En-Capsulate a Moment in Time

I recently read a piece called that was so beautifully written called “The nights are so long, but the years are so short” but just in case you haven’t, check it out here.  In truth though, it’s not just the nights that are long, the days are too and there are a whole host of emotions that go through the roller-coaster that is parenthood, but that’s a story for another day.
While the day-to-day seems to be never-ending, the years do pass by very quickly.  Some days when I look at my kiddos (K, E, and M), I can’t wait for them to be a little more older and independent but at night when I look at their sleeping faces, I wonder where the time has gone and I wish that they stay this way a little longer yet.  Where am I going with this you wonder? Time does fly by and even though 18 or however long you wish, seems like a long way off, it’s not.  It’s easy to get lost in the business day in and day out with housework, work, shuttling kids here and there, dinner, homework, etc. that we forget to build and revel in special moments with your child(ren). When I think about my favorite childhood memories, it’s not where we’ve been that stick out to me, but all those little non-expensive, simple, and special moments between my mom and I.  Now as a mom, I really strive to create quality time and fun experiences around the home for my girls.  A really cool idea that I want to do is a time capsule.  It’s a great way to build a memory, have something to reminisce about down the line, and have some fun in the moment!
Just to make life easier, I borrow from the Oxford Dictionary’s definition:

​A time capsule is a container storing a selection of objects chosen as being typical of the present time, buried for discovery in the future.

​Your container could be any container, but before you start, these 3 questions could guide you to what might work best.

1)  How long will you keep this capsule hidden or buried?  For a younger child, you may not want to hide it for too long, and can range it from 1-5 years.  For an older child, you may want to store it until they are 18.  It may also provide you with some insight into how to best preserve each item in the capsule.

2)  Will it be stored indoors or outdoors?  This will determine the type of container that you use.  You want to ensure that it can weather the conditions whatever they may be.  For more information on what materials might work best, check out Hub Pages
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3)  Will it be a child-specific capsule or a family capsule?  This may also determine the size of the container that you will need and the contents that it will hold.

​No need to purposely go out and buy a container, just use what you have!  That’s part of the memory itself because you can talk about the history of the container.  I have a metal Hello Kitty lunchbox from when I was a kid that would work well.  A plain cookie tin would also be a good option.  Decorate and seal it over with some see-through tape to protect it and you are good to go.

If you are storing it indoors, a decorated shoe box would also be a good choice.  You can use any art supplies that you have lying around or pick up some supplies to make it very extravagant – the local craft store can be a very dangerous place (at least for me it is).  Once your capsule is as beautiful as you’d like, it’s time to put things in it.

There is really no right or wrong answer – the fun is all in the discovery when you uncover it in the future.  The key is that whatever does go the capsule is personal and meaningful to whoever is making it (the family or the child).  You do want to avoid food and perishables, anything with moisture in it, valuables, and anything with batteries as they can corrode over time but aside from that, anything goes.  Here are some ideas:

• A picture of your child’s favorite toy since it would be difficult to give that up
• A letter to their future self
• A letter from you to their future self
• A newspaper clipping so you know current events
• Other memorabilia (ticket stubs, knick knacks – but be sure to include a note with it with details such as what it is, why it is important or memorable as you may not remember what it is when you open it again)

• Homemade crafts and artwork (make sure that it’s dated and contains an explanation of the drawing)
• A tracing of their hands or feet (again, date it so you can compare in the future)
  • A personal quiz  and favorite things at this point in time
    • Moms and munchkins have a printable that you can use
    • Another cute printable from my Kid’s time
• Other ideas of items to go in:
  • What would you put in your time capsule 
  • Time Capsule checklist from Home Grown Hearts Academy
  • Making a time capsule with Homecoming magazine

 Once all the items have been placed into the capsule, time to seal it away.  If you hide it outdoors, make sure the container and its contents can stand the elements and the test of time.  Also, make sure it’s in a location that is not easily forgotten.  Inside your house, it’s equally important to choose a place where it will stay safe, dry, and not forgotten.  You don’t want the constant temptation to look and peek inside so record the location and date of the opening of the capsule and place this information where you place important documents.  If you are really artistic and creative, make a treasure map of the location.  It’s also a great way to build in some fun when it’s time to do the unveiling.

Capture the moments and happy memory-building!

Julie