I miss my Grandmother. She led a very interesting life, but now I cannot ask her questions. I want to hear everything about her gas station wedding and being married to a coal miner. You know what would have been wonderful? What if my grandmother had kept a journal? It would be amazing to hold her words in my hands and read about her life. So much feeling and detail can come through in writing. So, I have decided my journal is important, not just for my own personal growth, but also to pass a part of myself onto my children.
I want to share some writing prompts, some ideas to get your muse singing. First, however, let’s talk about the journal itself. You want something durable, but also something you are comfortable with. Every writer will have his or her own preference. Me? I like a spiral bound journal with lined pages. I also have a weakness for parchment style paper and unique designs. Take a little trip to Barnes and Noble or Books-a-Million. Both have wonderful selections of hard cover notebooks, perfect for saving your memories. You can also find specialty journals online. Do a search. You’ll be amazed at the variety. Some of these books even come with prompts at the top of each page and inspirational quotes to keep you going. If you are more comfortable scribbling in a composition book like you used in school; that is fine as well. One other option is the computer. If you need a delete key and perfectly readable print, you can save beautiful journal pages on your own hard drive or through a web-based journal site. However, keep in mind that there is something more personal and human about the written word.
Now, you have the perfect notebook to preserve the past in. You have chosen a pen that is comfortable to write with, and you are ready to rock. Before you start stressing over what to write, remember this: Your child is not an editor. Got that? They don’t care if you mess up some grammar or if your words don’t echo Shakespeare. Turn off your inner-critic and tune into the muse. She’ll be happy to see you.
Twenty-Five Prompts for a Parent to Child journal:
1. What is your favorite song? Record the lyrics in your journal and explain what the song means to you.
2. Think back to moments of celebration in your life; graduation, birthdays, etc… Which is the most memorable? Who was there and what did you do? What makes it so special?
3. At some point, we all leave home. Sometimes it’s for college, marriage or just to get out on our own. When and why did you leave home? What was it like to return for a visit after living away?
4. What was your first paying job? Where did you work? Did you get along with your bosses and coworkers? What did you learn from the experience?
5. Did you ever baby-sit before you had children? What were some funny experiences? Do you think caring for others’ children prepared you in any way for your own? Are there things you thought about kids that changed when you had your own?
6. Open your dictionary to a random page. Choose a word and write down any memory it may spark?
7. Have you ever said something to one of your children (or about them) that you never thought you’d hear yourself say? Why did you say it?
8. Choose an event from your life and write about it, recording every detail. Now, write about the event from the point of view of someone else that was with you or from the point of view of a casual observer.
9. If you were writing your autobiography, what title would you choose? What would you call the chapters? Write your introduction.
