Graham Crackers 'n Milk!           

As Atreyu and I finished our walk, I thought my heart might burst. I took him out to play on a small playground. As soon as I put him in the baby swing, he was squealing with joy. He could not contain his laughter. The evening was cool and delightful. I pushed him for a long time and then we went to a small play area for toddlers. Atreyu has not been walking for  long, but he took brave little steps, his legs wide and daring, his toes investigating the cold sand. He discovered how to climb the steps, turn the play wheel to steer his “ship” down the river and we played “peek a boo” and finally he slid down the slide on his belly. And then he did it again and again.

And then it happened. I was transformed to a time when I played joyfully and endlessly with my oldest son Justin when he was that age, about 43 years ago. He was my life at that time. First and only child, my husband traveling to care for us, we were best buds and we had plenty of time to enjoy the moments. As I watched and hugged Atreyu, tears ran freely as I remembered my little son and those “magical moments” we spent together. How grateful I am for rich, powerful memories that we created in our simple play together when he was small. It created a bond between us that can never ever be broken. No matter where we are, if we are the one who is dying of cancer or the one who has passed on to another sphere loving his mother dearly and not really knowing why, or if she is the mother who is left behind with only the memories to collapse her heart in an overwhelming joyful evening, it matters not. The power of memories have created their “magic” which will last forever and ever and ever even if we do not remember them specifically, our hearts do. No one can take it away. We sewed it into the pattern of our soul. We made it invincible and it is a tool and a weapon we can draw out when it is most needed to heal our wounds and soften our hearts with gratitude. 

I was only watching Atreyu for an hour or so. When my son came home, I asked him if I could give him a bath. He needed it after his adventures, but I had selfish reasons. Bath time was my baby Justin’s favorite time of all. With not much else to do 43 years ago, this young mother sat by the tub and allowed Justin to play for hours. I wanted to watch another little boy do the same last night. Atreyu had a cup and loved catching water from the faucet in it. When it was full, he would pop it against the faucet and when it splashed into his face, he found it laughable. Then he would look up at me with his precious brown eyes, not Justin’s blue ones. He did it again and again. My love for him grew tighter and stronger. Who knows what these new strong “magical memories” will help us get through as Atreyu gets older? I only know that they are important. Little, short, or long, “magical memories” that bind us together in love. They are so strong, Justin might have called them “ramberbands” (his toddler enunciation for “rubberbands”). They are magical. They are indestructible, they are a gift from God and a thing to be treasured.

Perhaps I did not know until today as I write this, the importance of writing a book of Quality Time Ideas. Request your FREE copy of our "Capturing Magical Memories(c)" booklet by clicking on the button below. Our Magical Moments Game(c) including 200 fun positive family activities and a FREE subscription to our Graham Crackers 'n' Milk Time newsletter is included. 

With all my love,

Graham Cracker