In those first few months following the birth of a precious newborn visitor to this world, the parents are often too busy to recall much of those first special moments in a child's life. If it's their firstborn, they are often full of the worries of parenthood, wondering whether they can do things better, wondering how other parents manage to do all the things that need to be done. If it's their second or third child, they are also busy looking after the other children, or perhaps relieved that they have elder children to look after their latest arrival; and relieved that they have a few moments to grab a rest. Of course, many parents will be clicking away on a camera or letting their camcorder whir away to record any precious moments for posterity. It's a part of life that parenthood occurs for most of us at the busiest times in our life. We have so many other things going on, and so little time to look after those things that are more precious to us. It always seems that we wish we had time to do those extra meaningful little things; things we will look back at when we are older and wish we had done; time seems to rush faster and faster. If we are out shopping, we try to reduce the number of shops we go to; keeping to buying the basic supplies.

Whether people like to acknowledge it or not, access to the Internet is proving more and more useful. People find that they can trust and buy many products on the Internet while simply at home; perhaps with their newborn baby on their knees. It can actually be enjoyable to browse the Web now, as search engines are becoming more efficient at finding what they need. When the little baby has finally fallen asleep, there are so few shops are open. It's a good time to browse; to catch up with the fun of life; catch up with precious little moments of life.

One of those simple little joys and that you can share as parents and child - or as a larger family, at a family gathering perhaps - is a simple making of a baby ink footprint. This has the great advantage of not taking up too much time and getting the result that is decorative and attractive, that can be framed and that will mean so much later in life a real little heirloom. Many of us have little fears of growing old which stop us from investigating what it will be like for us. We see our parents and grandparents getting old, but don't really believe it will happen to us that quickly - it will be different for us. Alas no! When we are old and the children have left the home, we may search our memory and find little there. It will be at these times perhaps that we will feel some regret that we didn't spend more time with our precious offspring; didn't share more special moments with them.

It's quite surprising how many different baby handprint crafts there are that can be revolved around making a baby footprint. It can even be a handprint. You can get creative. You could try making a collage of your baby's different creations as he or she grows up. Just imagine that your child has just painted some beautiful flowers and its Mothers day or Fathers day coming soon. If you already had a little handprint of your child, you can scan or photocopy it combined with the drawing of the flowers; something very simple, but meaningful to parents.

There often seems to be little meaning in life, but for the simple pleasures - a few moments of happiness here and there. The tiny handprint or baby footprint reminds you of earlier joys experienced and just how small your child was so long ago - how much joy you got. You can look at the lines on a hand and wonder what they mean. You may find a friend, or even develop an interest yourself, in hand reading later and be fascinated to see all those little scrawls and whorls of lines. It was many years ago that I met Hungarian gypsy who fascinated us with his descriptions of different people's lines on their hands. I even bought a book on palmistry to while away the hours on an Indian train journey, and even got insights into my own personality. I came to learn that the lines on hand change, that they are not fixed. Many people are fascinated by the future, what the future holds in store for them and their children. It can be a source of wonderment when, later in life, you're able to look back at your own hand and with a knowing sigh say, Ah yes, I thought so!