Today, we’re sharing parenting tips on creating mother daughter  memories. It seems like only yesterday that we gave birth, sent them off to kindergarten, and read them bed time stories.  Before we know it, they’re asking for the car keys and eventually heading out the door to live life on their own.  So, we need to capture memories while we can.  

When I was raising my daughter I decided to create mother daughter memories for us.  You know those special days when it’s just the two of you talking about boys, finding the perfect dress, eating ice cream or doing each other’s nails.  My daughter and I did lots of family activities together.  These are those special moments that I’m talking about now.  The days when I left the office early and headed to the school to pick her up for a day of fun.  Those Saturdays when I left the laundry and the cleaning just to spend time with her.  Those days when it’s just the two of us bonding and being friends.  These are a perfect ways to create memories of those Mother Daughter days.

I created Mother Daughter Memories when my daughter was a teen. That’s when it dawned on me that she was growing up fast, and would soon be heading to college.  She would be meeting new people and doing different things.  I had to make the few years that we had left together count.  I’m so thankful that I did, we still talk about those days.  I’m encouraging you to do the same.

Let me place emphasis on the two of you.  This wasn’t difficult for me because I only had one child, but if you have more than one, spend that quality time with each daughter. It’s important that they get that individual attention.  You want to make them feel special, as if they’re the only person besides you in the world.  It’s an opportunity to share things that happened when you were growing up or maybe they will share an embarrassing time in their life or a secret. It’s unlikely they will do this with others around. There will be times when you will find yourself looking at each other and giggling, because only the two of you know about what was shared.  It’s such a great feeling.  Everything is not for everybody, so you will need to create memories that fit into your lifestyle.  meaningful to you.

How to Create Mother Daughter Memories:

1. Shop for Special Occasion Dresses – We would spend the day visiting boutiques to select party dresses, dresses for her junior high school dances, and later her homecoming and prom dresses.  We looked forward to this day every year from junior high to her senior year of high school.
2. Spa Treatments – Nothing like being seated next to each other at the spa getting our nails done and saying nothing.  Just enjoying each other’s company.
3. Trips To Dairy Queen –  My daughter loved strawberry sundaes and I loved their chocolate cones. We had some much fun laughing and enjoying our treats.
4. Looking At The Christmas lights –  This speaks for itself.  We would spend hours just driving through neighborhoods being in awe. To this day, Christmas is a special time for us and lights are included.
5. Going Out To Lunch or Dinner – Apple Bee’s was my daughter’s favorite place to eat growing up.  She loved their lemonade.  We would sit for hours and talk about everything and everybody.  It’s funny she won’t enter the place now.  Ruth Chris is one of her favorite eating places. So glad she has a husband to pay the bill for that one.
6. Watching Movies –  We would spend the day watching movies on Saturdays.  One of our favorites movies to watch was Gone With The Wind and of course Girl Flicks. When one of our favorites is on now, she calls to let me know.
7. Sharing A Beach Week-end  – Every year I would take my daughter and 3 of her friends to the beach for a week-end.  Ocean City, MD was the go to at that point in our life. The interesting thing about this trip is that I have a bridge phobia, and I had to drive the girls across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The bridge is about 4.5 miles long.  I can drive across bridges, but I’m holding my breath, praying, counting and anything else I can think of.  I drive slow and look straight ahead. It doesn’t matter if the bridge is long or short.  The effect is the same for me. To this day, my daughter doesn’t know what bridges do to me.
8. Spending the Day At a Book Fair – We would spend the day at the book fair browsing through isles and isles of books.  We would take our selections home and plan when we would spend the day reading them.
9. Read Your Favorite Books – We would curl up on the sofa and read our favorite book at the time.
10. See A Show – One of our favorite bonding moments was when we went to see a ballet or Alvin Ailey.  We still look for shows that we can see together.

I hope my bonding moments have inspired you to create Mother Daughter Memories.  You don’t have to spend a fortune, find activities within your budget and they will love you regardless of what’s in your purse.  If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to Mother 2 Mother before you leave.  You may also like Making Memories.