The Gift of Family Writing

Jill Novak

Remembrance Press

26306 N. Fairfield Rd
Lake Zurich, IL

I wish that I had had this book before my children were born! How many of us have old family photo albums with only names and dates beside the picture? Do we know anything about the people in the pictures? In most cases, we do not and that is a shame because we now lack knowledge of our ancestor’s and their history. Ms. Novak has written The Gift of Family Writing to encourage families to record their daily lives so that future generations will know more about our own life stories.

When I first started reading The Gift of Family Writing, I thought to myself, "Boy, you really messed up! You know all of those times that the kids said something cute or funny and you haven’t taken the time to record those little things." However, the author encourages us that it is never too late to begin recording those moments. Just start now! Keeping a notebook handy is the only requirement for jotting down the funny moment at breakfast, noting the sweet interaction between children in the afternoon or capturing the lively conversation around the dinner table. With ready pen and paper, you are all set to be able to record those moments that otherwise will go unnoticed.

Ms. Novak encourages the parent to get their children journaling their daily lives as early as possible. Taking dictation for younger children or reluctant writers encourages them to partake in this task. Mom is not to worry about the grammar because this can stifle a willing participant! As I move from busy day to busy day, I was caught by this statement, "Journaling with your family will slow down life’s hectic pace. It will put joy back into your day." Wow! What a statement, one which I believe to be very insightful and totally agree with after making some changes in our home so that we are now enjoying family dinners almost every night. Just taking that time to come together has added a lot to our lives. I can only imagine what a family journal and its recordings would share about us with future generations.

One aspect of family journaling that I really appreciate is the fact that each member of the family will view an event from various viewpoints. By sharing our thoughts, we draw closer together and begin to understand each other better. In addition, each person will remember different details and this will mean that a more concise memory will be preserved. The Gift of Family Writing takes the reader through the various steps involved in journaling life stories beginning with the most basic steps of helping young children journal and transcribing their thoughts. There are chapters discussing the correction of grammar, how to help your child develop fluency in his writing as well as clustering exercises. Advice is given to help inspire the older child and to aid them in putting more detail into their writing. Multiple examples of family and creative writing are shared throughout the book.

The one thing that Ms. Novak wants to impress upon the reader is the value of relationship. "The written word has the power to bless, bond, guide, heal and give life, because written communication is a gift from God. Only within the security of family relationships do we have the freedom to express what’s on our hearts and anticipate a response." I remember keeping a diary during my teen years – this held my secret thoughts. How differently I may have viewed various circumstances if I had taken the initiative and time to share some of my thoughts with my parents. Their wisdom was sorely needed at times, but I didn’t choose this route. The Gift of Family Writing, by encouraging family journaling, leaves the door open to communication no matter the ages of the participants. Parents are encouraged to write letters to their children. I know that I have saved some of the letters that my dad wrote to me while in college. In looking back, I wish that I had saved more of them as well as those that my great-grandmother wrote to me. What a precious memento to be able to share with my own children! Other topics in this book include keeping prayer journals and writing tributes about family and friends.

I haven’t seen anything like The Gift of Family Writing before. As an avid scrapbooker and card maker, I appreciate the value of recording the current moment. My children look through their scrapbooks often and remark how grateful they are for what I have preserved for them. I use cards to show people that I am thinking of them. After reading Ms. Novak’s book, I do believe that I now have a new outlet for my creativity – I will make cards for my children and write them letters! In the 21^st century, our lives are full of so much hustle and bustle and we often float through each day without really paying attention to what is going on inside our own homes. The Gift of Family Writing encourages us to take the time to savor those lovely moments, the funny comments and the silliness that only a family can enjoy. What a gift we would be giving to our children, our descendants, and ourselves if we took the time to write our life stories!

... Kris ...