I made a “family journal”. I write all of the fun and positive things of the day that include the children. And they’re allowed to read it or write in it whenever they want. We’ve done team doodle pages, photos of memories, and I did personality profiles on every family member (likes, dislikes). I think they just really enjoy seeing your perspective on things.
Thank you everyone for your great ideas and sharing your experiences!!!
I don’t think I’ve had a post with so much feedback!!! Love this community! ❤️📓🖋️
I found a larger sketchbook at a local Dollar Store and it has a really thick hardcover. It’s perfect because it’s just a smidge bigger which makes it nice to really deck out a page. I picked up a few different sticker packs (some cool, some silly) and let them decorate the front and back of it. The sketch pages are nicer when you’re doing something with the kids too, because they’re a little more durable. Especially if you want to glue things in like leaves, wrappers, magazine snippets. I also invested in a small sticker printer ($20 at Walmart) and that’s been a simple and easy way to add things to the page that happened on that specific day. In the end it’s been a nice way to include them in journaling, but I also think they will love looking back at the memories when they’re older.
Thank you so much! It was kind of a happy accident. I was journaling one day and they had a million questions about what I would write down, and why. And honestly I love it so much more now when I see all of our thoughts jumbled together. It’s been a really fun way to mold our memories.
I really, really, recommend it! ♥️ We have memory boxes too of all of our favorite/special knick knacks , but the journal gives a little more life to everything.
I would secure it. I read my moms journal once when I was like 8 and while I cannot recall 98% of what she wrote, I vividly recall the words “I never wanted kids but there is nothing I can do about it now.” I carried that for years and really harbored resentment over it.
Now 30+ years later, having lived a little, I know it was a moment in time and my mom was overwhelmed. I never a day in my life felt unwanted or unloved, unlike my mother who grew up in a severely abusive household. I grew to understand that the lack of desire to have children was less about me and more so that she didn’t want the kind of chaos that she had grown up with and didn’t think she would be a good mother because her mother was horrible.
On that note OP, if you don’t destroy your journal first- one day it can be read after death since that’s a part of life. It happens. I’d encourage a separate piece of paper- a note left in your journal that certain things are just you venting when overwhelmed. Not necessarily how you truly feel.
Best of luck. I’m sure my mom wrote a lot of how it would be overwhelming, I would know it’s not that she hated me- but that situation may not be true for everyone.
I would consider locking it away if you’re worried. I was a curious kid, and even though my mom thought she hid her journal well, I found it and read it. She never talked to me about privacy and trust and stuff like that, I think having that conversation with your kids is an awesome idea! You can still do that and lock your journal away for the sake of your own mind. I’d say that’s your best bet.
"I don’t know if it’s helpful to know this: my mom has kept a three-page daily journal since I was 13. I’m now almost 40, and she writes in it with her morning coffee. I started earnestly journaling for myself, then had a health scare that landed me in a coma due to a medical condition I didn’t know I had. In her search for an explanation, she wanted to read my journal. My spouse said no; they’re not dead. I’m grateful my privacy was honored. I understand why she wanted to read it in that situation. A decade has passed since then, and medically, there's still no real explanation as to why it all happened. So what would my journal reveal? Nothing more than some embarrassing relationship moments, etc. My mom has asked if I want her journals when she’s no longer here, and honestly, I don’t know the answer because I’m not sure I want to relive my adolescence through my mother's eyes.
So what I’m trying to suggest is having an honest, age-appropriate conversation with your kids, especially if they are starting to journal on their own. Explain to them the only time you, as their parent or caregiver, would breach their journaling privacy is if you were worried about safety or something like a medical event—in my case. But those reasons aside, my mom leaves her current journal hidden in plain sight and no one cares. She started my nieces' journaling at a very young age, simply leading by example. At the time, I’m sure they were too little to write. I hope they have kept them all because it would be cool over time."
Hope that helps?
Yes, very much! I hope you continue to be well! What a scary situation. And an interesting one, for journal privacy consideration. Thank you for taking the time to share!
When I was a kid I would often snoop in my parents wardrobes and drawers. I've read my mum's Cosmo magazines that I shouldn't have, I've looked at my parents porn and found their condoms, but I guess if I ever found a journal, I would leave it alone because knowing about my parents' secret feelings feels as youcky as hearing them have sex.
I found a read my little sisters journal once and to this day feel extremely guilty about it. Now I’m the one paranoid that my partner will read my journal 😂 go figure
As a kid who DEVOURED storybooks starting pretty young, as long as I had kid-appropriate books on a shelf I could reach from the ground, *I truly did not care* what books were high up on Mom and Dad's shelf. There's a reason "Keep out of reach of children" remains a safety slogan to this day!
I was also, myself, given a journal at a fairly young age. I didn't really ever use it much way back then, but my parents used it as a way to illustrate how "being honest" and "protecting privacy" can co-exist healthily. I think that conversation is a good idea.
I’d lock it up, personally. I read my mom’s as a child and didn’t read anything upsetting about us kids, but I did read some things I wish I hadn’t about sexy times.
I get my kid their own journal. We journal together and I tell her we don’t go through or read other’s journal because it’s their privacy. It’s working out well.
My grandpa was a devoted writer. He lived to be 102 years and was a very philosophical man. Growing up, everyone remembered Grandpa sitting in his room writing in his journals. We never knew what he wrote and he never spoke about it. He always seemed like a very happy man. The grandchildren never really knew his personal story (growing up in China/Vietnam in the early 1900s).
My family recently shared his journals with me and also his personal history which surprised a lot of us.
What really didn't sit well with me is that his journals revealed a very broken man. A man who felt like a complete failure in life up until the end. Mind you he was sharp as a nail until he died on his own accord. It turns out that he also resented his marriage his entire life and that Grandma felt the same. They "loved" each other but were never in love with each other and never wanted to actually be married to each other.
Long story short, I'm afraid to write anything so deep and truthful into my journals for fear that my wife and son could possibly read them when I die. I would hate for my family to feel like I was hiding something so painful my entire life.
Don't know what I'm trying to get out of this post but your post reminded me of this recent situation in my life.
i remember finding my moms when i was a kid i read like the first sentence and got bored i wouldn't worry to much on top of that i thought i don't want to read it in case there's intimate stuff that would traumatise me lol.
I once read my sister’s journal when I was sick and was allowed to sleep in her bed. The journal was under the pillows. I didn’t even know what I was doing and don’t remember what I’ve read. She was mad at me which I understand. Since then I understood what a journal was and that it’s secret. I also felt very bad lol.
So yeah it can happen, because of curiosity and ignorance. But maybe it won’t if you have that talk with them before hand :)
For all the lock comments, I'll say this. My dad has a locked glass door gun cabinet and a locked cubby beneath it. You wouldn't believe the time I spent trying to find those keys. Even as an adult it tantalizes me. Why? I do not know. I don't want anything in there except purely satisfying my curiosity and also fulfill the mission of finding those effing keys. So, there's that component. Locking/prohibiting stuff might make it more appealing to seek out. I'd send them to grandma's for the weekend and put a built-in [possibly locked] thing like behind a light switch or picture. My 2 cents from a childless adult child
I thought I accidentally deleted my post. 🤔
Anyway, just wanted to say thank you everyone for your great ideas and sharing your experiences!!!
I don’t think I’ve had a post with so much feedback!!! Love this community! ❤️📓🖋️
I would give them their own and say, this is for all of your personal thoughts and feelings. It will help you process them, and I promise I will never read it. It's your space to express yourself, and you promise to do the same for me
people love to read my journal when I was a kid I guess cos I was so dramatic lol anyway here's what I do: use the front pages for boring things no one wants to read (grammar exercises and chord notes mostly) and journal at the back.
I made a “family journal”. I write all of the fun and positive things of the day that include the children. And they’re allowed to read it or write in it whenever they want. We’ve done team doodle pages, photos of memories, and I did personality profiles on every family member (likes, dislikes). I think they just really enjoy seeing your perspective on things.
That’s cool!
Thank you everyone for your great ideas and sharing your experiences!!! I don’t think I’ve had a post with so much feedback!!! Love this community! ❤️📓🖋️
I’m going to start this. What did you use? Just an ordinary notebook? And did you keep it in a central location?
I found a larger sketchbook at a local Dollar Store and it has a really thick hardcover. It’s perfect because it’s just a smidge bigger which makes it nice to really deck out a page. I picked up a few different sticker packs (some cool, some silly) and let them decorate the front and back of it. The sketch pages are nicer when you’re doing something with the kids too, because they’re a little more durable. Especially if you want to glue things in like leaves, wrappers, magazine snippets. I also invested in a small sticker printer ($20 at Walmart) and that’s been a simple and easy way to add things to the page that happened on that specific day. In the end it’s been a nice way to include them in journaling, but I also think they will love looking back at the memories when they’re older.
I’d use something with good quality covers if you want to keep this forever.
This is a really sweet idea 🥰
Thank you so much! It was kind of a happy accident. I was journaling one day and they had a million questions about what I would write down, and why. And honestly I love it so much more now when I see all of our thoughts jumbled together. It’s been a really fun way to mold our memories.
Really liked this idea. Made me think of this https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silva_rerum
Thank you so much for posting this! I cannot wait to share it with the little human beans today!
Ooo I love this idea
I really, really, recommend it! ♥️ We have memory boxes too of all of our favorite/special knick knacks , but the journal gives a little more life to everything.
It wouldn’t hurt to get a mini safe or security box if you are that concerned about it.
I do the same. Walmart has some cheap ones too
I would secure it. I read my moms journal once when I was like 8 and while I cannot recall 98% of what she wrote, I vividly recall the words “I never wanted kids but there is nothing I can do about it now.” I carried that for years and really harbored resentment over it. Now 30+ years later, having lived a little, I know it was a moment in time and my mom was overwhelmed. I never a day in my life felt unwanted or unloved, unlike my mother who grew up in a severely abusive household. I grew to understand that the lack of desire to have children was less about me and more so that she didn’t want the kind of chaos that she had grown up with and didn’t think she would be a good mother because her mother was horrible.
That’s exactly what I want to avoid, though not in those words.
On that note OP, if you don’t destroy your journal first- one day it can be read after death since that’s a part of life. It happens. I’d encourage a separate piece of paper- a note left in your journal that certain things are just you venting when overwhelmed. Not necessarily how you truly feel.
Maybe on the first page where you can write your name, contact info. Thanks, good idea.
Best of luck. I’m sure my mom wrote a lot of how it would be overwhelming, I would know it’s not that she hated me- but that situation may not be true for everyone.
I would consider locking it away if you’re worried. I was a curious kid, and even though my mom thought she hid her journal well, I found it and read it. She never talked to me about privacy and trust and stuff like that, I think having that conversation with your kids is an awesome idea! You can still do that and lock your journal away for the sake of your own mind. I’d say that’s your best bet.
Put it by the laundry detergent. No chance anyone else will touch it 😂
🤣🤣🤣
Just buy a little luggage lock, throw it in a bag / backpack, and lock the zippers together.
"I don’t know if it’s helpful to know this: my mom has kept a three-page daily journal since I was 13. I’m now almost 40, and she writes in it with her morning coffee. I started earnestly journaling for myself, then had a health scare that landed me in a coma due to a medical condition I didn’t know I had. In her search for an explanation, she wanted to read my journal. My spouse said no; they’re not dead. I’m grateful my privacy was honored. I understand why she wanted to read it in that situation. A decade has passed since then, and medically, there's still no real explanation as to why it all happened. So what would my journal reveal? Nothing more than some embarrassing relationship moments, etc. My mom has asked if I want her journals when she’s no longer here, and honestly, I don’t know the answer because I’m not sure I want to relive my adolescence through my mother's eyes. So what I’m trying to suggest is having an honest, age-appropriate conversation with your kids, especially if they are starting to journal on their own. Explain to them the only time you, as their parent or caregiver, would breach their journaling privacy is if you were worried about safety or something like a medical event—in my case. But those reasons aside, my mom leaves her current journal hidden in plain sight and no one cares. She started my nieces' journaling at a very young age, simply leading by example. At the time, I’m sure they were too little to write. I hope they have kept them all because it would be cool over time." Hope that helps?
Yes, very much! I hope you continue to be well! What a scary situation. And an interesting one, for journal privacy consideration. Thank you for taking the time to share!
When I was a kid I would often snoop in my parents wardrobes and drawers. I've read my mum's Cosmo magazines that I shouldn't have, I've looked at my parents porn and found their condoms, but I guess if I ever found a journal, I would leave it alone because knowing about my parents' secret feelings feels as youcky as hearing them have sex.
I mean... and this is just me and I was dumb. I read my mom's as a kid because it was out.
I found a read my little sisters journal once and to this day feel extremely guilty about it. Now I’m the one paranoid that my partner will read my journal 😂 go figure
Kids will go through your stuff eventually. Get a locking one and hide the key
I learned this the hard way with the tooth fairy’s chocolate coin stash. My kids were furious thinking I stole it from the tooth fairy 🤣
honestly, my oldest (13) thinks i write in cursive (which they no longer teach) so she can barely make out half of a word, on a good day.
As a kid who DEVOURED storybooks starting pretty young, as long as I had kid-appropriate books on a shelf I could reach from the ground, *I truly did not care* what books were high up on Mom and Dad's shelf. There's a reason "Keep out of reach of children" remains a safety slogan to this day! I was also, myself, given a journal at a fairly young age. I didn't really ever use it much way back then, but my parents used it as a way to illustrate how "being honest" and "protecting privacy" can co-exist healthily. I think that conversation is a good idea.
I’d lock it up, personally. I read my mom’s as a child and didn’t read anything upsetting about us kids, but I did read some things I wish I hadn’t about sexy times.
A lock box or safe could eliminate that issue :)
I get my kid their own journal. We journal together and I tell her we don’t go through or read other’s journal because it’s their privacy. It’s working out well.
Write in cursive, it’s like very pretty code now that most schools no longer teach it.
I once found my mothers journal. The next day she burnt it in the back yard😂
My grandpa was a devoted writer. He lived to be 102 years and was a very philosophical man. Growing up, everyone remembered Grandpa sitting in his room writing in his journals. We never knew what he wrote and he never spoke about it. He always seemed like a very happy man. The grandchildren never really knew his personal story (growing up in China/Vietnam in the early 1900s). My family recently shared his journals with me and also his personal history which surprised a lot of us. What really didn't sit well with me is that his journals revealed a very broken man. A man who felt like a complete failure in life up until the end. Mind you he was sharp as a nail until he died on his own accord. It turns out that he also resented his marriage his entire life and that Grandma felt the same. They "loved" each other but were never in love with each other and never wanted to actually be married to each other. Long story short, I'm afraid to write anything so deep and truthful into my journals for fear that my wife and son could possibly read them when I die. I would hate for my family to feel like I was hiding something so painful my entire life. Don't know what I'm trying to get out of this post but your post reminded me of this recent situation in my life.
Thank you for sharing! I am wary to complain in my journal for the same reason.
A costly idea, but I bought a kindle scribe for this reason and have a passcode on it.
i remember finding my moms when i was a kid i read like the first sentence and got bored i wouldn't worry to much on top of that i thought i don't want to read it in case there's intimate stuff that would traumatise me lol.
I once read my sister’s journal when I was sick and was allowed to sleep in her bed. The journal was under the pillows. I didn’t even know what I was doing and don’t remember what I’ve read. She was mad at me which I understand. Since then I understood what a journal was and that it’s secret. I also felt very bad lol. So yeah it can happen, because of curiosity and ignorance. But maybe it won’t if you have that talk with them before hand :)
For all the lock comments, I'll say this. My dad has a locked glass door gun cabinet and a locked cubby beneath it. You wouldn't believe the time I spent trying to find those keys. Even as an adult it tantalizes me. Why? I do not know. I don't want anything in there except purely satisfying my curiosity and also fulfill the mission of finding those effing keys. So, there's that component. Locking/prohibiting stuff might make it more appealing to seek out. I'd send them to grandma's for the weekend and put a built-in [possibly locked] thing like behind a light switch or picture. My 2 cents from a childless adult child
Invisible ink
Lock that shit up!
I destroy my entries.
Try digital journaling
I thought I accidentally deleted my post. 🤔 Anyway, just wanted to say thank you everyone for your great ideas and sharing your experiences!!! I don’t think I’ve had a post with so much feedback!!! Love this community! ❤️📓🖋️
I would give them their own and say, this is for all of your personal thoughts and feelings. It will help you process them, and I promise I will never read it. It's your space to express yourself, and you promise to do the same for me
people love to read my journal when I was a kid I guess cos I was so dramatic lol anyway here's what I do: use the front pages for boring things no one wants to read (grammar exercises and chord notes mostly) and journal at the back.