31 Days of Intentional Parenting: {Day 12} Recording your family history

Your family has a story and it is as unique as each member of your family. Are you documenting your family history for your children, future grandchildren, and even yourself?

I really believe in the importance of documenting one’s story. Things we think we will always remember, do become harder to recall as the years go by—and we may not even remember what we forgot!

Each day you spend with your children is part of the legacy you are leaving them.

Think about that for a minute, or five.

Each day we have with our children is precious, and important. We are called to teach them in the ways of the Lord, discipline them, train them, love them, educate them, nurture them, forgive them, pray for them, and enjoy them.

Three years ago I started keeping a family diary. In it I write what our family did that day. To be fair I don’t wax poetic as I’m usually exhausted and spent at the end of the day. But I do capture the days events in bullet point style. Sometimes looking back on what we did is helpful for me when I feel discouraged. When I wonder if I really make a difference in my children’s lives. When I wonder what God’s purpose is in all that is going on in our lives.

As a disclaimer I feel compelled to tell you that some times I have gone weeks or months without writing very much. But I don’t give up. I stay the course because I figure it’s a lot more than we would have if I just gave up completely. So, please be gentle on yourself if you choose to try this out in your family.

Things to include in your family diary:

Milestones (including lost teeth, braces, first dates, crushes, graduations etc.)
Special Events & celebrations
Funny sayings
Life lessons
Touching moments
vacations & trips
Field Trips & adventures
odd happenings from your day
reflections on your day, your family, your children, a child, your family pet etc.

For me the easiest way to go about this is to go to your local office supply store and buy an At a Glance Standard Diary Daily Reminder. The red diaries come out each year and have the year embossed on the spine. The green ones are generically dated and are not year specific. They have the perfect amount of space to make recordings of your days happenings. I suggest leaving it somewhere that you will see it and be apt to write in it, such as: your nightstand, desk or kitchen counter.

Record your family history and enjoy all that God has blessed you with and shown you through your children and even your trials.

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