Recently, I was watching a futuristic movie with my husband and it really got me to thinking about what I would want people from the future to know about the times that we live in now. What better way to give them an idea of how we lived than to fill a time capsule with all of the things that either define us as a people or that made our lives here on earth a little more comfortable. They probably will have technology and gadgets way beyond what we could even imagine currently. However, they will never truly know what it was like to be a Mom in 2010 so I figured I would devise a list of all the items that I would want to include in my own personal time capsule to bury in my backyard. Well, maybe I won’t bury it there but, you have to admit, the idea does sound kind of romantic.
Now, coming up with this list has been no easy task because there are so many things that I use daily that I could possibly include in this time capsule. To narrow the list down, I had to really think about what items have really contributed to me not losing my mind on some days. So, here is my shortened list of items that this Mommy cannot live without and would want to leave in my time capsule for Mommies of the future:
Baby Wipes: I don’t care who you are or whether your kids are big or small, baby wipes have got to be the greatest invention of all time. I have used them for cosmetic purposes, to clean off the kids in a pinch, and even for household cleaning.
Flat Iron: After you have kids, there is never any time to worry about your appearance, much less to do your hair. My flat iron has saved me, many a mornings, from having to go to work looking like the Lion King. It is definitely a must have in my book.
Vicks Vapor Rub: Those of you who are of Latin descent know that Vicks is used to treat every condition in Latin culture. I guess you could kind of compare it to the way that the Greek father used Windex to treat everything in the movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” You have a cold, you rub Vicks on your nose, chest, and back. You have a cut, you put Vicks on it. Anyway, you guys get the picture…There will definitely be a case of Vicks in my time capsule.
Photographs: Now, I know what you are all thinking, why would I include photos? Well, I would have to show them photos of my sons who surely are the most beautiful children that have ever been born on this here planet. Yeah, yeah, I know all Moms feel that way about their children but remember, this is MY time capsule.
Sippy Cups: Unfortunately, I haven’t always valued sippy cups as much as I should have over the years. The juice stains on my old livingroom carpet can attest to that. I have learned from my sinful ways and now pay homage to a necessary tool in every Mommy’s arsenal. Maybe I have become too much of a supporter because I actually wish that all the mother’s who brought their children to my house would bring sippy cups for their kids.
Humphrey’s Teething Pellets: I decided to include these in my time capsule because many mothers do not know what I am talking about when I recommend that they use these on their teething babies. I used these on both of my sons and it really made their teething experience a little more bearable for them and for me. What I love about them is that they have different kinds for the different teething symptoms that children get. They also taste great and I know this from personal experience.
Smart Phone: In these fast paced technological times, Smart Phones have become an essential item for all Moms on the go. I am no different and actually rely on mine for so many things that I don’t even know if I can even list them all. I need my phone to keep up with emails from my sons’ school, calls from the school nurse, keeping up with appointments for myself and my boys, emailing other mothers from Little League, Basketball, and fellow parents in my sons’ classes. It is basically my lifeline to the rest of the world and this is definitely going in with the rest of the stuff.
Obviously, there is so much stuff that I could include in this time capsule that would represent items that make our lives as mothers a little easier and that we use regularly. Unfortunately, I don’t think we could fit the washer, dryer, microwave, laptop, car, television, library, stove, and all the rest of the big stuff essentials in a small time capsule. What would be an essential item that you would include in your Mommy time capsule?
© 2010, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.
The baby wipes, flat iron, photographs and smart phone get a huge thumbs up from me! But the teething pellets…I've heard all about them but have never given them a try. Sounds like I may need to though!
Kristi, Live and Love…Out Loud
@TweetingMama
PS You're right…your kids are beautiful. And mine are too. lol 🙂
I love this idea!! What a great post topic- and I have to say, I agree with your replies!! It's amazing some of the things that are must-haves. I can also sympathize on the sippy cups- my 4 1/2 year old doesn't use one anymore, so the stains are plentiful.
Love this topic!
Thank you, Ashley, I really appreciate you passing by. I've actually figured out a way around the sippy cup issue now that my boys are 4 and 7. Thermos brand makes thermos that are aluminum and have cartoon characters on the outside. They are spill proof and have a large rubber straw that make them a hit with the older kids. They are also easy to clean and really keep their drinks cool. I stumbled upon them in Toys R Us this summer and have used them ever since. The downside is that they were kind of expensive at 15 dollars a piece but it has been well worth it to protect my furniture from spills.
Hi, Kristi. I am so glad you passed by because I absolutely love your blog! I never knew about the teething pellets either until the older women in my family and my husband's family enlightened me as to how great they are. I used them with both of my sons and it really kept them from suffering some of the painful effects of teething. My curiosity got the better of me and I tried them one day. They taste great and I like that you can dissolve them in water for younger babies so you don't have to worry about choking. Let me know how things turn out should you decide to try them out.
P.S. So true, both of our children are absolutely beautiful!
I have to add pony tail holder. Granted, I too cannot live without my flat iron, but the pony tail holder has saved me numerous times. Also, I'm adding sanitizing gel to the capsule.
What a great idea! Now you have me thinking about what I'd put in mine. Probably a lot of books, b/c I bet they'll be obsolete (much to my chagrin) before long. I posted recently about my preference for real books over the Kindle, Nook, etc….
And I bet laptops/desktop computers will also be gone before long! LOL
New to your blog thanks to Kludgy Mom (@gigi927), and am your newest follower!
😉
Yes, how could I forget a ponytail holder?! Trying to keep the mane tamed has been a major challenge since becoming a Mom. Who has time for elaborate hairstyles with all of our "Mommy responsibilities?" I have definitely kept my hair shorter, since becoming a Mom, as a result of this lack of time or energy to style daily. Sanitizer is definitely a must-have and it should be a permanent staple of any Mommy Survival Kit.
So true, we definitely could not forget about the little things that keep our angels entertained, if even for a short time, while we have a fleeting moment to inhale and then exhale.
It is so ironic that you should comment this way because I just came from reading your blog and the "Kindle/Nook" post is one of the ones that I commented on. Great minds think alike! Gigi is the best and I plan on thanking her immensely for introducing me to you. I am also your newest follower!
Love this idea. My fave of your list is the baby wipes. I have to agree that this is a useful item as even after I no longer needed them for my kids, I still purchased them in bulk. They are great for getting stains out of the rug among a multitude of other things. I think that maybe an Ipad touch might be nice in the capsule. The smart phone is sometimes too small to read everything on. Thanks for the great topic!
Oh, but what I wouldn't give to get an Ipad. My Principal just gave me a new Ideapad from Dell and I absolutely love it. Unfortunately, it is only for work purposes, obviously, so I have not been able to enjoy it to its full potential. It is true that it is somewhat tedious to read everything on the LCD on the smart phone. Do you have an Ipad? I would love to hear all about it and what your experiences with it have been…
No, I do not have an Ipad, but I have 2 friends that have one. I am always envious when I see them pull it out of their bag. It is easy to carry and has great graphics. I have an ipod touch, which I love…but again if you are on it too long your eyes get tired. Here's hoping that we both get an Ipad this year:)
Sounds good to me. I'm dying to get one and we both deserve it.
My baby is ten years old in three weeks and I still keep baby wipes in the house. Perfect for taking off make-up and cleaning kool-aid moustaches that I notice the minute we are walking out the door. Like the blog a lot. Also, liked the one about your son's teacher. We have been so lucky, I love all my son's teachers, but my friend has had the same problem about the penmanship and her son and the boys are in public schools.
Thank you, I am so glad you enjoyed my blog. This whole situation with my son's teacher definitely threw me for a loop. I will be keeping my eye on her for the rest of the year. My confidence in her had decreased due to her fanaticism regarding children having perfect penmanship.
my favorite are the baby wipes as well. i'm sure i could list a hundred uses for them!