It’s that time again: you gather your family for a traditional outing, eager to create lasting memories and capture the perfect photos for Instagram. You feel truly #blessed to share this experience with your loved ones or perhaps you’re keen to revisit an activity you mysteriously abandoned last year. Your recollections are sweet, yet you can’t quite grasp why you stopped in the first place. Everything seemed to be going so well — or so you thought.
This is how it always begins. But as soon as the adventure kicks off, your mind is flooded with reminders of past misadventures. You recall the delightful burrito joint where you all dined on the way to the beach, but you conveniently overlook the long stretch of rural roads lacking bathrooms. Suddenly, all those beans become a pressing issue for your digestive system.
You might remember the charming drawings your children created during their brief screen time ban, but you forget that they cranked them out in a mere 20 minutes before descending into a chaotic withdrawal that turned your home upside down. Now your furniture is bolted to the walls, and scissors are secured behind a multi-password security system guarded by a life-sized chess set.
You fondly think of the tasty food and whimsical costumes at your local Renaissance Festival, yet you conveniently forget the epic meltdown your toddler had after hours of walking, sugar highs, and jousting excitement. A three-year-old really doesn’t care about melee battles, my lady.
Why do we forget these stressful details? Why does strawberry picking always seem like a quaint, rustic adventure, regardless of how many years it has resulted in your kids overindulging and then vomiting bright red all over your favorite linen shorts? It’s not that your brain is failing you. No, my friend, you are simply experiencing a classic case of Momnesia.
Momnesia occurs when our brains become overloaded with schedules, shopping lists, appointments, and meal plans, leaving little room for what it may dismiss as unimportant memories. You might recall taking your kids to see Santa, but you conveniently forget that your youngest was terrified every night, worrying that the creepy bearded man would sneak into your home.
You remember the annual family carnival, but not that the admission price could rival a full-body wax and that the rusty rides left your kids with burned thighs, crying all the way home. Somehow, our minds prioritize the fact that the event happened while conveniently omitting the chaos that ensued.
With so much to manage, it’s understandable that some of these memories may slip through the cracks. But hey, at least significant milestones, like your firstborn’s birthday, are still safe (no guarantees for the other kids, though).
So, the next time you find yourself questioning why you thought a museum trip would be a good idea after that incident last year when your son climbed into a roped-off display of ancient artifacts, remember: we all forget. We forget because if we remembered every detail, we might never leave our homes again.
For additional insights into parenting and home experiences, check out this excellent resource on pregnancy from the CDC. You can also explore various options for family planning with the helpful information found on sites like Intracervical Insemination.
Summary
Momnesia is a common phenomenon where parents forget the chaotic details of past family outings, leading them to believe that each new adventure will be a delightful experience. This mental phenomenon occurs due to the overwhelming amount of information we manage daily, allowing us to overlook the stressful aspects of family activities. It’s a reminder that while we may forget the chaos, our desire to create new memories continues.