Capture Who They Are Now - Before School!
Relishing the Last Days of Summer: A Memory-Keeper’s Guide for Moms
As summer winds down and the school year looms, there’s a quiet magic in these final days. Your child—sun-kissed, slightly wild, and full of wonder—is about to grow in ways you can’t yet see. By next June, they’ll be taller, wiser, and full of new quirks and preferences. But right now? They’re perfectly, fleetingly this.
Here’s how to savor and record who they are in this moment—before the backpacks zip and the bell rings again.
1. Snap a “Portrait of Now”
Forget the posed school photo—this is about capturing them as they are.
Let them wear their favorite outfit (even if it’s mismatched).
Include a beloved toy, book, or summer obsession.
Take the photo somewhere meaningful—like the backyard fort or the ice cream shop they begged to visit all summer.
Example: Documenting the Stages by the Live Snap Love blog offers ideas for beautiful snapshots that will document your kids at different ages with personality-rich photos.
2. Record Their Voice and Thoughts
Kids say the most honest, hilarious, and profound things. Capture it!
Ask questions like: What’s your favorite food? What do you want to be when you grow up? What’s something you’re really good at?
Use your phone’s voice memo app or video camera.
Bonus: Let them interview you too—it builds connection and gives them a glimpse into your own story.
3. Create a Summer Memory Jar or Journal
This is a fun, tactile way to preserve summer’s little moments (or any special occasion, really!)
Use a mason jar or small box and fill it with ticket stubs, doodles, quotes, or photos.
Let your child decorate it with stickers or drawings.
Write short notes about favorite outings, funny moments, or milestones.
Example: Mixbook shares creative ways to turn all special occasion memories into keepsakes.
🎬 4. Film a “Who I Am This Summer” Video
This doesn’t need to be fancy—just real.
Ask your child to share their favorite things, what they learned this summer, and what they’re excited or nervous about for school.
Include clips of them playing, laughing, or just being themselves.
Save it in a folder labeled by year—you’ll be amazed at the transformation.
Example: 1 Second Everyday is a great app for stitching together short clips into a meaningful video montage.
So before the school shoes are laced and the pencils are sharpened, take a moment to capture the now.
They’ll never be this exact version of themselves again. And you? You’re the keeper of these fleeting, extraordinary days. These small acts of preservation become treasures—not just for you, but for them, years down the road.
