Keeping journals - anyone do it?

money_saving_diva

Hi, I would do one.

When I got pregnant with my lo I wrote a diary of my pregnancy. It was lovely to write how I was feeling and when I felt first kick, when bump got big and the actual labour. I wrote it knowing it would be read by other people - hopefully my son might be interested in reading it one day. Then after he was born I started a scrap book. I put photos etc in it for all the important dates, holidays, mile stones etc. and write personal notes around them.
I enjoy doing them and they are lovely to look back at - even already and he is only 18 months old. It is amazing how you forget stuff so it is nice to have it documented. My husbands mum did a scrap book of his life as he grew up and we all love looking at it! It is very personal and lovely to keep.

On sadder note but I feel I should say this although I am sure your pregnancy will be fine - I have just had another pregnancy and so started my pregnancy diary again. At our 13 week scan last month we found the baby had died. I found it really helpful emotionally to write about it in my diary that I had already started.

taliwillow

I do a similar thing for my two daughters. I have a very thick pretty notebook each for them and I write letters to them in it. I don't plan on telling them about the books (so when they are old enough to spot them they will be hidden) and the plan is to write letters to them about things that have happened until they are 21 and then give them to them as one of their 21st birthday gifts. I'm just going to have to tell my eldest not to tell her sister about it so it will be a surprise on her 21st. It might seem a bit silly to some but I would have been so interested if someone had done that for me and think it will be a very special gift.
I think I am also doing it because I am quite a pessimist and think that if anything should happen to me before they are 21, they will have something from me that will teach them more about the type of person I was and show them how much I love them.

money_saving_diva

taliwillow wrote: »

I do a similar thing for my two daughters. I have a very thick pretty notebook each for them and I write letters to them in it. I don't plan on telling them about the books (so when they are old enough to spot them they will be hidden) and the plan is to write letters to them about things that have happened until they are 21 and then give them to them as one of their 21st birthday gifts. I'm just going to have to tell my eldest not to tell her sister about it so it will be a surprise on her 21st. It might seem a bit silly to some but I would have been so interested if someone had done that for me and think it will be a very special gift.
I think I am also doing it because I am quite a pessimist and think that if anything should happen to me before they are 21, they will have something from me that will teach them more about the type of person I was and show them how much I love them.

That is lovley - do you write it as if you are talking to them in it?
Like saying 'today was your birthday - and I was so proud of you...' etc?
It is a lovely idea and I think it is the sort of thing daughters would love - I am not so sure a son would be so impressed?

taliwillow

Yes moneysaving diva, I write to them. My last letter that I wrote was something along the lines of:
Dear DD1, I am so sorry I haven't written for a while. I have been meaning to but I have just been so tired as I normally write after you go to bed when I get some quiet time, but you have been a bit of a madam about going to bed so 8pm now seems to be 10-11pm! We are on holiday in Cornwall this week and you have had a great day today. We took you to the beach and you really loved it.....etc, etc, Then I normally end with Love you lots/Lots of love/I am so proud of you etc, Mummy xxx. I figure when they get to a certain age it will change from Mummy to Mum. They are only 5 months and 17 months at the moment so I have a long way to go for that I think.
I want to make sure I dont just put the nice bits in though as I think it could be helpful to them if I am totally honest about the hard times of parenting as it may help them when they have children to know that I experienced very similar things with them and it's all very normal and that they can talk to me if they need to.