IDEAS FOR PRESERVING MEMORIES
There are many ways that grandparents can share a part of themselves with their children and grandchildren. Have you ever been watching, really watching your children or grandchildren, either sleeping or playing and been caught in one of those insightful, sentimental moments were we feel the need to share our lives and record them for our future generations? Beginning a project such as this does require time and effort, but there are many ways to share ourselves that may be best for your life, time, interest and talents. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
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If you like to write, prepare your own personal history book. Try using a blank journal or you can record your history in a personal history book already put together, just fill in the blanks or answer the questions presented.
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If you are not a writer, try an audiotape program, make a videotape of your own or enlist the help of a professional company.
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If you are a computer buff, try creating a family tree or tracing your ancestors. Creating family trees has also become easier by using any of the computer software programs now available.
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If your talent is in the kitchen, prepare a recipe book and included treasured family recipes. Make copies of the book and give it to each grandchild or family.
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If you are a traveler, take your grandkids on a trip down memory lane. Together, visit the town where you grew up or spent time as a student or young adult. Bring a notebook or video camera and record your stories, people and places.
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If you are a scrapbooker, make a scrapbook of any memorabilia, or photographs you have saved from your past.
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If you are a collector, spend a special day with a grandchild and go through many of the things you have saved. Perhaps this will ignite a shared interest with a grandchild.