Creating Core Memories This Season
If you’ve ever walked through an antique shop and spotted a duplicate of grandma’s ceramic platter big enough for a turkey, BAM, you’re back to your grandparent’s house on Thanksgiving day decades ago.
In that instant, you can see everyone around the table laughing and smiling as they watch Grandpa carve the turkey. That is a core memory, and they become stronger and more prominent during the holidays.
Core memories are incredibly impactful on our personalities and behaviors during childhood. Researchers suggest we begin as early as three and a half to develop these potent memories.
Psychologists say these shared experiences reinforce family bonds.
Our core memories are valuable and significantly impact how we see the world, our feelings toward special people, and moments in time. When these memories pop up, we feel happy, excited, angry or sad. Unfortunately, not all core memories are good ones.
As a grandmother of six, my greatest pleasure is creating core memories for my grandchildren and nieces by becoming more intentional by focusing on them when we’re together, doing something we both enjoy and planning something unexpected.
A weekly favorite is the tea parties I have with Genevieve, age 3. She loves to help fill my tiny ceramic cupcakes with little cookies, mix up ‘tea’ (chocolate milk), and choose teacups for each of us.
Recently, on a visit from our teenage granddaughter, she immediately asked where the photo books were to show to a friend. At that moment, I knew her core memory was that I created photo books for every summer visit, birthday, graduation and Christmas. Whether the photos are professional or from my phone, I make printed book versions of these moments.
We recently had a family reunion, and the photos will be printed in booklets at the local drug store, and everyone will get a copy.
Most of us won’t remember the specific day; instead, we remember how we felt. Creating indelible impressions with our loved ones builds our legacy in their lives with each warm memory of us loving them. These moments will be sources of comfort as they grow and think of us long after we are gone.
Creating Core Memories for Your Family:
- Create baking traditions. Share family recipes in your handwriting and photos of people of all ages helping and wearing aprons as these comfort foods are passed on to new generations.
- Pick up a decorating kit that includes pre-baked cookies or a gingerbread house. Decorating is the fun part for the little ones.
- Attend live holiday theater, get dressed up, and plan a dinner out before the show.
- Host family gatherings in your home or at local restaurants. Get together and take photos.
- Family movies or game nights are a great source of fun.
- Take nature hikes with kids while collecting leaves and acorns for a craft.
- Share bedtime stories from your imagination or a favorite book, leaving a lasting memory.
- Plan a trip, reunion, or wedding this holiday for next year so everyone can block out the time.
- Make holiday traditions like ornaments, holiday dishes and serving pieces, gift wrapping, and gift exchanges a focused part of the celebration.
Local Places to Make Core Memories:
- Gideon Owen Wine Holiday Market, Port Clinton
- Cleveland Botanical Garden Frost holiday display
- House from A Christmas Story, Cleveland
- Wild Winter Lights Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
- Public Square lights & ice skating
- The Arcade in Downtown Cleveland
- A holiday show at Playhouse Square
