Comments on: The Legacy Letter: Journaling for the next generation

By: Jaime

Jaime — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:40:19 +0000

Great post! Brilliant!

I’ve been writing a legacy letter to my two sons, but not with the regularity and discipline that I wished. Recently, I realized that my friend also would like to build this kind of legacy, but they lacked the initiative and the discipline.

That’s why I created Limetree (www.limetr.ee).
I hope you don’t consider this comment as abusive. I just wanted to let you know of an alternative way to build a legacy for you children.

thanks for the post!

By: Ani

Ani — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:07:36 +0000

I’ve wanted to do this for maybe 20 years now. My son is 23, my daughter 16 and I’m so terrified that I won’t remember important events, or feelings or just a special kind of day that stands out. I’ve bought blank books with the intention of starting, but never have. It’s about time and your post has made a monumental task seem possible. Thank you.

By: Meredith

Meredith — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:42:34 +0000

I love the way you put that, Meredith: through the Legacy Letter, our loved ones can “glean strength for their own life’s trials.”

That really brought this home for me.

By: Meredith

Meredith — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:05:13 +0000

I really, really love this. I’m a touch-and-go journal writer, going in strong spurts that taper of into nothingness for a few months until guilt motivates me to pick up the pen again with a resolution to do better. But it’s a never-ending cycle. Your guidelines are so helpful in keeping oneself going! Because it really is so important. It’s how people will remember you and glean strength for their own life’s trials. Thanks for sharing!

By: Kristin

Kristin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:30:21 +0000

What an incredible idea!! I really need to start jotting down everything the dude does since it seems like he’s learning a new thing every day now!

By: Melinda

Melinda — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:38:03 +0000

Thank you for sharing such an inspirational idea. What a touching gift to give your children. It will truly give them a taste of who you were at the ages they will become. Fantastic!
The questions I’ve come to in adulthood, i must admit, are a bit more selfish. Instead of wondering what my parents were like at my age, I wonder what I was like at my children’s ages. I want my kids to know the fears I had, the mistakes I made, the feelings of anticipation, the thrill of that first crush, the joy in achievement. I want them to know those things so that when they are having their own moments, they can know that they are not alone in them. Their mom felt exactly that way, too. And it will be okay. But it is hard to remember all of those things. It will be hard for them to remember. So a few years ago, on the last day of school, I began a tradition of writing a letter to each of them to share what the previous year held. I too sit down with a cup of coffee and some moments of silence and share with them all about their feelings, friends, teachers, successes, difficulties, family changes and dreams for the years to come. Then I add in a few pictures from the year and put it in an art binder that I have for each of them, filled with their writings and projects from the previous year. Even though my 1 year old does not yet have a binder, he has a letter. And that’s a start.
Deren, you have definitely inspired me to write to my children more in terms of who I am today. Strange, it hadn’t occurred to me before that they would be that interested. But they will. I’m sure of it. And perhaps it will make them feel that much closer to the one who loves them more than words can say.

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:17:22 +0000

Thank you so much for this post! I just read the great article on the late John Hughes in this month’s Vanity Fair, and he left tons of letters for his family and grandkids that are labeled with ages of when to read them. I was so impressed by the idea, but didn’t know where to start (maybe start by having kids?!) and then here is your post. You are such a mindreading Penelope! Thank you!

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:06:24 +0000

i have been writing letters to my children on each of their birthdays since they have been born. when they are finally married, or maybe when i pass away, i will gift them to them. they are all sealed and it makes me so happy to know that those little special thoughts about them and how i felt so blessed to be their mommy over that particular year will someday be theirs to read. i am sure that my children know that i love them now in their little years, but i think it will be a great thing for them to read these things as adults with their own children as well.

i do love the idea of really writing down the history of family. i know that it really makes me sad when i ask my parents things about their parents or their parents parents, and they don’t know what to say in response to my questions. so much lost that didn’t have to be.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:56:57 +0000

What an incredible post. When I was two years old all the women in my family wrote me letters to be opened on my 18th birthday. I treasure those letters as so many of them had passed away prior to my 18th birtday. I love to read how they felt about me and what their hopes and dreams for me were. This idea takes it a huge step forward. Thank you so much for sharing.

By: Ema Nakaoka

Ema Nakaoka — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:22:37 +0000

I love this idea.