I Want to Remember You This Way
Love letters to our kids about their current ages
I want to remember you this way (E, age 3)
A head full of blonde curls, blending into darker roots as your toddler hair fades away.
The adorable way in which you transform words, announcing “Antastic” (fantastic) as you win against your daddy in football “Fhree - nuffin’” (3-0).
When you run up on those rapidly growing toes and ask “Mommy, will you play with me?”
How you dip your “Emma spoon” into your oatmeal, encapsulating the entirety of the bite in your small mouth.
When you tell loved ones “I really, really love you” and “You’re so great” for seemingly no reason at all.
You count the “number of sleeps” until it’s time for dance class again, then stubbornly refuse to walk in the studio.
How you ask us to meet you around the corner to brush your teeth in the Jack-n-Jill bathroom.
I want to remember you this way (T, age 4)
A little boy with straight red hair now fading into blonde.
How you love to tell me, “You’re so good.”
The way you play with all your trucks and cars and diggers, complete with “vvvrrroooommmm.”
Your Spider-Man costume worn anywhere you can get away with it.
The belly laugh reserved only for your sister’s shenanigans.
How when you look up at the sky, your lashes reveal just a glimpse of you as a baby.
They way you say, “I’m gonna go ahead and…” just before you do something you aren’t sure you’re allowed to do.
How you’re always testing your latest physical comedy and uncanny faces.
How you love to help mommy with even the most mundane tasks and chores.
On your fourth birthday, declaring that you need to move into my room because your own is “too small for a four-year-old.”
How you love to wear your black dress up shoes (that you call “boots”) to school.
The way you have an insatiable need to “snuggle” me and place your index finger in your mouth, signaling comfort and safety.
I want to remember you this way (C, age 6)
You, leaning over the back of the couch for the 100th time, even though I have told you repeatedly not to, with your dirty blonde hair, long eyelashes, and mischievous smile, asking how old our dog is.
The way you count your numbers from top, down. “I think I will take three, or two.”
How you emerge from your room in the mornings, sleepy-eyed and drowsy, and immediately ask your dad to check the European football Premier league table.
The way you look out for your sibling, offering them your last nugget or the best spot on the couch simply because you know that will make them happy.
How, when something strikes you as too hilarious for human consumption, you throw your head back in a fit of laughter. It’s completely uncontrolled, and results in the rest of the family falling over in fits of giggles, too.
When you holler and kick the air when you are made to take a shower, then we find you loudly singing along to “Shut up and Dance with Me” while drawing on the steam of the door.
The way in which you are so gosh darn picky about your clothing items. Always a specific sweatshirt, only two specific athletic shirts may be alternated.
I want to remember you this way (M, age 9ish)
A beautiful young lady with a head full of dark brown curls that can be challenging to tame.
How you are constantly trying to convince the world and me that you are one year older.
Your especially kind heart.
The incredible grit and diversity you have in athletics. You can defend on the soccer field; swim competitively; master gymnastics skills; and run your heart out—all in the same week.
How you can’t be bothered to wear anything but t-shirts and shorts and tennis shoes.
Your determination to achieve the most run/walk miles in your whole school.
How you convinced the track coach to let you join a year early.
Reading your book club selections while sitting on my lap.
Watching the two neighborhood boys come to ask if you can play by ringing the doorbell and immediately perching on our porch railing to look cool when you open the door.
The lovely pedicures you give.
The way you always set up a coffee cup and new Keurig pod for my next morning.
How helpful you are (when you want to be) with your brother. You can convince him to do anything and calm him down when he’s upset.
The fun we have when we go to Rifle Paper together, and how you always call it “Rifle Paper Co.” with emphasis on the “Co.”
The excitement you had to see the Rockettes, and how you were inspired by them and your auntie to start dancing again.
Our shopping trips when we talk about secrets and such.
Your incredible zest for life.
I want to remember you this way (S, age 10)
The way you bundle your oversized squishmallow in your lap while watching Star Wars.
How you constantly attempt to talk your little brother into trying the “Happy Habanero” sauce on his breakfast burritos, surely knowing what the outcome will be.
You, tearing down the side of the football pitch to win the ball before sending in a left-footed cross to your teammate for a goal.
The way you cover me in a blanket when I am not feeling well and how you cuddle up with the dog to watch Survivor.
How, when I told you it was simply futile to try to keep up with my 5K pace, you took that as a challenge accepted, and finished your fastest 5K to date, just one minute and six seconds behind me.
The simple way you crack a witty joke and wait for me to laugh at it.
The speed at which you will fly through a book you are enjoying.
How you build your little sister “princess palaces” alongside your brother as your dad and I observe, watching the scene unfold like so many in life do – unexpectedly, delightful to witness, and wholesomely hopeful for the future.
This was a writing prompt inspired by
’s Instagram post. She writes the awesome on Substack- check it out if you haven’t already! Ashlee gave credit to @michellevwindsor on Instagram for the prompt. We had so much fun with it. Thanks to both of these ladies!❤️ If you enjoyed this post, please click the like button at the bottom - it helps others discover our stuff!
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Awww.I teared up a little when I read this. Makes me think I should write something like this for my grephew (great nephew).
this was so sweet. My daughter turns 20 in a few days so I'm tempted now to write what I remember of her when she was a little bit younger. or maybe even what I llove about her now.