost, but also to have them on your computer, so that your kids can return to them one day and replay them to remind themselves of some of their most favourite moments from their childhood.
This is actually quite easy to do, as there are companies that specialise in transferring 8mm films, and it’s likely that you won’t have to wait long for them to do their job. On the other hand, if you have a decent scanner, you can digitise your photos yourself, or you can even go as far to find online instructions and digitise your videos in the comfort of your own home.
Wrapping up
When you want to keep some of your most precious family memories alive, all you have to do is follow some of the useful tips above. Not only will this provide you with some of the most incredible pictures of the past, but it will mean the world to your children once they reach your age and have their own families to share them with.
By Lana Hawkins
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