Editor’s note: When Sand Dune Books contacted us about doing a review of their products, both Ana and I felt neither of our daughters were old enough for us to fill out these keepsake journals and do a fair and truthful review. But, we absolutely loved the idea behind the journals, so we decided to give one to my sister, Gloria, to fill it out for her 19-year-old daughter (mi ahijada, Veronika) who goes to school in Florida.
There are many ways to record and share your family history – most common are photo albums, scrapbooks, etc. I love what a photograph can convey, but I have always been particularly interested in the stories that go with those pictures. Throughout my life, I have asked loved ones to share with me their memories and experiences about our family, traditions, and history. I have heard stories that were inspiring, moving, and enlightening about myself and my ancestral past. It is only when I try to recall those memories that I wish I had written them down.
Sand Dune Books has published a series of question-and-answer journals to record and share family history, anecdotes, and memories. Most of their journals are printed in English, but now the company has released two versions in Spanish, “Entre tú y yo Mamá” and “Entre tú y yo Papá.” The journal is meant to be given to a particular family member who answers personal yet fun questions about themselves, their childhood, and so on. Once completed, the journal becomes a handwritten memory book to be cherished for years to come.
I recently received the “Entre tú y yo Mamá” journal so I could fill it out and give it to my 19-year-old daughter. The spiral-bound journal has a hard cover and it lays flat. There are six sections filled with questions covering several stages of my life – from the time when I was a little girl, to my adolescent years, to my story as a mother and as a wife. In today’s world where e-mailing, texting, blogging, and Tweeting is the norm, it was refreshing to communicate using pen and paper! The questions were thought-provoking, and I had plenty of room to record my answers. There are some blank pages in the back for additional notes. Spanish is my first language – I thought the questions were well written and the grammar was correct.
One of my favorite sections was “Acerca de Mí,” where I noted memories of when I was pregnant with my daughter, my thoughts and feelings when she was born, and how much she’s made me laugh (and also made me nuts!) through the years. My other favorite section was “Mi Papá” because I had the chance to share with my daughter memories of her father and I before she was born, like where we met and where we had our first date. This section was particularly meaningful for me, as my daughter’s father and I have been divorced for many years. Now my daughter will have a handwritten record of the many great times we had together as a family.
I enjoyed the whole process – recalling the memories, writing them down, and reading the journal afterwards. The fact that I got a chance to write in Spanish was a plus, and I know my daughter will be practicing her mother’s native tongue every time she reads it.
THE GIVEAWAY!
We’re giving away one “Entre tú y yo” keepsake journal to one lucky winner. For your chance to win, please visit Sand Dune Books and come back here to tell us what other keepsake journals called your attention and why.
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I also like the Sister one!
I love the idea of leaving a journal that introduces them to the people that became their parents. Who were they before they became “mom and dad”. So they can see what attracted me to their father and qualities I admired and still do in him. To write to them about heartbreak of love or friendships and the healing process. So much to say…
I like both the Mama and the Papa versions.
I think it would be revealing to give my parents each a book. My parents were divorced when I was two and my mother raised us but I spent Summers with my dad. I would love to know what his memories are.
I would also love to leave one for my son so he can one day read it to his children.
The sister journal caught my eye. I think it would make a wonderful gift to my sister who loves to write and with whom I share a special bond.
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The journals grabbed my attention because my parents are such an influential part of who I am today, they made some tought decisions to make sure my siblings and I had a better future. I would love for them to document their thoughts/memoreis – it would be great to be able to have the insight, but more importantly, to have these thoughts so my children (and nieces/nephews) can know their abuelitos.
¡Gracias!
My husband is beginning to write his personal history. It would be wonderful to give some of these to the children so their memories could help him.
I think my favorite is the one you profiled- for mama. I have noticed that as my mom gets older, she talks more and more about her childhood and young adult years. She also loves to talk about things she remembers from my childhood. I have not written these recollections down and neither has she. This past January my dad passed away and I’ve been thinking that I don’t want for all of my mom’s memories to be lost after she is gone like they were for my dad. I would love to give my mami this journal as a Christmas gift this year. Truly, it will be a gift for both of us
Thanks for the opportunity to win it!
The family reunion book looks interesting.
I have given something similar to the grandparents on each side hoping that one day it will be complete for my children. Now that I only speak to them in Spanish it would be much more appropriate for me to complete one for them in Spanish as their mama. Excellent. I hope that by the time they are teenagers/early 20s there will be one in Spanish for daughter and son to complete for me.
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It is difficult to capture distinct emotions through pictures, I think this is a wonderful opportunity to provide children with something to reflect on as they grow older. My favorite would be the “sons”
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