The young mom’s eye’s glistened as she recounted the tale: “My grandma was in high school in 1932. Her dad bought her a Model A Ford so she wouldn’t have to ride several miles to and from school on horseback. When slogging home on rainy days, Grandma would drive the car until that inevitable moment when her wheels (not tires, wheels) would get stuck in muddy ruts. She would then have to walk home, hitch up a team of horses, and ride back to tow the car home.”
While that grandmother is long gone, this story captures her spirit and brings her back in a powerful way. I’m forced to wonder: What if her grandmother had not told that story? The image—of a teenage girl in her bobbed hair and saddle oxfords hitching up a team of horses to free that muddy vehicle from its ruts—would have been lost forever.
Instead, because the story was told and retold through the years, my friend has captured her grandmother in memory. She “knows” that spunky young woman who would much later become her beloved grandma.
Parents and grandparents may fear that their stories will bore or burden a younger family member. But they should tell them anyway, or write them down for some descendant to enjoy in a future time.
I’m endlessly drawn by family stories to the point that I confess to having become something of an eaves-dropper. My fascination is equal parts personal curiosity and professional opportunism. My friends and family know when they share a family story within my hearing, they’re likely to hear about it later on this station.
My writing is sometimes stimulated by a news item or new research about children and families. But most of what I write is based on stories from families I know who generously shared their experiences with me.
These stories teach me about how children and parents carve out their lives, conveying great truths that have changed me as a family member myself. I’m inspired by the creativity and commitment many families bring to their work together.
Thank you for sharing your stories with me, and I encourage you to keep sharing them with your own children. I will be listening.
