Family Journaling—Have You Tried It?

Have you ever been able to read a family member’s journal? Maybe a grandmother’s journal or even a great-grandmother’s journal?  I can tell you it is such a blessing not only to read their words from so long ago but also to see their handwriting.  I have been able to read several of my family members’ journals, and it has only convinced me that I need to do the same for the generations to come.  Here you can see my grandmother’s journal and my great-grandmother’s journal. They are filled with treasures!

They certainly do not have to be fancy to be treasured by future generations.  But what would make these family journals even more amazing?  For me, that would be entries written by my dad, my mother, my aunts and uncles, etc.  I think many of us have made journaling jars like mine below. Or maybe we have written our own journals, but have you done a journal written by all family members? I think it would be an amazing journal not only to share with each other but to have for future generations.

So with that little journaling twist in mind, I decided to come up with a journaling schedule and questions that the entire family can use to journal about in the same journal.

Schedule

Monday—Mom’s journaling time

Tuesday—Dad’s journaling time

Wednesday—Daughter #1 journaling time

Thursday—Daughter #2 journaling time

Friday—Daughter #3 journaling time

Weekend—catch up for anyone that missed their journaling time this week

The Rules

• Choose a journaling prompt from the printed list.
• Everyone must use their own handwriting, not a computer. Handwriting gives us insight about the person also, and it’s a piece of them we can always hold onto.
• Everyone must write in pen, preferably a journaling pen. You can keep the pen together with the family journal.  
• Date your entry! This is so important—do not forget the date, including the year.
• It’s fair to read other journal entries. So, play nice.
• It’s even fair to write about the same topic. People remember details differently so it would be fun for future generations to read different perspectives on the same topic. This will also give insight to different personalities. How fun!

Journaling Questions (just a few)

1. What is a favorite meal your family enjoys?
2. How many times a week do you have family meals together, and what does it mean to you?
3. Who are the cooks in your family?
4. What event in history that you remember had the most impact on you?
5. Interview a family member today and write about it.
6. Who in your family enjoys grocery shopping?
7. Describe a family member.
8. Tell about your family pets.
9. What is your favorite holiday and how do you spend it with your family?
10. Has anyone in your immediate family served in the military? Write about what you know about their service.
11. What is your favorite family car? Why?
12. Describe a favorite family vacation.
13. Does anyone in your family love storms?

Now those are just a few questions.  You can certainly personalize your journal and come up with questions that are meaningful to your family. For instance, in my family, we have family time every night. I would love for each of the kids to journal about what family time means to them.  Think of things that are unique to your family, and write about them. 

I hope you have enjoyed this family journaling idea. Just think of what it will mean to your immediate family and the generations to come. Enjoy, and happy family journaling!

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