Do you feel that parents are attempting to buy childhood memories?

I can’t speak for everyone, but I know my 2 year old had the time of her life for hours yesterday with a $7 shovel helping me clear the driveway. My dad always used to tell me kids spell love “T-I-M-E”; and after having my daughter I can definitely agree with that. Kids may remember the $1000s you spent on toys or trips, they may not. My mother spent years trying to buy my love and yet 90% of my core childhood memories involved playing around the house with my dad. Again, I can’t speak for everyone, but I know in my family less is more

Time is more memorable. In the daycare I work at the kids never talk about their new toys, they tell me how nice their parents are and how they had so much fun watching a movie with them or how their mom makes their favorite foods. The little things matter the most. They will remember if you sing and dance with them or tell them about you favorite things they also notice when Daddy is loving and kind and the behaviors are copied.

My parents took me to Disney when I was 7. I remember nothing about the trip except for the fact that we randomly saw my best friend from school in the park. On the other hand even though I can’t remember all the aspects of that trip I know my parents also had fun bringing their kids to Disney. It’s also a part of their story. If those were the only things my parents did with me I would say it’s an issue. But luckily I also remember making mud pies, going camping, and family dinners.