Claire has an imaginary friend. But we don’t dare call her “imaginary” because Claire will fight you on that one. Sally is real.
Because these “friends” are completely age-appropriate and because this is right in line with cultivating creativity in our children, we let Claire go on and on … and on about Sally. And she most certainly does. She’s a total Chatty Cathy right now.
Every day this thought runs through my mind: I wish I could record her saying these things. I know many of you relate. Younger children truly do say the funniest things. But the thing is, we can’t tape a personal recording device to our kids. That’s just too weird. And we can’t have them repeat what they say because that’s just not genuine.
So this morning as Claire was telling us more about Sally during breakfast, I decided that starting today — I am going to record everything she tells us about Sally. And so I picked up my notebook (where I keep all of my creative brainstorming for so many different things) and a pen and … I began to write. I recall doing something similar when Porter and his “friends” — Mad Ducky and Bambi — were little.
This is a start to what’s going on with Sally at the moment (so much can change in a day):
Since this notebook is handy at all times, I will jot a note down whenever Sally comes up. Then what? Well Sally most certainly will have a place in Claire’s scrapbook, wouldn’t you say?
Do what you can to record your child’s creative thinking and imagination. Don’t feel guilty about what you wish you could have recorded in the past. Start now. Take pictures of them when they get in their own little world. Write down things they say right when they say it so you can record it as accurately as possible.
Not a scrapbooker? Keep a journal. Not a writer? How about this: One journal per kid or one journal for the whole family. Heck, everyone can contribute if you want. Whenever anyone hears something funny come out of someone’s mouth, just jot it down in the journal. Doesn’t have to be beautifully constructed paragraphs. Just get something down on paper. Quotes are a great start.
They grow up so fast.
Tags: creativity, imaginary friend, journal, Sally
What a beautiful thing to do, and I am one of those always saying I need to write what they say down more…so thank you for that push!!! I will start today:):)
Great ideas to keep records as possible.
Fun girl dance off the lawn!
My daughter has several imaginary friends, and one of them is named Sally, too! Sally Ferguson, actually. Not sure why.
But yes, about the journal — I don’t get everything down but I try to capture at least the highlights of what comes out of their mouths, and the kids LOVE having me re-read it to them once time has gone by. They think they’re hilarious!
Oh my gosh, my daughter named all of her dolls Sally for years. Must some magical pull to that name for sweet lil’ girls.
I’ve done many a scrapbook page based around the “sayings”, “expressions”, “Audrey-isms”, whatever you choose to call them & they are some of my very favorite pages to look back at years later.
I started doing that a year ago…I got a notebook made (walgreens photo store) with my kids picture on the front and the title says “Funny Things My Kids Say”.
We looked at it the other day & my daughter was cracking up when she heard what came out of her mouth……I consider this book priceless!
Oh I forgot…one of my daughters favorites:
(We were visiting my husbands grandma in the retirement home)
Brooklyn- (5) yells “Oh my gosh, there are a ton of old kooks in her”
LOL
too funny – i do the same thing! my daughter’s “friend” is named Sasha and she lives with us because he parents just could NOT take care of her “appropriately” and she likes our house. She looks just like our daughter but has a different color hair and they always have the same outfit on. I just love all of these little tidbits of info that she shares with me about Sasha. I keep an open word file on my desktop and just type it in – if I’m not near the laptop I write it down until I can type it up.
too funny – i do the same thing! my daughter’s “friend” is named Sasha and she lives with us because her parents just could NOT take care of her “appropriately” and she likes our house. She looks just like our daughter but has a different color hair and they always have the same outfit on. I just love all of these little tidbits of info that she shares with me about Sasha. I keep an open word file on my desktop and just type it in – if I’m not near the laptop I write it down until I can type it up.
Do you have the children’s book “Pingo” by Brandon Mull (an LDS author)
It is about a young boy and his “friend” who becomes an old man and is kept company by his “friend.”
Sweet, short and simple story that makes us reconsider the way we treat our imaginary friends.
Here is a video of Brandon talking about the book:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf8J8yTT_a8
Funny you just posted this. I am always saying I need to write stuff down and this morning I actually did! I put everything into our family blog and from their I have the story when I need it.
My daughter went through the “Sally” phase. It seems like thats the name for little girls to pick!
OMG! My little girl, about the same age, has an imaginary friend named Sally too! They run races together, eat together and even tell ghost stories together. Sally never wins the races though…..we just don’t let her ;}
My daughter had an imaginary friend named Chancy, and I never wrote much about it which really bums me out~! not sure why, since I am BIG time into scrapbooking, journaling, baby books, letters to my children. You name it, I do it! So maybe I should go back and read their journals, cause I don’t remember writing much about Chancy, but then again, maybe I did! I am on journal #4 for my first daughter and journal #3 for my 2nd daughter. I love looking back, need to make sure I am writing down the stuff I want to remember!!
lovely post!
tara
I keep (although I have been terrible about it this summer), a word document on the computer and write notes about each day and have been doing this for about 3 years now. Then at the end of a couple of months, I will print it out and throw it in each child’s storage box and when they are older they will have an account of things we did and things they said, their measurements, etc. It is easier than trying to scrapbook absolutely everything and helps me record a moment, so that i can go back and scrapbook it later and remember the moment. My daughter has a Sarah that lives in her belly button and has for several years. We hear a lot about Sarah and her life as well. Way to inspire me to get back to the journaling of their special little lives!
A great idea for writing down all those funny things kids say is this notebook from Little Living:
http://www.littleliving.com.au/store/pc/-best-seller-my-quotable-kid-a-parent-s-journal-of-unforgettable-quotes-17p307.htm
Burke’s friend John has been a part of our family for about 2 years now….hence why Sydney commented about raising John in response to me being prego. Of course Burke thinks this next baby’s name should be John. When I asked him how I would know the difference when Burke is telling me a story between “baby John” and Burke friend JOhn…he quickly replied…with his eyes rolling “I would tell you which one I’m talking about….” I love, love, love John and all of Burke’s imagination. (Lately John has been working so much at his new job…at the fire station…that “James” comes around to play…but sometimes James is busy because he is the pipe and wire guy.)
Hi Becky – Just a curiosity question. With a long list of quotes like that, how do you incorporate that page into your Project Life so that it has a place in your scrapbook? Or do you? Thanks! Such a cute kiddo and an active imagination! Maybe she’s going to be a storyteller some day!
I had to laugh Becky because my sister had an imaginary friend named Sally as well. That was a long time ago as my sister is now 42!
What a wonderful idea! I love the picture of Claire. Isn’t it the essence of childhood?
Your entry brought back a little nostalgia for me this morning. Our daughter Erin, who is 26, used to have a friend “Day”. I remember thinking that something was wrong and asking our pediatrician about it…”just her creativity!” I never did write about it but we get a good laugh everytime “Day” is brought up.
My friend keeps a journal for each of her kids and starts at birth. Then when they have their first child, she gives them their journal. My son is only 19 months, but it has been a great way to keep his stats, his little “quirky things” that he does, like the way he walks or the words he says, etc. It is REALLY not hard to write at least ONE thing per month in there because there is always something that he says/does or something that reminds me of him. Plus I am a working mom, so it helps me feel closer to him at work when I can’t be WITH him. Just a thought
your piece today reminded me of my daughter’s “friend”, sally. sally was the mischievous one…my daughter did a drawing of sally’s hand in the cookie jar!
[i didn't realize it at the time, but you are right about imaginary friends and creativity--my daughter is an art major!] ~k
Love the imaginary friend! My daughter (who’s now 9) had an imaginary friend named Shelley when she was 2-3 and we couldn’t say she was imaginary either! She could describe her friend in detail and “Shelley” always went everywhere with us. Enjoy this fun time.
I love her choice in friend’s names!
hehe
I have a Claire with an imaginary friend also. I haven’t recorded her conversations with this friend but I will start. I just wanted to let you know that YOU INSPIRE me everytime I look at your blog. Thank you again for inspiring me.
My daughter,who is now 21, had an imaginary friend named Foof. Never could figure out where that name came from!! She is an only child so I figured that’s why she “found” this friend! They played lots of board games and she would get so mad because “Foof” always won!! We still laugh about that.
Not just kids! My daughter’s band director was incredibly funny and wry. They jotted down some of his comments for FOUR YEARS of high school and read them back at the senior banquet. They had all of us rolling in the aisles, and we got a real peek into their life in band.
Becky, thank you. I think I’ll always remember my little one’s “friend”, Corettla (how to spell it? that would be another scrapbook page…) and how she came to stay with us when her house burned down (and a house in the nieghborhood had burned down too, coincidentally!), but I know for sure I have a picture or two from that age, just asking for me to save the memory.
I have a Claire who has an imginary friend also. I do need to jot down notes of her conversations with her friend. I just wanted to let you know that YOU INSPIRE me. Every time I read your blog I am inspired to do new things in my life. Thank you
You take the best photos! I love this!
My son had a friend named Susie. Last summer I snapped a picture of him chatting with her and jotted down some of the conversation. I’m so glad I did because we haven’t heard about Susie for quite some time, so that might have been a lost memory!
We have a “giggle book” notebook where we write down everything funny our kids say. You could also include things like imaginary friends/conversations with kids etc. My husband’s family had one growing up and it is so fun to read all the humorous things that he and his siblings said. And if you don’t write it down as soon as they say it you will forget!
Hi Becky,
Where did you find that graph notebook? Would love to get one for myself! Did you get it at Target? I looked there today but couldn’t find one…
Thanks!
Susan
Just wondering where you got that tutu for your daughter. I have been looking around but can’t seem to find any in Canada. I love your picture-reminds me a lot of my daughter.
OMG my daughter Isabella has multiple “friends” now. Marcia was the first and then her friend or brother I can’t keep it straight Jason, Maggie and the newest one Hadley! None of these names are names we really talk about! She talks about them all the time and tells everyone about them!!! I really should make some notes about them too!!!
Becky – Thank you for this post. Especially this line: ‘Don’t feel guilty about what you wish you could have recorded in the past. Start now.’ It’s like you were speaking directly to me. I have been feeling really guilty about putting off my kids’ baby scrapbooks and having the ‘I should have’ lines run through my head. This was what I needed to hear. Thank you for sharing your creativity and heart.
My imaginary friend when I was a kid was named Sally!:)