Sara, on Memory. Sling Diaries, Vol VII.

The Sling Diaries, Volume VII. A photo-documentary chronicling the art of baby wearing in the lives of families around the world. Over the course of six months, Sling Diarists will create their own Sling Diary though a series of diary entries interpreting a unique theme given to them each month.

Meet all of our Sling Diarists here.

ON MEMORY

I can remember my 3rd birthday, the cake my mom made with Lifesavers around each candle. I remember being five and many of the things that happened that year. It’s so weird to think that things that are happening now are things my kids are likely to remember for a long time. I often wonder what they’ll remember from this time in our lives.

I admit, the past two years have been a little strange for us. We moved from our house to the spare bedroom in my parents’ home. Then into our bus for 18 months, parked at a friend’s house, then we had to move the bus (following an eviction notice from the county) and finally landed here: in the converted garage on my parents’ farm. Throughout it all, the kids have been cheerful and resilient. They are happy and content wherever we are, but I wonder how they’ll remember it all 10 years from now.

Will they remember living in the bus for 18 months? Will it seem like a long time, or a short blip on the radar? Will they remember how I cried when we had to move suddenly? Will they admire us for our creativity, or think we were crazy? We often talk about how 500 sq feet feels enormous compared to the 300 we had in the bus, and I wonder if they’ll remember it like that?

I hope we all forget the uncertainty and doubt, and instead remember the way Austin and I worked together to problem solve and accomplish our goals. I hope we forget the frozen pipes and leaky roof in the bus and remember how cozy and warm it was. I hope we forget how stressful it was to move the bus after 18 stationary months and remember how Austin and I laughed as we drove down the road in our home, the cat yowling in the shower and our chicken riding on my lap.

There are so many things I hope I remember from this past month: the way friends and family offered to help when we had to move, the peace we felt with the unexpected turn our life took, the luxury of a flush toilet and hot water, the cozy glow of our Christmas tree, dance parties in the living room, settling into a new home, reading piles of books together, sink baths and watching Felix’s personality explode.

I hopeful that even though life has been unpredictable and incredibly busy, the feelings of peace, love, security and belonging is what my kids will remember. I’m sure our memories of this period in our lives will fade someday, but I hope that the lessons we’ve learned and the habits we’ve formed will remain.

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