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6 unique ways to share and video your stories, heritage and talents at your next family visit
The search for the stories and history of extended families has been a passion of millions of people. This usually happens in later life, as a bit of maturity and curiosity of how their family got to be the way they are creeps in.
Those questions are about the past. You are the direct holder of lots of that information and opinions for current and future searchers. When families gather to share family lore, they are often amazed at the different “facts” each of them hold about what happened. I call that “Alternate Realities”.
These are what we call “Times of Remembrance” They happen before, during, and after the death of a loved one and the stories only they could tell. We tend to be more aware of these stories as we sit vigil with someone and mourn their loss.
Think of the treasured and meaningful video recordings that you don’t have because someone didn’t take the initiative make it happen or an elder who didn’t think anyone cared what he had to share. You hold the key to the questions that current and future generations want to answers to. And that doesn’t include the sharing of skills, talents, a lifetime of hard earned wisdom that you hold or that is held by an elder, whose memory is slipping away.
Here is a short list of activities that are guaranteed to bring up stories, between the generations, that your loved ones will treasure more than any possessions you could give them.
Don’t delay. Set aside recording activities during visits this summer and any time after. Written documentation and stories will be different than the ones told, because you can see the tone of voice and expressions on their face.
What is the sound of your parents or grandparents voice and laughter at various ages?
Get a young person to help with the technology if you don’t have it or know how to use it. Every cell phone is also a video recorder.
♦ Grandpa reads toddler books to future and perhaps current children in the extended family.
Using books from previous generations makes it more meaningful. Share your experience of reading these books to your children.
♦ Grandma teaches the meaning of special words and phrases from her heritage to strengthen the ethnic identity of the grandchildren.
♦ Grandpa demonstrates how he makes his famous pot roast. How much spice is in his “pinch”?
♦ Grandpa does a show and tell with the items in his tool box and shows how to use his tools that the grandchildren will inherit one day.
♦ A family talent show is fun and showcases traditional, fun and strange talents.
The Johnson family sings, niece Emily plays the violin, Cousin Mike shows how to do some magic tricks, brother Sid shows how he makes paper hats and you do the tap dance you learned as a child. WOW!
♦ Individuals or groups sit around a table and share the back-stories of old family pictures they brought to share and learn about. What is the back story of the photo (who, what, where, when and why of what is shown – what was happening before and after the picture was taken)
Heartfelt Memorial Services: Your Guide for Planning Meaningful Funerals, Celebrations of Life and Times of Remembrance
Dave Savage HeartfeltMemorialServices.com
The search for the stories and history of extended families has been a passion of millions of people. This usually happens in later life, as a bit of maturity and curiosity of how their family got to be the way they are creeps in.
Those questions are about the past. You are the direct holder of lots of that information and opinions for current and future searchers. When families gather to share family lore, they are often amazed at the different “facts” each of them hold about what happened. I call that “Alternate Realities”.
These are what we call “Times of Remembrance” They happen before, during, and after the death of a loved one and the stories only they could tell. We tend to be more aware of these stories as we sit vigil with someone and mourn their loss.
Think of the treasured and meaningful video recordings that you don’t have because someone didn’t take the initiative make it happen or an elder who didn’t think anyone cared what he had to share. You hold the key to the questions that current and future generations want to answers to. And that doesn’t include the sharing of skills, talents, a lifetime of hard earned wisdom that you hold or that is held by an elder, whose memory is slipping away.
Here is a short list of activities that are guaranteed to bring up stories, between the generations, that your loved ones will treasure more than any possessions you could give them.
Don’t delay. Set aside recording activities during visits this summer and any time after. Written documentation and stories will be different than the ones told, because you can see the tone of voice and expressions on their face.
What is the sound of your parents or grandparents voice and laughter at various ages?
Get a young person to help with the technology if you don’t have it or know how to use it. Every cell phone is also a video recorder.
♦ Grandpa reads toddler books to future and perhaps current children in the extended family.
Using books from previous generations makes it more meaningful. Share your experience of reading these books to your children.
♦ Grandma teaches the meaning of special words and phrases from her heritage to strengthen the ethnic identity of the grandchildren.
♦ Grandpa demonstrates how he makes his famous pot roast. How much spice is in his “pinch”?
♦ Grandpa does a show and tell with the items in his tool box and shows how to use his tools that the grandchildren will inherit one day.
♦ A family talent show is fun and showcases traditional, fun and strange talents.
The Johnson family sings, niece Emily plays the violin, Cousin Mike shows how to do some magic tricks, brother Sid shows how he makes paper hats and you do the tap dance you learned as a child. WOW!
♦ Individuals or groups sit around a table and share the back-stories of old family pictures they brought to share and learn about. What is the back story of the photo (who, what, where, when and why of what is shown – what was happening before and after the picture was taken)
Heartfelt Memorial Services: Your Guide for Planning Meaningful Funerals, Celebrations of Life and Times of Remembrance
Dave Savage HeartfeltMemorialServices.com