Creating memories with your parents.

Parents are only around for a limited time. Eventually the inevitable happens and we don't have the same people we had before. People get old, people pass away. That's how life works and although there is nothing we can do about what happens, there is something we can do before it happens.

Take the time to create memories with your parents, while you still can!

Taking the time to create memories with your parents is so important. Here are 10 things you can do with your parents that you may of not thought of.

1. Take a photo with them as often as you can. Every Time you have a moment with them, take a photo. You will cherish those photos when they pass away. You will have those memories to remember the good times that you had with them and how they made you feel.
2. Tell them how much you love them and how much you care about them. How grateful you are that they gave birth to you. The things we want to tell our parents but we put off for the right time, there is no better time than now. Because who knows where we will be tomorrow.
3. Take them out to eat. When was the last time you went to a nice restaurant with your parents? Think about that, if you can't really remember, it's time to treat them out for a lunch or a dinner. My mom would rather just make food and we can eat at her place but there is something nice about having that experience with them.
4. Take a walk with them. There is a special bond you create with someone when you go for a walk with them. Especially your parents. Just take a stroll for 30 minutes and connect, shoot the breeze and talk about light things.
5. Create fun memories with them. If your parents like fishing, take them on a fishing trip, if they like bowling, go bowling, find something they like to do and create a memory with them. My dad likes to learn Torah, so I learn with him when I go to visit him. It creates a bond between us.
6. Put a photo of yourself in their wallet, on their wall, on a magnet on the fridge. Remind them that you care about them by reminding them that you exist. There is no better way, than giving them a gift of your photo. If you have a family, send them photos of your family. They will love it!
7. Call them on a schedule. Its nice to call your parents for the holidays and we get busy. Make sure that you call them each week. My brother loves to call his mother each day. While that might be a bit much for many people, maybe try once a week. Have a plan for what you will talk about. Maybe make a list of questions that you ask, how are you, what are you up to this week etc.
8. Ask them about their past. One of the biggest regrets that older people have is not asking their parents enough about their history while they had a good memory. Take a moment each year to ask your parents what they remember about their parents and grandparents. Go deep and get into the details. You will find Gems that you can pass on to later generations.
9. Video them saying something that they would always say to you growing up. Every parent has their lines. Make sure you record those lines on video so you can watch it after they are gone. You will smile and feel amazing, plus they will feel amazing that you want to remember them.
10. Give them a hug. Just go visit them and give them a 6 second hung. Heart to heart and just show them how much you love them. A hug is so special and few people take the time to last 6 seconds. Make it clear that you are doing it for six seconds to create a special bond, this way they don't think it's weird. You will never forget those hugs and neither will they.

How do you tell your parents that you love them?

Feel free to comment with your ideas.

BIO: Joe Apfelbaum is the CEO and co-founder of digital marketing agency Ajax Union. He is a public speaker, certified Google Trainer, and published business author. Joe enjoys speaking and writing about a broad range of business topics in his seminars, webinars and articles. Joe is a member of the Board of Directors of the Entrepreneurs Organization in Brooklyn, a group with over 11,000 CEO’s and a contributing member of the Business Owners Council, a community of the fastest growing companies in the United States.