Parental guidance

Mon., Sept. 24, 2007

The Spokesman-Review

PARENTAL GUIDANCE

This week, the Parents Council weighs in on today’s cover story:

”I stopped writing in my fourth son’s Baby Book when he was 9 months old. But, I did get his first steps on video. I’ll show that to his therapist when I’m berated for not documenting his life as carefully as I did his older brothers.

“Seriously, I’d like to know. Do grown men pour over their baby albums? Affectionally fondle their first rattles?

“Who are we saving these things for?

“I admit I enjoy looking at my mother-in-law’s limited photos of my husband as a child. But I’m not interested in when he cut his first tooth. And I’m not just saying that because I left my video camera at home this weekend when Sam played his first soccer game.

“I think I’d rather spend my time truly enjoying life with my kids instead of cutting and pasting memories in a scrapbook. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”

â€“ Posted by Cindy H.

”I went to the Grand Canyon once and people were hopping out of their cars with their video cameras, then jumping back in, never stopping to just stand and enjoy the view. We laughed because we wondered if they were going to go home and watch what they’d just missed.

“I think it’s the same thing with kids’ activities. And I don’t care when I drank from a sippy cup any more than my kids are going to care. The important things get passed down through stories, but with everyone so busy on the computer they don’t have time to talk to each other.”

â€“ Posted by Jennine

”We were way more into documenting our firstborn’s life, pictures of this and that and filling out the baby book, saving mementos. Now that we have two kids, my second child has nothing in her baby book after about 10 months or so, some video here and there but nothing like with our first son.

“It is sometimes easy to get caught up in getting just the right picture to capture ‘the moment’ and then ruining the moment by forcing your kids to JUST STAND STILL FOR A MINUTE. But when do we really sit down and look at all those pictures?

“I tell myself I am saving them for when I am in a nursing home and have lots of time on my hands. And then I will wonder what I looked like because there are NO pictures of Mommy becauseI am always the one with the camera.” â€“ Posted by Debbie G.

Got something to add? Post your thoughts on the “Thanks for the memories” thread at spokesman review.com/blogs/parents

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.