Kids remember a lot.
I may not have a lot of specific memories from when I was a young kid, but there are little things here and there that stick out.
One of those things was riding in the trailer behind my grandpa's riding lawn mower. We probably did it just a few times, maybe even only once, but that's something that sticks out as a nice memory from when I was younger.
I don't remember what I was feeling in the moment, but it was probably just a lot of fun.
It doesn't have to be difficult to give your kids nice memories like that - or even just a nice time, regardless of whether they remember or not.
Like any homeowner, I have to mow the lawn. Luckily for my daughter, I have a riding mower, and she often likes to ride along. Most of the time, except for certain areas with tree roots or other hazards to the mower, I'll even let her steer.
It costs nothing.
And she loves it.
Sure, her path around the yard looks like the scribblings of a crazy person, and we occasionally miss some spots, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that she loves it. I am hopefully creating some nice memories with her. Memories of time that she was able to spend with her Daddy.
I have been working recently, not always successfully, on focusing on being in the moment with my kids. Putting the phone or computer down and just being present with them. I'll admit, it's not always easy when we're watching Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse for the 97th time. But it takes virtually no effort to give her something truly meaningful - time and attention.
It isn't always easy to put down the phone to focus on a kids' show, or to accept the "help" of a 4-year-old in yardwork, which often feels like it exponentially increases the amount of time.
Just remember, the yardwork will still be there tomorrow. You can take a break from the yardwork and pass a volleyball around. Your kids will care far more about that than how your lawn looks, anyway.
It's not always easy to accept that something may not get accomplished, or may take longer than anticipated, but it definitely does not need to be difficult to create meaningful memories with your kids.