As a mom, I haven’t found myself sad about my kids getting older, but I do worry I will forget all the details of our days. I love the stories of the funny things they say and do. I want to point them to Jesus when they open their hearts and minds to me. I want to measure their growth on more than a doorframe.
They have baby books, binders with school papers, books that document each school year, and birthday books we fill out each year. I take many pictures that end up online and in scrapbooks. I share some of their childhood on my blog and have ongoing notes on my phone so I can remember their words.
Documenting life is important to me because
I want to remember what God has done.
“Questions & Answers for Kids” is a fabulous addition to the collection of tools to capture the everyday moments of my kids’ childhoods. It’s 365-day journal with questions for each day and space to answer them each for three years. The questions prompt conversations and I love jotting down their answers. Then we’ll get to look at it again next year and the year after that.
The timing is good for this multi-year documentation. I started my own five-year journal this year that has space to write a sentence a day. This is a fun kid-version of that same idea, and I’m thrilled to have it.
Questions include both serious and silly prompts: What’s the difference between a mistake and a bad choice? What qualities are in a true friend? What animal makes the coolest noise? What is the worst smell in the world?
“If you were given three wishes, what would they be?” was a question that prompted answers of material things from my 8-year-old boy and 10-year-old girl. Ben talked about Nerf guns, Lego sets, and money while Cate stuck with her love of horses. But the scripture from John 15:7 at the bottom gave me pause: “If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Well, God isn’t a genie. He certainly cares about the desires of our hearts (as simple as they may be), but He cares more about our souls. His plan for our lives doesn’t always involve exactly what we think we want, but He gives gifts that surpass anything we can imagine as we live in His will.
So, you know, a simple question about wishes can lead to a more meaningful conversation – and I’ll take that anytime, especially with my kids! Although I will say the other scriptures I’ve read seem to be much more in sync with the context as well as God’s truth.
My kids aren’t surprised when I ask them questions or document their lives. I really do believe one day they’ll be grateful to be able to look back on their own lives and see what God did right in the middle of our ordinary days.
Plus then I can remember these the ordinary days that reflect God’s glory.
About the book
“Questions and Answers for Kids” is a journal that provides a unique way to gather your family to intentionally grow together. This little book will serve your family well as a place to meet together daily to talk about both the silly and the serious and document it along the way.
Together you and your kids will be able to visit the same question on the same day for three years and watch how your child’s thoughts about life and the world change. Each question is also partnered with an encouraging verse from the Bible that will help point your family together to what the word of God says about the serious and the funny. This is a priceless way to get to know your child and help guide them in following Jesus.
This hardback, 370-page journal is published by Freely Give Co. (Feb. 18, 2018). Author Scott Bowen is a dad who wanted to write some conversation-starter questions for his son.
Freely Give Company is driven by its love of creativity and curating beautiful and unique gift boxes that bring hope, encouragement, and joy to families, friends, and loved ones. Find this book at Freely Give or on Amazon.
Other resources
I alluded to other books and journals I use to document my life and my kids’ lives. Here are links to those, if you’re interested …
- “Your Birthday Book: A Keepsake Journal”
- “School Years Record Book”
- “One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book“
- Project Life app for scrapbooking
Now, tell me, if documenting life is important to you, how do you do it?
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What a cute book! I love how simple and unique it is. It seems to capture the different stages each child is in so easily!
Yes, I like the simplicity too. And I like the variety of questions so it’s not all serious or all silly. Thanks for being here, Becky!
What an interesting book idea! I like your handwriting, too.
I’ve kept journals since I was 10 years old. For my children, I made scrapbooks–need to update those! I also make books on Shutterfly, and we enjoy looking through them for the memories.
Oh, thanks, Sarah! I go through phrases with journaling, but I’ve usually got a notebook going for when I take the time to write out my thoughts. I love photo books!
You are wise to create these treasures. Keep going. These will become precious memories you will cherish. And continue as long as you can, even into adulthood. Keep a text message and a voice mail that captures their unique personality too. I guarantee it will bring joy.
Keeping texts is a great idea! Thanks for being here with encouragement, Debbie!
Super idea!
At Christmas time, I ran into a piece of paper I’d stuffed into a book with questions and answers from all four boys that I recorded about 8 years ago. We had a good laugh over some of their answers.
I love that! What a sweet surprise! Thanks for sharing here, Michele!
This is such a great way to journal our way through those parenting years! I wish I had this one while I was raising my kids! Can you imagine all the laughter when one day, they are all grown and read their own responses!!!
My oldest two already laugh at stories I tell them about when they were little, so I love having journals to capture their words and personalities. I’m happy you’re here, Joanne.
My kids are almost 40 and I still love pulling out old stuff. Enjoy those treasures.
Oh I love to hear that! Glad you’re here, Debbie!
Oh man, this is going on my buy list. I keep telling my son to write down his funny phrases because you really can not make this stuff up. Bahaha!
Thanks for sharing!
I catch myself saying things to them that out of context sound ridiculous, and then I hear their words that just make me laugh. They can also go sentimental and meaning full I least expect it. I hope you love this journal too, Meg!
What a great resource! I wish I had written down more when my kids were little.
Thanks for being here, Barbara!
Kristin, This is a fabulous resource! I admire your diligence. Your children will appreciate it when they are older, for sure!
Speaking of which, I just recently lost my grandmother. While my mother was going through some of her boxes, she came across a small bundle of papers wrapped in a rubber band. Inside, was every note, card, picture, and doodle that I had ever given my grandmother! It shouldn’t have surprised me- she was always a bit of a pat-rack. But to hold on to EVERYTHING- even down to simple, “I’ll be back in an hour” notes, seems insane to me. But boy, do I appreciate it now. It was fun to go through that stack of papers, and it showed me how much she loved me too!
Oh, I love that your grandmother held on to all those notes, cards, and pictures. Hearing that makes me want to write more notes to people I care about. Thanks for sharing that sweet story, Rachel, and I’m sorry for your loss.
Oh I love that little book of questions. How fun is that. I think I need to get that. And tell Ben if he wants you to meet the love of his life then he might need to rethink his time table. LOL!!!
Ben thinks he’s going to always live at home too, so I’m guessing he will change his mind about that too! Kids are funny. 🙂
What a wonderful resource. I wish I had documented more about my kids when they were younger. Thanks for sharing, Kristin!
Thanks for being here, Lisa!
It sounds like an ambitious and valuable journal. Hope you can keep up – such fun to look back on.
I feel like you just challenged me to keep up! 🙂 I’m always glad to have you here!