I've started a new blog, and I wanted to share the idea with you (but not the blog!). I've always kept handwritten journals for my girls, and my goal has been to write in them weekly. That never seems to happen, and I'm lucky if I write in them once a month. I realized that keeping journals for the girls would be much easier to do on a more frequent basis if I started a blog of letters to the girls. So, that's what I did!
Every couple of days, I'll write a letter to each girl or one to both of them. I tell them what's going on in our lives (boring details that I wouldn't include on a public blog) or my feelings about them or things they have done. This blog is completely private, and it's freeing to write and know that no one is reading it (yet! I'll print copies for the girls one day). I've always kept a journal, and this blog feels very much like journaling to me since it is private. I'm still going to write in their handwritten journals, but now the pressure is off and I can write in them when I have time and don't have to feel obligated to keep them up weekly. I'm really hoping that I'll be able to get Elliott to write letters to the girls, too. I'm not holding my breath, but maybe he'll at least write to them on their birthdays (and I think that once he does it once he'll be hooked).
So, now I have 3 blogs to keep up with...I wonder if I can do it :)
I love this!!!! Your girls are so blessed.
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea - thanks for sharing.
a lovely idea. I did a photoblog of my boy's first year (which I need to finish - I have the pics, but didn't post them...) and I'm doing the same for our little girl (well, I am sure going to try anyway!) who is 4 weeks old.
ReplyDeleteI write a little bit of what we did that day - which I guess is my way of journaling.
I love your idea of writing letters.
That is such a wonderful idea! Your girls will love thid
ReplyDeleteThat is such a special thing to do. Karen
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! But whats the second blog then?
ReplyDeleteNice idea! :) Just be sure to back it up periodically - heaven forbid you'd lose those letters to your girls if Blogger crashes!
ReplyDeletesorry this comment will have few details! I saw this a while back, there are companies that will print your blog into a book, a keepsake book. Might be something to look into
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a similiar idea of creating an email address for your little one and then emailing messages. I find this so easy (could attach pictures) because I usually have email open through the day. I encourage my husband to email her the stories he tells me about the kids. Sometimes if someone emails me something about the kids, I forward it to my kiddos email address. Not sure it could be nicely "bundled" like a blog or book though.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the idea!
I totally do the exact same thing for all my kids and I love it. I love that no one but my husband and I can read it. I feel like I sometimes don't want to share my most intimate, special feelings about my children for everyone to read. This is much more special.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful keepsake for your girls to have. I printed one of my blogs last year using blog2print. It is cheap and has a wonderful finished book quality. It was cool to see my blog published this way. My mother and her sisters started a private blog of their memories and they plan to print it out for all the kids at then end of the year.
ReplyDeleteI keep journals for each of my girls too (ages 2 and 7 months old) I have my husband write in them once in awhile and I hope when the girls are older that they can write in each others journal or draw pictures. It is hard work keeping up with them so I understand you for creating a blog for them! I love reading your blog- you are a wonderful mommy and you are blessed.
ReplyDeleteFor almost four years I have written something for every day in large 12 month calendars for my son. Sometimes it is just our schedule. Other times it is cute things he has said, milestones he has reached, crafts we have done, friends we visit, etc. I wrote down every word he spoke from the first one "dog" until about 150 words. Then I wrote his first phrases and sentences. It is so neat to be able to look back at the calendar and know exactly when he said or did something for the first time. I don't think I would be able to keep up with a blog. But I truly do enjoy reading yours.
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly what my blogs are for. I wrote every week during the first year, and as much as I can from there on out. I don't have to worry much about the public private cause even though it is a private blog no one seems to read it (at least I get NO comments hardly ever) I hope my boys enjoy reading about there lives. I wish I had a detailed account of my childhood!
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful idea! Good luck keeping up with all of those; your daughters will treasure it later. :)
ReplyDelete(p.s. I've moved to Wordpress! Following In My Shoes)
I like the email idea!
ReplyDeleteI emailed around steady updates for my son's first... 15 months or so. Less often since. So I've got a good start already!
I don't keep a personal journal, but keep 3 journals for my children. One for each. Handwritten. I started each when I found out I was pregnant with them and wrote about each dr. visit and have kept up with them for 6 years now. It's so much fun to go back and read to them all the things they did as babies. AND it's amazing to see how much we forget! I am so glad I wrote down all the little things, sayings, and stories. My older kids have several journals each as I run out of room in the first ones.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! It'll be time consuming, but SO WORTH IT!
My husband lost his dad when he was 19 to a heart attack. His dad managed to write a personal letter to each of his 4 kids that has meant the world to each of them, now 15 years after his death. It meant so much that on the birthday of each of our boys, he writes a personal letter to them about what they are like, the things they do and say and how much he cares about them. I don't get to read them, they are just for the boys to get maybe when they leave the house for college. But it has made me thought maybe I should do the same thing but I like the ongoing journaling idea. Thanks for the idea.
ReplyDeleteI started something like this when my daughter was six months to cheer up my mom who was suddenly ill and lived far away. She commented as often as she could for the next sixth months until she passed away. I treasure those comments and the ones of my daughter's other grandparents like nothing else! If it makes sense for you, I would encourage including immediate family members so that their thoughts can be a part of the big picture for your children in the years to come.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea! I did something similar with my daughter, we write letters back and forth to each other in a spiral notebook.
ReplyDelete