Lesson 2: A new generation of memories
Growing up, my mom was constantly taking photos of me and my brother and then got them developed or printed out. Over the years, she filled boxes with photos that sit in one of our closets at home.
On Mother’s Day, I decided to look through one of the boxes of old photos to find cute photos to post of my mom on Instagram. I ended up spending most of my day looking through that box because, for some reason, it captured my attention.
I found photos of me, my family, and friends. It brought back so many happy and good memories. I was probably more excited than I should have been looking through those photos, but I think it’s because it brought back nostalgia. It reminded me of what life was like before we posted everything on social media, and before we had clouds or Google Drive to store our thousands of photos.
My mom made an interesting comment about my generation and what parenting will be like for us, while I was looking through the old box of photos. She explained how our kids won’t have photo boxes from their childhood to look through, like me and my brother do. People also won't have framed photos of family members hung up in their houses.
This led to me thinking and picturing how my friends and I will raise our kids. Technology and social media have had a large impact on our generation, but how will it affect our engagement and interactions with our kids?
The answer to that question is that you can’t replace the feeling of looking through and holding the actual photos in your hands.
Looking through the photo application on your phone isn’t the same as looking through an old family photo box. Your phone and computer can’t recreate the odd, yet familiar scent of these boxes or the feeling of touching the photo itself. That feeling and joy can never be replaced by technology. It’s these precious things that I think most of our generation is and will be missing out on with their kids.
My goal of this article is to try to inspire some of my readers, followers, friends, and family to think about making photo boxes or scrapbooks of family memories instead of taking photos on their phones and posting them to Facebook or Instagram.
In a world filled with Tik Toks, Tweets, and Instagram posts, it’s important to remember the tangible things that can’t be replaced with technology and social media.
Once quarantine is over, I want to print out and get photos developed, so I can make a scrapbook or my box of photos.
I hope that these old family traditions won’t be forgotten in the digital age, but I worry they will.
Forever Always,
Emily
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