An Easy Way To Record Family Stories

The Gift of Family Stories

Regular readers of this blog know that I am a great proponent of writing Family Stories to be given to the younger generations on your family tree. Our photo today sends a message about age and time. The years slip by so quickly, and you keep meaning to start writing your Family Stories, but...

Yesterday, a friend called, and during our conversation, he told me about a special Father's Day gift he received this month from his son. It's something called StoryWorth. My friend's son told him he would receive one question per week from this group. The questions would deal with past family history, people, and their stories. He is to write about each question as he receives them and then return. At the end of 52 weeks, with one question per week, his answers will be assembled into a book. The cost of the program is $99, and I'm not sure if that includes the book or not. I'm guessing it is for one book, and if you want more for additional children, you'd pay more. 

It's a fine idea if you don't mind spending the money for the gift to your parents or grandparents. Anyone can write the answer to a question once a week. It might even turn out to be fun, something for the person answering to look forward to. 

If you don't want to spend the money for a program like this one, or others similar, you could devise your own program for your parents or grandparents. All you would need to do is make a list of 52 questions and send them one at a time on a weekly basis. Ask for the answers to be returned on a weekly basis, too. Let them pile up, and they can get lost pretty easily. 

Here's a shortlist of questions you might include. You can surely come up with others that are more detailed. 

• Where and when were you born?
• Can you tell me about the town you grew up in?
• Did you have any siblings? If yes, tell me about them. If no, how did it make you feel?
• What was grade school like for you?
• What was high school like for you?
• Did you go to college? Tell me how you felt about it--going or not going.
• What did you want to be when you grew up?
• Were your parents strict?
• Were your parents loving?
• What were your grandparents like?
• Did you move when you were growing up or stay in one place?
• Who was the first girl/boy you kissed?
• What was your favorite subject in school?
• What subject in school did you dislike most?
• Was there a school bully in your life?
• Where did your mother get your clothes? Buy? Make?
• Did you go to movie theaters in your childhood?
• What was your first job?
• Were you athletic?
• Did you have household chores?
• Who were your favorite movie stars?
• Did your family travel in your childhood?
• What was your favorite summer activity?
• How many girlfriends or boyfriends did you have before you met the one you married?

It will take some effort on your part to make up the list, and the person answering will need to make an effort, as well. If you think they are unable to write the answers, interview them once a week with one question and record the answer. Then you will have to be the one to so the writing. It depends on age and ability of the person you're working with.

If you're lucky enough to have both parents or grandparents living, have each one answer the questions. 

There are other programs or books to help with your Family Stories project. Find them with any search engine. I particularly liked the StoryWorth project as it is not overwhelming--one question, one answer once a week. You don't even have to gift it to someone else, sign up and do it on your own for your family.