We all grow up at some stage, although we don't really want to.
We move out of our parent's house and settle down with our own husband and kiddos.
However, some things from our childhood follow us into adult life, like traditions and memories that we want our own children to love.
We're feeling pretty nostalgic this afternoon, so we decided to reminisce on the things from our childhood that we recreate for our babies!
1. Movie nights
Was anyone else mad into Disney as a young-un? I'm not talking Hannah Montana or any of that modern stuff, I'm talking about Disney's glory days. The Lion King, The Aristocats, Snow White, and all the classics! These are actually the movies we watch (every Friday evening), snuggled up on the couch as a fam-squad. The kids love the classics, and I have my parents to thank for that!
2. Music
When I was a child, I remember driving from Dublin to Sligo (to visit my grandparents), while my mum literally BLARED Garth Brooks on the car radio. I still love Garth and have forced his country magic on my own little ones. While they're not quite convinced just yet, I have a feeling they'll grow to love him.
3. Storytime is EVERYTHING
When I was growing up, my parents made a bit of a song and dance about storytime before bed. When I look back now, this was a GENIUS tactic, as it got myself and my brother into bed in no time, because we could not WAIT for the story. I also make a massive deal of the bedtime routine, which guarantees a wonderful story once everyone is washed, brushed and in their jammies. So smart.
4. Traditions
Whether it's carving pumpkins at Halloween, or decorating the tree at Christmas time - we all grow up with special family traditions that we love. In my house growing up, we were MAJOR Christmas fans, and all looked forward to decorating the house on the 8th of December every year. I have kept those traditions alive as an adult, and my kids LOVE decorating our home for Christmas. It's the little things!
5. Sunday mornings
When I was younger (and much smaller) my brother and myself would pile into my parent's bed every Sunday morning for breakfast, cuddles and a bit of television. Occasionally, even our dog would get invited to the family party. I still do this, and look forward to Sunday mornings every week, despite the lack of a lie in!
6. Lunchbox notes
When I was a child, my mum and dad used to leave me notes in my lunchbox (and sometimes my school bag), which I would find during the day. Silly, simple messages like 'we love you' or 'hope you're having a great day' would be discovered while I was munching on my ham sandwiches in the yard. This is something that I now do with my kids, and they love it!
7. Friday night is waffle night
Food is something that can bring you back to a time in your life, and waffles to me taste like my childhood! Every Friday, without fail, my mum (occasionally my dad, but a chef he is not) would serve up delicious potato waffles for dinner. Whether they were served with beans or eggs, they were always tasty. This is a tradition in my house now, and my little ones look forward to it all week.
8. Special places
Most people have special places they associate with their childhood (Florida is mine, and I will always adore it). Many parents hope that places they loved as children will also be special to their own kiddos. Whether it's a local beach, or somewhere further away, we will bring our little ones to the places that mean the most to us.
Let us know your special memories that you want to pass onto your kids and why!
