Recording Memories Through Letters of Legacy
Capping my pen and closing my journal of letters to Youngest Son, I pause to reflect on the recording of memories. Since his birth, I have been writing letters to him. Ideally, I try to capture the big moments of his history and sometimes even the small ones! Some years though, I just write around the time of his birthday and record highlights of the year or details of our birthday celebration. My point is to put into words my love for him and to have a journal he may someday share with his children to give them a glimpse of his life.
I have kept a journal of letters for all my children. Firstborn Son received his on his 21st birthday. Daughter was given hers on the night of her engagement. The pages of her journal were a bit moist when she received them. While Daughter was saying "yes," I was writing my last note of love and tears somehow wet her pages. Youngest Son is still in process and his history still being written.
In years gone past, when our children were much younger and video cameras the new rage, Husband made a decision that we would put any extra money to making memories, not recording them expensively. So our minds and hearts are filled with memories of our family times.
Although our family has no videos of the years gone by, we do however, have great conversations about our trips to Maine, late evenings on the Jersey beach or our visits to Virginia. Our hearts are full of wonderful family times and along with our verbal recall, we did budget some film for snapshots of these times. Our children, some grown and married, seem to not have suffered any ill effects from a lack of family videos, although I am sure we would all enjoy them.
Things do change and this generation, where technology reigns, may make the recording of memories more affordable or seem to at least prioritize their expense. I know many record their memories on blogs, but I am still more of the pencil and paper variety. Somehow I get more pleasure at passing on a journal of letters than a thumbdrive.
Memories can be a legacy for the next generation. Finding a way to record them is important even if only in mind or conversation. Much has been passed down through the years by oral tradition. Making time to reminisce is necessary. A new journal is now on my desk. It is for Grandson; I look forward to sharing my heart with him.
Money may always be tight and time hard to come by in this frugal life we live, but a pen, paper and a few found minutes could make a legacy for your family. Grab a journal or make some time for conversation, but find a way to share your memories.
How do you capture memories in your frugal life?
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4 Responses to “Recording Memories Through Letters of Legacy”
June 16th, 2011 at 9:22 am
I have a 5 year old and a 6 month old. I didn’t have a baby book for the big boy but I did have a free flickr account. However, I didnt really record his milestones.
For my baby boy, I created a free email account and I send him an email every couple of days. That way, one day, I can just scroll through them one at a time and they’ve got the date on them. I still take lots of pics too. No longer using flickr though.
June 16th, 2011 at 11:26 am
What a wonderful idea! Our grandbaby is now 16 months…and it’s not too late to begin a journal of memories for him. Thank you for bringing this to mind!
September 9th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
here i am wondering how to even begin journaling for my children. they’re 6 and 4 and when they were babies, the last thing on my mind was to write. now i’m kicking myself for not having recorded specific dates and milestones. but i wonder if there’s still a way i can go back to that time and write what i do remember. just having a difficult time getting started. i guess i want it to be perfect since some day, i’ll be sharing their journals with them. any advice?
September 10th, 2011 at 4:59 am
j:
The point of writing letters to your children or keeping journals is to be able to share with them some of your heartfelt affection and love. This is a great time to start for you! Just write one letter about their early years highlighting some of your favorite memories and then just add to your journal when time permits.
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