When last Mother's Day rolled around, I thought my mother would enjoy reading my own remembrances. I took a decorative glass jar with a lid and made a "Jar of Childhood Memories" for her to read. I typed all kinds of moments remembered from my childhood. Each one began with "I remember".
Example: I remember you driving me to music lessons every Saturday. Once I started, the memories just flowed. I typed them all up, double-spaced, and cut them into single memories.
I filled my memory jar, tied a pretty bow around it and put it in the mail to my mom who lives 400 miles away. She later told me that my memory jar was so much more personal than a card. The whole family had fun reading and remembering each and every one. She said it had taken her back down memory lane, which she hadn't traveled in years.
I worked at a Assisted Living facility where one of these was made by a residents daughter for her for her birthday and I'm telling you it was so beautiful! I sat with her one day after work and read the ones she had previously read and I just couldn't stop reading them. They were so simple and yet a memory. One was as simple as * Remember when we made cookies for the holidays and we dropped cookie dough then the dog ate it off the floor and got diareah?! lol
Then the lady would talk about the surrounding time. She loved every second of it! Anyone who is able to make one of these for their parents I recommend it. It's so pleasing and gave this lady so much to think about and remember. She used a gallon jar, put a pretty ribbon with nice scrapbook stick on on the top. so nice! All the messages were typed and the papers folded twice as to not be able to read from the outside.
As I read your post, I am looking at "My" beautiful crystal jar full of memories my daughter made for me a couple years ago. I have it right here on my desk where I can always open it up and pull out a special memory. It is absolutely one of my most loved gifts ever. What a great idea!!
That is such a wonderful I idea. Make sure you DO remember your mother this weekend. My wonderful, sweet mother is gone, so appreciate your mothers while you still have them.
That's funny.Years ago my daughters now 26 and 29 made me a memory jar. Then they were 7 and 10, in an old glass candle jar they cleaned out and covered it with material and lace. I remember when thing inside on little strips of paper. I just took it out the other day as I was missing my girls and reread them. I think this is a wonderful gesture and blessing to any mother. Hope yours is as blessed as i have been through the years,
I did the same thing for my Mom several years ago. In the bottom of the jar I wrote her a letter telling her and my Dad what a joy it was being their daughter and how much I appreciated them. They still have it on display and from time to time draw out a slip of colored paper with the memory written on it. Its great for Mom now that she is in the beginning stages of dementia, a sad thing to see your loved one go through...
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Tip: Memory Jar For Mother's Day (05/06/2009)
For Mother's Day some years ago, my siblings and I (all grown) made our mom a Memory Jar. We found a beautiful ceramic jar for under $10, which we filled with special memories.
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Tip: Memory Jar For Mother's Day
Archived on 05/06/2009
For Mother's Day some years ago, my siblings and I (all grown) made our mom a Memory Jar. We found a beautiful ceramic jar for under $10, which we filled with special memories. Each of us had our own color paper (blue for my brother, pink for my sister, yellow for myself). We cut the paper into several small pieces, wrote a memory on each slip of paper, rolled into little scrolls and tied each with a coordinating piece of ribbon. Mom cried at the notes, and proudly displays the jar on her hutch.
By Tricia from Tucson, AZ
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RE: Memory Jar For Mother's Day
That is a fabulous idea! (05/01/2007)
By AvaM
RE: Memory Jar For Mother's Day
I love this idea! I am going to expand it a little this year for my cousin and her young son and for my niece and her baby. I am going to make a memory box with the child's name and the year started(decorated of course) and each year mom can add her mothers day cards, pics and any other memories to it. I am also going to include a journal for mom to write in on that special day. I know that my niece and cousin will love this! (04/29/2008)
For Mother's Day some years ago, my siblings and I (all grown) made our mom a Memory Jar. We found a beautiful ceramic jar for under $10, which we filled with special memories. Each of us had our own color paper (blue for my brother, pink for my sister, yellow for myself). We cut the paper into several small pieces, wrote a memory on each slip of paper, rolled into little scrolls and tied each with a coordinating piece of ribbon. Mom cried at the notes, and proudly displays the jar on her hutch.