magical thinking

Children say the funniest things, yet all too often, I seem to forget them after a day or two.  I'll start telling my husband.. "C said the funniest thing..." and then I can't quite remember. Or I get it a little mixed up and it's not nearly as funny as I remember.

So I started writing down the funnier moments of the day. I keep a jar on my desk, and when the kids say something particularly worthy of recording, I grab a scrap of paper (phone bill, envelope, chopstick holder.. whatever is lying around) and I quickly jot it down. I read about Joan Didion doing something similar when her daughter was a young girl in The Year of Magical Thinking.

The jar is filling up quickly, and when I'm having a below average day, I reach in and pull out a quote.. and suddenly I'm laughing and running to hug my little comedians.

Comments

[happymommyof2]

I love love love this idea! So many times I've laughed at little sayings my girls come up with and then I forget them. This would be a wonderful keepsake! I just came across your blog a couple of days ago and adore it! Your photos are absolutely beautiful and I enjoy reading your entries. Thanks :)

[alli michelle]

I don't have children yet, but I'm tucking this idea away for future use.

[lotte]

This is like the best idea I ever saw.
With my kid getting really good at making things funny and me always forgetting.
This is gonna be a wonderfull way to solve the forgetting problem.
So your thinking jar just made it into another country, since I've never saw it on Dutch blogs.
I just have an empty candyjar that would be perfect for this..

[Elliott Crane]

what a fun tactile way to stay in touch..hah unexpected pun :)

[andrea joseph]

LOVE the magical thinking jar. Gonna make one of my own, right away!