Documenting stories for your family is a powerful way to develop and maintain a legacy for your children and grandchildren.

In our not too distant past, generations often lived together under one roof. Even if they did not live together, families tended to be closer, and grandparents lived close by their children and grandchildren. Although family bonds are still genuine, our living situations have significantly changed – and many in this generation know very little about their family legacy and history.

DNA and ancestry identification services are growing in popularity as people long to understand their personal family stories. Parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents have unique and exciting life experiences often unknown to the generations growing up today.

People often balk at the thought of such a project. Grandchildren may not ever think of Grandma and Grandpa as vibrant individuals who lived colorful lives. Additionally, grandparents may not realize just how extraordinary and cherished their stories will be to their family.

While writing your loved ones’ stories by hand is traditional, it is no longer necessary. Every phone has a camera capable of taking quality video. All that you need to do is get your loved one talking – about their childhood, war experiences, jobs, and careers, or how they met their spouse. Enlist the help of a younger family member to use video editing software allows to cut stories, arrange them in chronological order, or edit out those moments that don’t apply to the project. Videos make a permanent impression, and children are given the gift of their grandparent’s presence long after they are gone. Video allows the family to vividly remember the face, voice, and stories of their loved one.

Older adults sometimes think they don’t have anything interesting to share that is worthy of documenting. But the anecdotes of a senior citizen are a living time capsule, teaching their descendants where they came from and who they were. A silly misconception about the elderly is that they have always been old and boring, hen the truth is so much more compelling.

Here are some subjects to ask about when documenting a life story.

Tell me about your parents. This step may seem simplistic, but many people don’t even know the full names of their family members further back than a couple of generations. You can document full names and record where they and their parents grew up and lived. Ask what their parents did for a living, what hobbies they enjoyed, and their beliefs surrounding faith, culture, and home country.
What was your childhood like? Grandparents and great-grandparents lived out their childhoods in a very different time. Ask about what games they played, where they traveled, and how growing up was different than it is today. Don’t forget to ask about favorite memories regarding friends, school, or pastimes.
What advancements were life-changing? Your grandparents witnessed technological innovations in ways we can only imagine. Ask them how some of these incredible inventions changed their daily lives and how items and machines we now take for granted changed their lifestyle.
What historical events did you witness? What significant events that changed history occurred during their lives, and how did they feel about them? Was it a scary time to be alive, or was it exciting?
What was your young adult life like? Document how your grandparents met, and ask about any funny or touching dating stories. Ask m to tell you about their career, favorite vacation destinations, or if they had a favorite pet.
How are you feeling about your life now? Our senior citizens have a significant amount of wisdom and experience. Ask them what they would tell the younger version of themselves, how it feels to look back over their lives, and the overriding emotion.

Spending the time to document your grandparent’s life over the last century gives your family an invaluable gift for the future. Children and grandchildren will have greater admiration for the older family members, and loved ones will be comforted in the knowledge that their lives are important. Those who have taken on this project have found it an endearing and vital step towards knowing their own history.

If you are searching for a loving new home for your elderly loved ones, we invite you to visit A Banyan Residence in The Villages. Our professional assisted living and memory care residences are available for tours; just give us a call.