Letters To My Son: Part 2 of 5
The second installment of this series focuses on a mother's journey to heal.
Storytelling With Mitchell's Journey
Learn an exciting new way of storytelling with your family.
3 Fun Traditions Mitchell Loved
Enjoy three fun traditions that started because of little Mitch.
Halloween Stories
OCTOBER ESSAYS
October's essays focus on family traditions that made a difference in our lives. We'll also explore some difficulties surrounding grief and emotional recovery.
Happy Halloween - Mitchell's last Halloween and what he taught us about the value of giving.
On Trouble & Discouragement - A look at the difference between trouble and discouragement.
A Not-So-Ordinary Treasure - An unexpected discovery of something Mitch left behind stirs feelings of a little grief and a lot of gratitude.
Audio Interviews: A Timeless Tradition - Tips on capturing youthful moments before they vanish. (see below)
The Magic of Storytelling - An introduction to the Storytelling series.
The Collateral of Loss - A look at the unintended benefits of loss.
Featured
AUDIO INTERVIEWS
One night, when Wyatt was 4 years old, I turned on my phone voice recorder and captured my tiny boy’s voice. It was well past his bedtime. In this moonlit conversation, he gives me counsel on how to manage monsters. It is an adorable snapshot of the mind of a child and their tender thoughts on matters of great importance to them.
There’s a theory in psychology called change blindness - which basically says incremental change is almost impossible to notice.
I often become aware (sometimes painfully) of change blindness when I watch a home movie or listen to an audio recording of our children. I’m aghast over how much the sound of their voice changed between that recording and now.
The trouble is, it’s human nature to say to ourselves, "Oh, yeah, I'll do that someday." Without recognizing it, someday slips into days, weeks, months and years. Before we know it, we've missed a chance to do that thing in the moment. That thing we’ll never be able to re-create.
At least for me, when I recognize the change between then and now, I wish I recorded more during those tender times times.
Here are some question prompts for people of all ages.
Tiny Kids
What makes you happy? Why?
Tell me something funny.
If you could ask an animal a question, what would you ask?
What’s the funniest thing mom does?
What does dad do that makes you laugh?
Teenagers
Name five words that best describe you.
What makes you happiest?
What’s something you know that you an teach others?
If you could change one rule in our family, what would it be?
Describe your perfect day …
Adults
Whats the most wonderful thing that’s ever happened to you?
What’s the worst thing that ever happened to you?
What’s your biggest worry?
What’s your biggest dream?
If you be or do anything for one day, what would it be?
Grandparents
What has surprised you most about life?
Describe your perfect day …
Tell me a story about your life nobody knows.
What do you wish you could do over?
What do you wish you could do again?
What’s the funniest memory you have about Mom/Dad?
What’s the most embarrassing memory you have about Mom/Dad?