Family films are for your children too

A polaroid photo of my mom and me in the 1980s.

Last week was a bit of a tough week for me. March 28 was the eighth anniversary of my mom’s unexpected death. Honestly, it hasn’t gotten easier for me, my grief has just changed. Some years I marked the day by doing something special, like making her amazing spaghetti sauce recipe that she was known for. This year I just tried to pretend March 28 was a regular day like any other.

My mom was a warm person with a huge heart. She used to tell me she was an introvert, but I didn’t believe it. She knew no stranger and the party didn’t start until she arrived. She was fun and a little mischievous and always walked like an Egyptian when the Bangles song came on the radio. She loved her kids and grandkids so much that I can still feel it.

I wish my boys knew her and could feel her love too (Levi was two when she died, and Ethan wasn’t born). I hope when I pass, my love will stay with them.

This my friends, is why family films are not just for you, they’re for your children too. One day, hopefully very very far into the future, you will no longer be here. The family photographs and videos of you will become priceless to your loved ones. They will show your children how much they are loved and how you played with them, spoke to them and took care of them.

Stop and think for a moment. It’s 25 years from now. Your children are grown up, possibly with children of their own. What do you hope they remember about you and their childhood? If your parents are still living, what do you hope to remember about them?

As parents we tend to shoot photos and videos on our cellphones of our children. I urge you to do the same for your parents. One day, you will be so glad you did.