#11: From Heart to Pen: Writing Stories for Our Children

07/20/23 • 22 min

From a cozy campsite in Maine, I’m bringing you a heartfelt conversation on how parents can weave beautiful narratives for their children. Allow me to share inspiring prompts to capture irreplaceable moments and milestones in the form of stories. You'll discover how these narratives can resonate with your children, regardless of age, and how they can help forge a stronger bond. This sharing is not limited to the present; I’ll recount how my son Curtis got his name, revealing how our past can be a treasure trove of stories waiting to be told.
Embarking on a narrative journey can be the bridge connecting our past, present, and future. I'll provide guidance on expressing appreciation and respect for your children through writing, thus creating a legacy that outlives us.
Join me on this journey, and let's narrate the stories that matter.

Previous Episode

#10: Preserving Personal and Family Narratives: We All Can be Storytellers

1 Recommendations

Throughout my time speaking with people about my mission to help others “preserve their past through powerful personal stories.” I have had a lot of people assume that this topic was mostly for an older family member, usually a mother or grandmother who was collecting the family’s history.

I am here today to break this assumption and let you know why even if you do not fit into that group, you should be considering beginning to write your stories.

So who should be writing their stories?

In this episode we touch on the unique role of parents - from those experiencing the early milestones of their newborns to those engaging in deeper dialogues with their grown children, all with the shared goal of preserving family history.
Next we spotlight the invaluable role grandparents play in tying together past and present, weaving engaging narratives from their life experiences. We also discuss how individuals, even without their own children, contribute to this priceless legacy. Be it through sharing wisdom with nieces, nephews, siblings, and friends, or remembering a departed loved one, each story becomes part of a collective memory that transcends time.
So, whether you're a parent, grandparent, or simply someone who cherishes the past, this episode is your prompt to capturing and sharing those irreplaceable moments.
Link to related blog post

Next Episode

#12: The Little Things Make A Big Impact in Your Personal Stories

1 Recommendations

Picture this: a young girl with her family at Windmill Beach, laughter ringing out as they navigate the repair of a wooden split rail fence. This is a memory that shaped my life, and it's those small moments that often have the most significant impact. Today, I take you on a trip down memory lane, sharing stories from my past, from my book, Bridging Your Past and Future. More than that, I guide you on how to document your personal history and the importance of focusing not just on the big wins but also on the day-to-day moments and challenges.
Have you ever been transported back in time by a small, seemingly insignificant item? A ticket stub, perhaps, or a faded photo? I share a chapter from my book Bridging Your Past & Future: The Top Ten Items to Include When Documenting Your Personal History and my story of how a simple wooden fence became a reminder of my mother's humor and resilience. But it's not just about my story; it's about yours too. It's about recognizing the power of the little details in our lives, valuing them, and preserving them for future generations. Join me, Melissa Ann Kitchen, as we bridge our past and future through the power of storytelling.
Link to the blog post: September 12, 2022
BRIDGING YOUR PAST AND FUTURE (SAMPLE CHAPTER) - "THE LITTLE THINGS" shared here.
Link to the book Bridging Your Past & Future: The Top Ten Items to Include When Documenting Your Personal History here.

This group is for people who are in the process of writing their own personal stories to preserve their past for their future. It’s a place to come for story writing inspiration, weekly writing-related events and memes, and continued support from me and the other members.

Join like-minded people and get your stories down on paper for your future generations!

The Preserve Your Past Podcast - #11: From Heart to Pen: Writing Stories for Our Children

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:01.743

Welcome to the Preserve your Past podcast , where we'll explore all things related to the creative process of writing your stories for future generations . I'm your host , melissa Ann Kitchum , author , teacher , speaker and coach . I believe that your personal history is a priceless gift for family , friends and generations to come ,

Speaker 100:00:23.079

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