by Myrna Beth Haskell
Ma! What’s this?” my son asked with glowing enthusiasm. He spotted the box in the linen closet of the apartment we were renting while our house was being built.
I panicked! I hadn’t wanted him to make this discovery for another 16 years. You see, this box contained all the mementoes, photos and notes I had collected for him for more than five years — his baptism candle, his preschool
t-shirt and a plethora of other treasures. The box serves as a time capsule, a scrapbook and a photo album rolled into one — a “Memory Treasure Chest.”
If you can’t find your 6th grade short stories or that stuffed toy you wouldn’t part with, you are probably one of those folks who didn’t collect or organize your childhood treasures.
Don’t feel bad. Children don’t plan two or three decades into the future. Most children don’t think about the next two or three hours! That’s why it’s important to do the saving for your kids. You’ll have fun in the process, and they will certainly thank you in the future.
Room to Grow
I have several friends who bought ready-made “Time Capsules.” These are simply not big enough to house special t-shirts, plaques and such. You need to find a large, sturdy box. TJ Maxx and similar department stores sell colorful storage boxes that are well suited. The lids should come on and off easily as you will be adding things on a regular basis.
You can personalize the box for a more creative flair. Try pasting pictures of your child on the outside of the box. Add pictures cut from magazines that express her interests and strengths.
Does your daughter love horses? Paste all colors and sizes of her favorite animal on the box, along with a picture of her riding one. After the pictures are arranged, use the process called “decoupage” to seal them permanently onto the surface of the box. For tips on using this popular process visit www.creativityportal.com/howto/artscrafts/decoupage.html
How to Organize the Box
It’s tempting to just toss things in when you’re in a hurry. However, this will create a logistical nightmare in 20 years. Organize the box from the get-go so the special items inside have a home and are well protected.
Collect pocket folders to file certificates, artwork and writing samples separately. You can also purchase a smaller box to house unusually shaped objects such as a first pair of glasses or your child’s infant hospital band.
Place all letters, cards and notes from friends and relatives in a separate container or envelope. Letters from Mom or Dad written during big benchmarks (such as at birth or graduations) will be cherished.
Seal these in colorful envelopes and label them “special wishes.” Grandparents and other relatives might want to write letters too.
Video and Recordings
Old recordings are always fun to listen to. A great idea: Tape your child singing his ABCs at two or reciting the “plej a eegence” to the flag at four. Make a video too. DVDs should contain snippets of your children’s first 20 years. The key here is brevity. Wrap the CDs and DVDs in theme paper to match the box.
Photos
What do you do with all those double prints? Put some in the box. As you update office photos or brag book photos, add these too. You can choose a photo box or photo album for a chronological presentation. Make sure you mark the dates and places on the back.
Don’t Forget…
The types of items your child will be happy you kept are those that hold special memories of close friends and places that she cherished at one age or another. Don’t throw these items in the trash — put them in the box!
• His favorite childhood book (preferably signed and dated)
• Her special comforter (a blankie or cherished stuffed toy)
• His Boy Scout scarf clip
• Her preschool report card
• Extra graduation tassels
• A pay stub from her first job
• An ID tag from camp
One day there will be an empty space at the top of my closet to match the silence of a home without children. I will be comforted knowing I’ve sent them along with precious pieces of their growing up years.
Myrna Beth Haskell is a freelance writer.