Lessons From My Child's Bucket List

My daughter started this past summer by writing a bucket list of all the things she wanted to do. I don’t know where she got the idea, or how she even learned about bucket lists, but she spent over two hours writing and coloring it, and then proudly taped it on her wall.

As the weeks passed, she began checking things off. Things like, “Use a fake name at Starbucks.” When my daughter ordered her drink, she told the young barista her name was Hermioni (from Harry Potter). The girl cracked up and then sweetly wrote it on the cup. When the drink was ready, they called out, “Hermioni,” and everyone behind the counter laughed.

There were other things…

• Have a whipped cream fight. (She and her friends did on the last day of school.)

• Stay up all night. (Done a few weeks ago with her best friend, and unfortunately keeping me up all night, too!)

• Have a Disney movie marathon. (Which – can I just say – I was so happy about. It was fun to watch Nemo, Cinderella and Aladdin again. With an 11 and 13 year-old in the house, we don’t get to do that anymore.)

It’s been great seeing my daughter create memories, and her list has inspired me, too.

The other night, I went into her room to check on her and she was sound asleep. As I stood by her bed, I found myself reading through her bucket list on the wall, and realized I hadn’t read the whole thing yet.

The next thing I knew, I was crying. Some of the things on her list tugged at my heart and really struck me. They were so good and wise, not just for a 13 year-old, but for anyone. Things like…

#23. Live!
#25. Be 100% satisfied.

I love it when the perspective of our kids jumps out at us and teaches us like that. And I love the reminder that her list gave me to live life to the fullest and keep a sense of adventure along the way.

Some other things on her list were…

#1. SLEEP ON A TRAMPOLINE
#2. EAT A WHOLE ROLL OF HUBBA BUBBA BUBBLE GUM AT ONE TIME.
#3. SEND A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE.
#24. DANCE AND SING.
#26. PLAY HIDE AND SEEK
#27. HAVE A HUGE WATER FIGHT.
#31. RIDE IN A HOT AIR BALLOON.
#32. MAKE RAINBOW CUPCAKES.

Fun, right? Who knows, I might even start to use her list as my own. Well, at least most of it. I think I’ll pass on…

#16. THROW A PIE IN SOMEONE’S FACE.
#33. TRY EVERY FLAVOR OF SLUSHY THAT SONIC HAS.

What about you? Do you have a bucket list? Take a minute to share some things from it. You never know who you may inspire.

Have a great day, moms!

Genny Heikka is a mom, author, speaker, blogger and coffee lover. Stop by her self-titled blog, Genny Heikka and share a cup!