[cocotbo]

I started tracing my family tree when I was 15 years old. Now I'm 38 and have some wonderful stories about my ancestors. I'm planning to tell my son these stories when he is old enough to understand. My hope is that by hearing the stories he might grow up feeling connected to his ancestors and develop a pride in his own history. Has anyone else ever done this with their own children?

[mcmama]

Family stories make great bedtime stories! You can also plan trips around them. One of our ancestors survived a huge avalanche which collapsed a mine around the turn of the century. We took a trip to that site, and made family research a family vacation. It has made a lasting impression on the kids, and brings the pictures and "family tree" to life.
Actually, after the poor man was rescued, he went home to his wife and my children's grandfather was born 10 months later. Lucky for us he got warm, huh?

[heritagemom]

I can show you how to literally WRITE your own family "story books". Find me at
www.yourlifepreserver.com my kids LOVE it when we read them THEIR story!

[Tsunshine]

I grew up with my grandmother telling me stories about herself, she was born in 1907, and her ancestors. They are really fascinating and motivating. I have shared some of them with my kids. They can't believe that my grandma actually knew Indians and rode in a horse pulled sled to school.

[heritagemom]

It's amazing what finding out about your family history can do for you! I had no idea that my moms parents actually served several concurrent LDS missions on an Indian reservation...and if you knew my grandfather...you'd be stunned too! It's so much fun to get the "story" behind the faces and dates from the past. That's when they become so real and their memories stay alive. You should write down those stories so they are kept forever and can be passed on to your grandchildren and great grandchildren! It's my life's work to see that everyone who has a story gets it preserved!!

[erika h]

Originally Posted by cocotbo

My hope is that by hearing the stories he might grow up feeling connected to his ancestors and develop a pride in his own history.

What a great idea! Are you planning on supplementing the stories with photo album samples?

[cesalima]

I love the idea. It's just blasted a whole new book into my mind. Thank you so much for suggesting that.

[madcanner]

Some of my best memories are from Christmases when I was a kid, when my grandparents would visit. We'd inevitably wind up sitting around the tree on Christmas Eve while my grandparents would reminisce about their childhoods and family members now gone. I learned so much about my family through those stories and I treasure them now. It's given me a better understanding of what's behind our family culture, and gave me a feeling of foundation. Those weren't the only times I heard family stories, though, just the most vivid memories. My dad was really into family history, so I heard a lot of stories regularly from him about various ancestors. I really look forward to sharing those stories with my children as they get older, and have already started to tell the kids some of them. I hope they enjoy knowing about their ancestors as much as I do.

[beth]

Originally Posted by cocotbo

I started tracing my family tree when I was 15 years old. Now I'm 38 and have some wonderful stories about my ancestors. I'm planning to tell my son these stories when he is old enough to understand. My hope is that by hearing the stories he might grow up feeling connected to his ancestors and develop a pride in his own history. Has anyone else ever done this with their own children?

What a great idea, Lisa! In my famly tree, I have a daughter of an English peer who lived on the family's large estate (including castle!) who eloped with the estate blacksmith. After being chased for several weeks by her father's henchmen, the couple managed to escape and marry. She was written off by her father (that doesn't go into the story, of course) but the pair managed to have 12 children, all living, and it all ended happily ever after. As these stories are want to do!

[cocotbo]

OK, it's been a while since I've been able to visit the forums. Sorry I didn't answer promptly.

Yes, I do plan to supplement with photos and create an actual book of stories. All of my photos are on Zip disks right now and, as we've upgraded our computers, we no longer have a zip drive. Once I get one, I'll be self-publishing a LOT of family history.

Trips centered around family history are also a wonderful idea. My family originates in France, Ile de Re to be exact, and then moved to Quebec in the early 1600s. My grandfather was the first American born Thibault (pronounced "teebo"). Taking a trip to a sunny island off the west coast of France or to Quebec is DEFINITELY my idea of a good time!

Now as for that daughter of a peer who eloped with a blacksmith - WOWIE! That is a GREAT "happily ever after" story! All of my family's stories seem to be adventures rather than romances (except for me and my handsome prince, or course!)