Personal memories are a gift we can give. Our family members are interested in hearing of our meaningful experiences and firsts. They are curious about our decisions, firsts (girlfriends, jobs, successes, failures), trips, and holidays. They want to know us through our stories and life journeys and discover what shaped us into the people we are now.
We are eager for the same from our own parents. Getting them to record their memoirs, in long form or even micro-memoirs, seems daunting. Some are not writers. Some are not talkers who are ready to open up to a machine. It takes time to get them emotionally ready. Emotions and recollections are not available at the touch of the human button.
How precious they are, however! Family stories passed on are treasures for present and future generations. They bind a family to its legacy and history. Knowledge of an ancestor’s struggles as well as achievements helps even young children become more resilient, post 9/11 research has shown. Placing one’s identity within a larger context is strengthening for adults. Becoming closer to one’s family through discovering things you never knew is priceless.
There are several options in the current market that enable families to do just this with ease. Each has a slightly different focus that vary from family history to family communication. Some are apps. Here is a quick and dirty review of what is out there to help you in the realm of personal memories for a family.
Instead of pushing to hear stories on the phone or nagging the patriarch to sit down at the keyboard and mine his memories, you can buy a package from StoryWorth. It offers options for input-both digital and voice. They send the participant weekly prompts that touch on a wide range of experiences, feelings, and situations. The questions can be customized, as well. Photos can be added to the text, which is available for editing. At the end, a bound hardcover book with photos, a keepsake, is produced. You can purchase more copies for family members beyond the initial one that comes with the package.
Saga is a voice diary with questions of the week. LifeArk is a cross generational app with an internet platform with young children in mind. It is designed for safe sharing and preserving lasting memories. Other similar apps are HistoryLines, which can help you, place your family’s memories in their historical context and Family Search, a free storage app that allows you to capture family stores on audio and doesn’t require the internet. Twile will help create a family tree and Kindeo is a private social network that is like Facebook for families.
These packages can be gifted to a senior or purchased for oneself. Either way, you have a permanent trove of family stories and have taken an adventure in memory and meaning.
More home care resources from Caring Professionals Home Care Agency.
- Caring for a Parent Without the Family Feud
- An Aging Expert’s Top Nine Tips for Aging Well
- I’m confused! Home health care, home care, personal care. What’s the difference?
- Spousal Caregiving 101: Navigating the Shifts in Love and Responsibility
- Gift-Giving Made Easy: A Caregiver’s Guide to Helping Grandma
- Understanding your Cranky Smart Old Dad
