Write Your Family History one day at a time

Julie Toske, photos by Andrea Paulseth |

I have written several books that could be best sellers. But being a best seller would mean that people would read my books, and that has never been my intention. These books are my personal journals. I started writing in a journal when I was about seven after receiving a diary with a lock on it from my best friend. Nothing gets a child writing like the idea of putting a secret in a locked diary. I still have that first red-and-blue paisley diary filled with secrets, dreams, and doodles.

I have written several books that could be best sellers. But being a best seller would mean that people would read my books, and that has never been my intention. These books are my personal journals. I started writing in a journal when I was about seven after receiving a diary with a lock on it from my best friend. Nothing gets a child writing like the idea of putting a secret in a locked diary. I still have that first red-and-blue paisley diary filled with secrets, dreams, and doodles.

Journal writing is an activity I recommend for everyone because as soon as one can hold a writing utensil, one can journal. I have a collection of journals from my granddaughters that they proudly presented to me as they filled up the tiny notebook pages with colorful scribbles. These scribbles are an introduction to writing, which not only promotes learning but also starts a pattern for sustained writing.

A journal serves many purposes. It can be a way of recognizing emotions, working out problems, or simply documenting your day. Years ago, Oprah Winfrey revived personal writing with her advice to keep a gratitude journal. This is a simple way to acknowledge the positive aspects of your daily life and to start writing on a daily basis.

There are many formats that work for journaling, and finding one that is sustainable is an individual choice. My mother wrote in hard-cover journals. Her perfect script recorded the temperature, what her children were up to, and what she had accomplished on a particular day. She would let me read her journals, and as a child I found them quite boring. When I read the only journal of hers that I still have, I am amazed at all she could accomplish in a day. My dad jotted events down on a calendar. I can still picture him looking out the window, thinking about his day, and then writing a line in that little box. After he passed away, I found a box of those calendars. He chronicled events such as me bringing home my boyfriend for the first time (now my husband of 36 years) to the price of a gallon of paint. Journaling can be as simple as that, but can also tell a rich story.

To get started with journaling, find a format that is intriguing. Children might select their own hard-cover journal, notebook, or that locked, secret diary. Book stores, big box stores, and even the dollar stores have a wide variety to choose from. Teens might prefer an online version but they need to remember that we should consider nothing secret on the computer, and unless you print out what you write, you could lose years of your history when changing devices. In the end, establishing a routine for journaling is more important than the format. If you model writing for your children, they are more likely to keep at it themselves.

Start a journal today and stick with it. Write on a calendar, in a diary, online, or even on scratch paper. The key is simply to write your own story.

JOURNALING TIPS

  • Writing at the same time each day (usually in the evening) in a cozy spot tends to help thoughts flow.
  • Write together to help start a pattern. You can journal by yourself later.
  • Prompting younger children can be as easy as gluing a picture of them into their journal and letting them write about what was going on and how they feel about that activity.
  • Try keeping a separate journal that you and your child can share. Write a question or comment and then pass it to your child for a reply. Keep it going back and forth. This is a great way to start communication about difficult topics.