What stories do you have about your grandparents? Your aunties and uncles? Your parents? Your childhood? Do your children and grandchildren know these stories?
This year, consider adding a holiday tradition of sharing these stories so they are passed on to younger generations. There are many ways to begin, so here are a few questions to consider:
Who will gather the stories?
Gathering stories is most fun when more than one generation works together. Often intermediate and high school students get excited about interviewing and recording grandparents – especially if they can make a movie out of it. But if all the youngsters are on the mainland, you can gather and write your own stories.
What stories should I share?
Starting out is often the most difficult step. Consider some of the following questions as you begin:
- What is your full name? What does it mean?
- Do you have any nicknames?
- Where were you born?
- Who are your siblings? What are their full names?
- What are your parents’ full names?
- What is (was) your job?
- What are some memories you have as a child?
- Describe your elementary school.
- What chores were yours as a child? As a teenager?
- What did you do for fun as a teenager?
- Do you remember your grandparents or great grandparents?
- How did you celebrate holidays? (Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Halloween, etc.)
How will I share these stories?
This is where the holiday cheer comes in. Whether you have written, typed, or recorded the stories, the last and most important step is sharing them. Wrap up the stories, send them as email attachments, or have a movie night and watch the interviews together.
Make this holiday season one of special moments that are shared by all generations.
