There is almost nothing as intriguing as your parents diaries. Not that I've ever sat down and read them, but sometimes my dad will pull out his laptop and read us clips from when we were little. There is so much fodder there for character and story, not to mention understanding of yourself.
Here is an example from Dad (shared with permission):
I just went downstairs to stop Rachel and Sarah from fighting. Sarah only has two barbies and she only wants Rachel to have two. I said she should let people do what they want and not be so bossy. I said, "you can only really play with two barbies at once, cause you can only hold two barbies at a time." So she picked up four barbies and played with them. Then I said, "but only 1 barbie at a time can talk." She said, "not if they all say the same thing."Um, yeah, so that's the kind of kid I was. The jury's still out on if I've improved. The point is, our parents remember things about us and all our siblings that we, obviously, don't, and there is not much I can think of that gives us more to work with then our own family and personal history.
If you're lucky enough to have parents that kept records, ask if they'd be willing to share some little bits with you.
What kind of a child were you? How has that informed your writing and authorial career?
Sarah Allen
P.S. I'm the one in the plaid jumper, Rachel's in the floral. We no longer fight over barbies. More than once a week.
You are one of the luckiest people I know to be able to read from your father's diary.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sweet.
Thanks for sharing.
I think I should be grateful my dad didn't keep a diary!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I was the child that as soon as I could write was in her bedroom writing, so he didn't really see much of me until I hit about 15!
how cool is that--and i love the jumper!
ReplyDeleteHa! So cute. It's great that your father kept that memory for you so you could see how you were as a child. Sometimes I enjoy my mom's embarrassing stories of my escapades, and sometimes I don't. Most of them are humiliating! :)
ReplyDeleteI was going to say that my parents didn't keep journals, but then I remembered the home videos. I don't personally remember any of these instances, but I remember watching them as an adult... my family still gives me crap for the fights I had with my sister. I was definitely the sister throwing her weight around.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome! I find diaries and the written word from ancestors to be one of the most treasured things.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sweet Sarah, So nice of Dad to share it with you! What a great moment.
ReplyDeleteI shared moments like this when days before passing away my mother read out from letters written by my dad to her years ago when I was born! Rare moments!
That is fun you got to read your parent's journal.
ReplyDeleteMy sister and I used to argue over Barbies too :D
ReplyDeleteMy parents never kept records like that, but I do. I think it will be interesting for my kids to see what I was like as a teenager :P