Creating a Family History

Maintaining strong ties with previous generations is important, especially as your elderly loved ones get older. Understanding where your family comes from, and sharing that past with your children, is part of creating a familial bond that spans generations. Not only is understanding your family's past interesting, it allows you to get to know your relatives in a much more profound way.

Creating a lasting family history requires you to put an effort into learning about your family's past and maintaining its traditions in the future. Here are some easy ways that you can start to build up your family's history:

1. Do some genealogy research. You may be surprised to learn where your family's roots are planted. In addition to simply finding the names of your ancestors, take the time to learn more about the countries they came from, the cultures they were raised in, and the challenges they faced.
2. Talk with your elderly loved ones. There are certainly many details about the pasts of your parents or grandparents that you do not know. Schedule a time to sit down with your elderly loved ones and speak about their lives.
3. Scan all pictures into a computer. This will preserve the family's history for generations to come.
4. Talk with your children and grandchildren about your family's past. Sharing the details that you have discovered is the best way to build a lasting family history. While speaking with them, encourage the younger generations of your family to ask questions and do some research on their own.
5. Make a point to maintain family traditions. A rich family history is one steeped in tradition. Learn about the roots of your family's rituals, from the decoration of a Christmas tree to the celebrations at Thanksgiving, and share these stories as you act out these traditions. This will give younger generations a better appreciation of family customs.

Creating a lasting family history takes some work, but doing so will enable you to help enrich the lives of generations both young and old. By creating a bond between the generations of your family, you can help your loved ones better understand and appreciate where they come from.