Friday 7 March 2014

Dear Mum

Eleanor bought me this book for Christmas, Dear Mum, From You To Me.


The idea behind this little book that Eleanor has given to me is that I jot down pieces of information and memories, adding photos along the way, then give it back to Eleanor. She'll then have a book containing so much information about my life, my memories and my thoughts.


There's questions on each page to promt you, everything from Tell me about the time and place you were born, to What was the first piece of music you bought? right through to What would you like your epitaph to say?



Genealogy is one of my hobbies, I've researched all the branches of my family tree, and Mick's too. I know how important little snippets of information are, how lovely memories can be and how easily they're lost in time. I hope that by completing this book, Eleanor will know a bit more about me, and it's something that she'll be able to pass on to her children too.

40 comments:

  1. What a lovely idea. I'm sure that you'll enjoy doing it and Eleanor will enjoy reading it. Flighty xx

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    1. There's lots of other books along the same lines too. I'd have loved to give one to my mum but I don't think she'd have the concentration anymore to complete it.

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  2. Hello Jo,

    What an intriguing and thoughtful gift to have been given. And, as with the very best of gifts, there will be something in the future for you to return when the journal is filled with your memories, hopes and dreams. Yes, definitely something to be treasured for generations to come.

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    1. I think it's something to complete over time, and as you say, it will be lovely to gift it back to Eleanor in the future. I think as we get older, we realise how precious our memories are.

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    1. I think so. There's some other titles in the series along the same lines, such a lovely idea.

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  4. KL got one of those for my Mum, so that she would have a record of things, and so that she could learn more about Mum's life with my Dad ( I was pregnant with KL when he died), from Mum's point of view rather than mine.They used to spend a lot of time together, and Mum told her lots of things, but it's better to have them written down isn't it?

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    1. I think they're a lovely idea. There's no way we can get someone's memories back once they're gone so it's great to have a written record of them.

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  5. What a lovely idea and such a lovely gift from a daughter to her mum. D & I have researched our families and we both find it fascinating I just wish I had the time to do more may be when I retire:-)

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    1. I've done a lot of work on both mine and Mick's trees but I've come to a bit of a standstill now. I've managed to find long lost relatives and they've given me photos of relatives which I wouldn't otherwise have.

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  6. I bought a book called A Grandmother Remembers and one call A Mother Remembers and had my Mother-in-law fill in one and me the other for our daughter.

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    1. They're such a great idea. I think everyone should fill one it, it would make it so much easier years down the line when other people are researching their family trees.

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    1. I think it's such a lovely idea to have memories and events written down for our children and their children to keep.

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  8. Such a thoughtful gift. Eleanor knew how much you'd enjoy making this book of memories which makes it an even more special gift.
    Lisa x

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    1. I'm quite looking forward to getting started on it, though some of the questions will really make me think. I'm also going to enjoy going through my photo albums for relevent photos to include.

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  9. How brilliant? My mother-in-law writes a diary and she said she's going to leave them to me when she dies (along with her knitting pattern!) She days she often "talks" to me in the diaries as she knows I'm going to read them later

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    1. How lovely to be left someone's diaries. My mother in law hasn't spoken to me for ten years so I doubt she'd leave me hers.

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  10. What a wonderful little present.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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    1. I like the fact that I'll have a gift to give back once I've completed it.

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  11. What a wonderful gift to have received and to be able to give Eleanor and future generations of your family. I am sure that your memories will become a family treasure for years to come. xx

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    1. I hope so. I would have loved to have something like this passed down to me from grandparents or their parents.

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  12. I've got a book on a similar vein, but never filled it out,so maybe you can inspire me to start. I know a little of my family history, and think I should make an effort and find out more. Take care and enjoy the weekend.

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    1. You should definitely fill it out, it would be lovely to pass it on. I've really enjoyed tracing my family tree, I've come to a bit of a standstill now but I'm sure something will jump out at me once I start looking again.

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  13. What a beautiful gift, Jo. :o)

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    1. I was thrilled to receive it, I shall really enjoy filling it in, though some of the questions will make me think.

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  14. I didn't have a book for my grandmother to fill out with her memories, but I have a tape with her talking about her life. It took me ten years after she passed to be able to listen. She was born in 1873 and passed in l978. Quite a life she had, and my very best friend. I miss her so much. I think what your did for you is a wonderful idea. :)

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    1. How wonderful to have your grandmother's voice to listen to, and all the wonderful stories of her life. That's something you'll treasure for ever. I know what you mean about not being able to listen to them until some time after her death. My sister died nearly fifteen years ago and I have holiday videos with her, but I still find it very hard to watch them.

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  15. What an absolutely lovely present, so many of life's adventures, memories and achievements are lost from not being written down. Something to treasure for ever

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    1. That's so true. I hope I can think of worthy things to note when I'm writing down my memories.

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  16. I really like this idea. I should look into something similar to do with my daughter when she is older. I don't know my own mother especially well, and I'd like to break that cycle with my own daughter.

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    1. It's a great way of allowing our children to get to know us more, and something for them to keep for the future.

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  17. What a beautiful gift, such a thoughtful daughter you have :)

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    1. It's a lovely gift, I'm really going to enjoy completing it and gifting it back to Eleanor.

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  18. What a perfect gift, precious memories x

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    1. Memories are very precious indeed so I'm only too happy to write mine down for Eleanor. I hope this book will be something she's pleased to have in the years to come.

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  19. Its a lovely book Jo and I wish I had one that my mum had completed.

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    1. I'm the same, but I don't think my mum would have the concentration to complete one now, which is a real shame.

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  20. That's a brilliant idea for a book, my Grandad used to love writing little notes and poems (about the family usually) so one year I gave him a little note book, after he died it came back to me (almost full) as he'd written inside "To Jay from Grandad" It's very precious. Your daughter will treasure this.

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    1. I think these books are a great idea, there's other ones in the series too. How lovely to have the note book from your Grandad, I bet that's something you'll treasure for ever.

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