Memory Jars Make Great Gifts for Mum and Dad

Have you encouraged your parents to write down some of their life stories to leave as a legacy for your children and grandchildren?

You have heard some of their special recollections at various times, often around the dining table after a family gathering, but just can’t get Mum or Dad motivated to record them for the future?

You are not alone!

Here is a great idea to get the whole family involved.

Create a Memory Jar for each parent. This will get them interested and the more interest you have the greater your chance of getting the information you want. 

Mum's questions will be different to Dad's in some respects but there are many questions that are ideal for both. You can download some general questions here.

The instructions to make your own Memory Jar are simple and so easy the kids can organise it for themselves: 

• Select a clean jar with a lid. It can be a simple coffee jar or an old cut glass pickle jar – it’s your choice. 
• Get a pen and notebook, again according to taste and budget. 
• Draw up a list of questions you'd like to ask either Mum or Dad or, to make it easier, you can download some here. Save the PDF to a folder and then print it.
• Cut out each question and fold it up before placing them into the jar and close the lid. 
• Copy this list of instructions and wrap the jar, notebook and pen to give to your parent. 

Instructions: 
Open the jar once a day and remove a question.
Read the question and stick it to the top of a clean page in the notebook.
Under the question, answer the question as fully as you can.
Next day repeat the process.

Annie suggests attaching each question to a teabag or a wrapped sweet to encourage your parent to make this an enjoyable part of the day.

Sit down with a cup of tea, choose the day’s question, stick it into the notebook and then get Mum or Dad to think back, perhaps close their eyes, and let the thoughts come. Listen to the answers, record them if you can and you have the beginnings of a real life story.

Involving the grandchildren in the project also makes it fun as there is often a great bond between grand parents and grand children.

Using such technological tools as a digital recorder or video also adds some excitement to the whole process, especially if the kids become interviewers or producers. Once done the stories can be up-loaded into a personal on-line vault via www.legacystories.org for safekeeping and further input from family members.