How to Start a Grandmother Journal
Keeping a Grandmother Journal is a great way to keep memories for your Grandchildren long after you're gone. Take time to start your own Grandmother Journal. Write it down and remember!
How to Start Keeping a Grandmother Journal
This is a special time. You're a first-time grandmother, a new grandma for the second time, or you're a nana to many with another new grandchild, there's a lot you want to look back on down the road.
You think you'll remember.
How could you forget it?
You won't forget if you're keeping a Grandmother Journal!
Keeping a Grandmother Journal is a way to preserve those precious times, feelings, and details you experience as a Grandmother.
Your Grandmother Keepsake Journal can be shared with your Grandchildren in the future.
It will show how you felt, things you did, reactions from others, and the specifics surrounding their birth and life experiences with you.
They would love to know your thoughts about your time together, the funny things they did as a baby or small child, and the things about them that are important to you.
As a mother yourself, you know that these children won't be children forever.
They eventually turn into human adults.
Taking time to journal keeps a record of the memories you make together for you, your children, your grandchildren, and maybe even THEIR children and grandchildren.
While there are many ways to record your memories with your Grandchild, here are three ways to start keeping a Grandmother Journal.
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Keep a Written Grandmother Journal
A grandparent keepsake journal written by you in your own handwriting is probably the most personal of the options.
You can tell a lot about a person from their handwriting.
That will come through in your journal entries.
There are two types of written journals available to purchase, or you can simply use a notebook to record your entries.
Use a blank page journal like this.
Blank page journals require you to make your own categories but allow you the freedom to use the space however you see fit.
My "Writing Prompts for your Grandmother Journal" printable can provide you with sample questions to help get you started.
Use a pre-formatted journal.
Another suggestion is a pre-formatted journal like this one. This keepsake journal makes recording your grandmother experience easy and fun!
This type of journal has writing prompts included, sections for each suggested topic, and helps you through the process.
If you'd like this kind of guidance, maybe this method is for you.
Even memory journals like this have space for you to record your details about Grandchildren, even if they are geared toward your own personal history & memories.
This journal is the one I am using and it is BEAUTIFUL!
It is hardback, and the white decorative part is actually etched into the cover.
The pages are decorated, too, and it gives prompts for your writing.
Check it out!
Personalized Journal
If you want to make it personal, these journals from Etsy can be personalized just for you - add a baby's name, a family name, your name, or any other text you wish.
If you get a personalized keepsake journal, maybe you'd be more likely to use it and pass it down to your Grandchildren.
Keep a Blog Journal
If you aren't afraid of technology, you could start your own blog to record your memories.
Blogging is fun and a great way to present your thoughts.
A word of caution if you choose this direction.
Obtain clear permission from your Grandchild's parents before putting any pictures of them on your blog.
If you have their blessing, go ahead.
For my blog, I chose to not show the faces of my Grandchildren and not to use their names.
Have this discussion before you proceed with this idea.
Blogging may be a route you'd like to take.
If so, you can use our guide to starting a blog for memory keeping to get started with your online journal.
Start an Electronic Journal
Journal on your computer
The electronic grandmother journal is one you keep privately on your computer, tablet, or phone.
Entries are made in a journal-type format using Word, Google Docs, or some other means of recording your thoughts.
With this method, you can cut & paste selected entries to send to your children or grandchildren, keeping the private things private.
If you choose this option, make regular backups to ensure your journal is safe.
Use an online scrapbook option
Another electronic option is using an app like Project Life to record in scrapbook form.
This is a fun way to journal and include pictures as you go.
Send journal entries to an email
Here is one additional choice for an electronic type of grandmother journal.
This is perfect if you'd like to share your thoughts with your Grandchild at a later date.
Make each entry into an email for them, and send your entries, notes, pictures, etc. to this email address.
This could span a few years if you're late getting started, or from birth to college or beyond if you start from the beginning.
Whenever you decide it is time, give them the password.
They will enjoy all of the emails you have sent from your experiences together, photos you've taken, and words of wisdom you've shared.
What to Include in Your Grandmother Journal
Now that you know how to start keeping a Grandmother Journal, you should think about what to include in your Journal.
Journaling is a very personal thing, so you, yourself, should decide how much information you'd like to share.
A link to Part 2 of this series:
Keeping A Grandmother Journal Part 2: Writing Prompts
In Part 2 of this series, I will share some ideas with you to get you started writing in your Journal, no matter which recording option you have chosen.
Keep Passing Down the Love!
Grandma's Tip of the Day: A handwritten letter is still a meaningful and heartfelt way to say Thank You, Congratulations, or I'm Thinking About You.
I love the idea of a journal I kept one for both my sons until the age of 18, I gave this to my oldest last year when he got married. He was so overwhelmed and his new wife thought this was amazing all the stories of him growing up. I am now expecting my first granddaughter and I will continue this tradition .
When my first grandchild came a long and started talking I wrote things that she said, then came grandson, I would still write thigs he said. Next grandson #2, grandchild #3 I could write down most of what he said. After that 1,2,3 more came a long. These 6 are all from our son. I pretty much threw in the towel. Because everyone was talking to much all the time. 🙂 I love them dearly oldest is 21 youngest is almost 5. They all make me feel so special and loved.
That's wonderful! You did your best. Even though it gets harder to keep up when you get more than a few Grands, I'm sure you'll still remember the special moments!
I love this idea! My mother in law kept a journal when my kids came to visit. No one knew she did this. Then, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It was removed, but she has never fully recovered & had to go to a nursing home. As we were going through her things we found stacks upon stacks of spiral notebooks that were her journals. She wrote down things that my kids did and said that I don't remember. When you are in the throws of motherhood, especially when you have a lot of young children as I did, you don't remember those special moments. But I am so thankful that she kept record of them. These journals are such a precious gift to us! Now I am a grandma and will continue on this great tradition of journaling for my grandkids.
Hey, Dana.
You're right. And sometimes we don't realize what a gift it is until later. Thank you for stopping by.
I just found out I am going to be a grandma! I have started a journal with stories about my son ( the baby’s father) and photo of him. I have also started a bank account for this little one! With every entry I plan to make a deposit at the bank! Twice blessed!
Short anecdotes about world news and events and personal views/opinions on them could be interesting.
Actually started general journals for all of my children as well - to be shared with their children later .... just 0in case
Being a grandparent is the Best!
Congratulations!
These are great ideas! What a wonderful gift you're giving to your kids and Grandkids!
Best wishes for a healthy, happy Grandbaby!
I love the idea of a journal written by hand, but in BC Canada, students are no longer taught cursive writing.
as much as I hate the thought, a computerized journal may be the way to go.
Memories are so important to share. my husband has terminal cancer and had never kept a journal before. He started one very quickly. He writes down all sorts of thoughts and memories fro his kids and grandkids. What a gift to the next generation. I'm here on the A to Z Roadtrip.
Oh, Heather. I'm so sorry to hear about your husband. What a difficult time for all of you! Yes, memories are important. So happy for you that he's chosen to make a record for you and your family. That will be a treasured item, for sure.
Very thorough and informative post. Grandmas out there who read this will love it, too .