We have been watching some of our old home movies lately and what a treat it has been.
When the kids were little, they loved nothing better than to watch video footage of themselves on TV. Forget the Wiggles or Play School – they would be entranced for hours (quite handy if mummy had something that needed to be done)!
But time and technology moved on and those precious memories ended up in a box … a time capsule which we have only just re-discovered.
When you are in the thick of parenting, it feels like it will last forever but I’m here to tell you those days pass oh-so-quickly, and it is so lovely now to be able to see the footage of our kids as tiny tots. The high pitched voices, the kissable baby cheeks and chunky toddler arms, how they were our devoted little shadows.
Just quietly, Mr 22 and Miss Almost 20 have been loving it too!
One video from our son’s 7th birthday had us all in stitches – as we got to watch our daughter (Miss 4 at the time) in action. Seriously, she would have given any Tantrums and Tiaras contestant a run for their money.
Our girl has always had a stubborn determined streak a mile wide – our challenge as parents was to harness that in a positive way …
Back in those days we used to give the non-birthday child a present so they wouldn’t feel left out. But it seemed Miss 4 was distinctly unimpressed with her new pyjamas – why didn’t she have new toys like her brother, the birthday boy? Was it the pout, the folding of the arms and stamping of the feet that gave the game away? Or the fact that she stated loudly that “pyjamas are boring!” before she cast them aside?!
Then she started having a hissy fit because she wanted to open one of her brother’s presents. Clearly he was only too familiar with the full-blown tantrum which was waiting in the wings – and quickly handed a gift over to her.
But it wasn’t all about our girl. Not only did we see our boy willingly share with his sister, we loved seeing just how excited he was by his presents – he clearly loved collectables even back then.
Just by watching our old home movies, we were reminded of so much:
- Just how loving we were (and are) as parents. As Miss Almost 20 said, “You talked to us like you talk to the cats!” (ie in a sweet baby voice).
- That we worked really hard to manage the temper tantrums of grumpy little people …
- And how we gave so many special little touches to both birthdays and Christmases, purely for the benefit of our kids.
We saw footage of our old house, and our beloved first cat, Chloe.
The kids agreed that the hubster hasn’t aged a day in the last 20 years, though his glasses are much nicer now.
And I didn’t even mind seeing myself with bed hair, and sans makeup – actually I was amazed how good I looked back in the day (the joy of youth!).
I am really glad we splashed out on a video camera all those years ago. It was expensive at the time but so worth it.
I wonder if the young families of today will get the same joy from old home movies, now that it seems every other minute is recorded for posterity on iphones or social media?
Do you have any old home movies? Did you ever give the non-birthday child a present too?!
Linking up with Denyse Whelan Blogs, for #lifethisweek.