In Grandpa's Words

Grandparents are the best way to learn about your family history. Their stories tell of where you came from. They have lived it so essentially it is better than books. A grandparent’s account of an historic occasion also adds personality to the event. Where they were, what they were doing, and who they were with. They can recall people who past on before our time and provide information that we would otherwise never know.

Some cultures have used story telling as their way of keeping their traditions and history alive. Many do not have a written language and storytelling is the only way to communicate. If this did not continue, their life story would vanish. By the retelling of family history, the younger generation is exposed to first hand accounts, from the point of view of a relative. It brings to the generations together.

Asking questions can be helpful in jogging memories as well. Photographs and diaries are also helpful tools. Learning of a grandparent’s past can be fascinating and you might learn a few things about them that could surprise you. They, too, were young once, and full of life. The decades between grandchildren and grandparents can be closer when you hear of their childhood. They were not much different than you.

When they are gone, that part of the family history is gone, too. Listening to and talking with the older generation is an essential part of growing up. Learning from their mistakes and from their accomplishments provides for a healthy and close family relationship.