Grandma, I want to know everything about you.
It is ironic that among the most popular books in the shop, is a quartet of books that still needs to be written: My Mother’s Life, My Father’s Life, My Grandmother’s Life, My Grandfather’s Life. They are a set of guided journals with thought-provoking and light-hearted writing prompts and guided exercises to help a parent or grandparent record their life’s memoir.
We often tell people that they should write their stories down – but where to begin? The prompts in this journal are a great start. The 200 guided exercises are organised into chapters based on the life stages: Early Childhood and Heritage, Childhood, Teenage Years, Young Adulthood, Adulthood, and the last chapter is called Wisdom (obviously!). One of the prompts in the Childhood chapter is: ‘Describe some toys you had as a child. Which was your favourite.’ Or in the Teenage Years chapter: ‘Tell me about three people you personally knew who you admired as a teen.’ In the Wisdom chapter it asks questions such as ‘If you could pick one year as the best in your life, which would it be?’ or ‘What do you consider to be your greatest achievement so far and why?
The questions are different in the various books, but they mostly encourage the writer to remember everyday things in life that paint as much a picture of the author as the stories usually told about work and adventures. It is a gift for a parent or grandparent to have an opportunity to preserve their life’s memories and stories for future generations. It is also a great way for children and grandchildren to create a deeper connection with the people who came before them.
This keepsake journal is complemented with poignant quotes from famous authors and philosophers to inspire the writer and remind them of the importance of writing it all down.
