--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing to remember is that children…" description: "\"The thing to remember is that children are temporary. As soon as they develop a sense of humor and get to be good company, maybe even remember to take ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/barbara-holland-10950_be-good_the-thing-to-remember-is-that-children-a_586499.jpg" --- # The thing to remember is that children are temporary. As… ![“The thing to remember is that children are temporary. As soon as they develop a sense of humor and get to be good company, maybe even remember to take the trash out and close the refrigerator door, they pack up their electronic equipment and their clothes, and some of your clothes, and leave in a…” quote by Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/barbara-holland-10950_be-good_the-thing-to-remember-is-that-children-a_586499.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/barbara-holland-10950_be-good_the-thing-to-remember-is-that-children-a_586499.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/barbara-holland-10950_be-good_the-thing-to-remember-is-that-children-a_586499.jpg) > “The thing to remember is that children are temporary. As soon as they develop a sense of humor and get to be good company, maybe even remember to take the trash out and close the refrigerator door, they pack up their electronic equipment and their clothes, and some of your clothes, and leave in a U-Haul, to return only at Thanksgiving.” [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children grow up quickly, gaining independence and eventually leaving home, often returning only for holidays. **In simple terms:** Kids become independent and move out. Key Takeaway Accept the temporary nature of childhood. Themes family dynamics growth independence Mood nostalgic reflective Type philosophical emotional When to use this quote - planning for empty nest - maintaining family ties - celebrating holidays - supporting adult children Key Concepts parenting life cycles emotional transition Questions to Reflect On - How do you cope with children leaving? - What rituals help maintain family bonds? A Different Perspective Leaving can be emotionally painful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Good company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-company/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Sense of humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humor/) [Thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving/) ## Related quotes > [It's like before my wife and I moved. Our house was full of boxes and there was a U-Haul truck in our driveway. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-engvall/it-s-like-before-my-wife-and-i-moved-our-house-was-full-of-boxes-and/) [Bill Engvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-engvall/) > [You'll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse. ... Now, I've been blessed to make hundreds of millions of dollars in my life. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/you-ll-never-see-a-u-haul-behind-a-hearse-now-i-ve-been-blessed-to/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Most people work fifty weeks a year so they can do this the other 2. Well the smart ones live in a ski resort,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-miller/most-people-work-fifty-weeks-a-year-so-they-can-do-this-the-other-2/) [Warren Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-miller/) > [Some of these rich folks seem to think that everything belongs to them and they'll even get to take it with them when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/some-of-these-rich-folks-seem-to-think-that-everything-belongs-to/) [Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/) > [If you rent a U-Haul to move your company, it costs twice as much to go from San Francisco to Austin than the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/if-you-rent-a-u-haul-to-move-your-company-it-costs-twice-as-much-to/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [Bush explained his strategy for transfer of power. It's a two part plan. Part one: clean out his desk. Part two: rent a U-Haul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/bush-explained-his-strategy-for-transfer-of-power-it-s-a-two-part/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I never saw a U-Haul behind a hearse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-never-saw-a-u-haul-behind-a-hearse/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You will never see a U-Haul behind a hearse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/you-will-never-see-a-u-haul-behind-a-hearse/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [“Having plans sounds like a good idea - until you have to put on clothes and leave your house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/having-plans-sounds-like-a-good-idea-until-you-have-to-put-on-clothes/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [When I come home I actually take off all my clothes, and I wear no clothes until I leave. I eat naked. I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ford/when-i-come-home-i-actually-take-off-all-my-clothes-and-i-wear-no/) [Tom Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ford/) > [“Just get your clothes back on, and leave the way you came." Or he’d gladly heave her ass out, preferably from the nearest window.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-langlais/just-get-your-clothes-back-on-and-leave-the-way-you-came-or-he-d/) [Eve Langlais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-langlais/) > [Wise kings wear shabby clothes, and leave the gold lace to the drum major.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/wise-kings-wear-shabby-clothes-and-leave-the-gold-lace-to-the-drum/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [This is exactly how I would describe my work: 'I get there, I put on the clothes, I leave it on the hanger, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gisele-bundchen/this-is-exactly-how-i-would-describe-my-work-i-get-there-i-put-on-the/) [Gisele Bundchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gisele-bundchen/) > [When you meet a man, you judge him by his clothes; when you leave, you judge him by his heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russian-proverb/when-you-meet-a-man-you-judge-him-by-his-clothes-when-you-leave-you/) Russian Proverb > [Let's remember that our children's spirits are more important than any material things. When we do, self-esteem and love blossoms and grows more beautifully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/let-s-remember-that-our-children-s-spirits-are-more-important-than/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) ## More by Barbara Holland > [Success in war was the only success that counted; failure was a disgrace to be wiped out only by starting another war and winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/success-in-war-was-the-only-success-that-counted-failure-was-a/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [Almost any dog thinks almost any human is the Great Spirit, the Primal Creator, and the Universal Force Behind the Sun and Tides. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/almost-any-dog-thinks-almost-any-human-is-the-great-spirit-the-primal/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [In the taverns all was amiable and easy, but the coffeehouses were cauldrons of edgy malcontents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/in-the-taverns-all-was-amiable-and-easy-but-the-coffeehouses-were/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [A catless writer is almost inconceivable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/a-catless-writer-is-almost-inconceivable/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [We're a shifty, sliding population. ... What we refer to as 'home' may be a place we haven't seen in years; a place where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/we-re-a-shifty-sliding-population-what-we-refer-to-as-home-may-be-a/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [Single life should be experimental in nature and open to accidents. Some accidents are happy ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/single-life-should-be-experimental-in-nature-and-open-to-accidents/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [Subtly, in the little ways, joy has been leaking out of our lives. The small pleasures of the ordinary day seem almost contemptible, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/subtly-in-the-little-ways-joy-has-been-leaking-out-of-our-lives-the/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [War was ... the chief or maybe the only source of patriotism, and many a politician, from prehistory up to this morning, unified a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/war-was-the-chief-or-maybe-the-only-source-of-patriotism-and-many-a/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [Smiting enemies has always been so admired that, unlike medicine or archaeology, it entitled its successful practitioners to become kings, emperors, and presidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/smiting-enemies-has-always-been-so-admired-that-unlike-medicine-or/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [I was getting sick and tired of being lectured by dear friends with their little bottles of water and their regular visits to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/i-was-getting-sick-and-tired-of-being-lectured-by-dear-friends-with/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [If we have a decent sort of cat to begin with, and have always treated it courteously, and aren't cursed with meddling, bullying natures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/if-we-have-a-decent-sort-of-cat-to-begin-with-and-have-always-treated/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition claims that a moderate beer drinker - whatever that means - swallows 11 percent of his dietary protein…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/the-american-journal-of-clinical-nutrition-claims-that-a-moderate/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [“Drink, the social glue of the human race. Probably in the beginning we could explain ourselves to our close family members with grunts, muttered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/drink-the-social-glue-of-the-human-race-probably-in-the-beginning-we/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [Perhaps it's a good time to reconsider pleasure at its roots. Changing out of wet shoes and socks, for instance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/perhaps-it-s-a-good-time-to-reconsider-pleasure-at-its-roots-changing/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) > [True ownership of anything requires time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/true-ownership-of-anything-requires-time/) [Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) [Explore all 62 Barbara Holland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/) ## More Be good quotes > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Peace is the result of love, and if love were easy we'd all be good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/peace-is-the-result-of-love-and-if-love-were-easy-we-d-all-be-good-at/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Most of us want to live in harmony and peace and be good to others. Right now, however, the world is in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hany-abu-assad/most-of-us-want-to-live-in-harmony-and-peace-and-be-good-to-others/) [Hany Abu-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hany-abu-assad/) > [I've never had any desire to be good. I don't like goodness particularly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-ve-never-had-any-desire-to-be-good-i-don-t-like-goodness/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [To become a classical ballerina, you have to move to New York when you're 12 or 11 and that becomes your life. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/to-become-a-classical-ballerina-you-have-to-move-to-new-york-when-you/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [The producers felt that 24 would be good for the audience, to really get to know who these 12 and 12 are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-abdul/the-producers-felt-that-24-would-be-good-for-the-audience-to-really/) [Paula Abdul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-abdul/) > [All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors. That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-arden/everybody-wants-to-be-good-but-not-many-are-prepared-to-make-the/) [Paul Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-arden/) > [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The difference in being good at some thing and being great at something is usually found in the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-anderson/the-difference-in-being-good-at-some-thing-and-being-great-at/) Randy Anderson > [It doesn't matter if your lead character is good or bad. He just has to be interesting, and he has to be good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/it-doesn-t-matter-if-your-lead-character-is-good-or-bad-he-just-has/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [What's good for the very rich might not be good for anybody but them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/what-s-good-for-the-very-rich-might-not-be-good-for-anybody-but-them/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [“Living in the middle of beauty like this, we've no call to have puny ideas about God. Why do you suppose His world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/living-in-the-middle-of-beauty-like-this-we-ve-no-call-to-have-puny/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) Browse all 1,747 Be good quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The thing to remember is that children are temporary. 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