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I found this a unique gift

(55 Posts)
BlueBelle Sun 05-Jan-25 06:13:06

Maybe I m late to the game and it is ‘a thing’ but I ve never come across it before so to me it was unique and I love it

One of my granddaughters (young adult aged 21) gave me a present and as I unwrapped it I saw it was a book perhaps a diary (and as I d already bought one I was all prepared to thank her and not let on) but it wasn’t… and I thought it was unique

It’s a book about me and each page asks a question … for instance where were you born ? or who were your parents? or what are your memories of childhood? it gives you a page to write your answers and the opposite page to put a photo if you want Each page is a question about you from simple to more complex

Ok here’s the best bit When you ve filled it all in ….. which may be in a month, a year or whenever you give that book back to the giver as the story of your life and for them to keep

Grannytomany Sun 05-Jan-25 06:16:37

How lovely. I’ve been thinking recently about how little my grandchildren know about my early life and that sounds an excellent way of padding information on to them.

Does the book have a name? I’d like to google it.

teabagwoman Sun 05-Jan-25 06:18:16

What a lovely present.

HelterSkelter1 Sun 05-Jan-25 07:36:23

I would also like to know the name of the publisher or where your DGD bought the book.
When I had a cancer diagnosis it rather focused my mind on my future...and my past.

I typed out my history on several A4 sheets which I found absorbing and also, hopefully, interesting for my AC. I also photocopied all the birth, marriage and death certificates I had for relations and anything else of interest which they may not know and put them all together for each AC. But your book Bluebelle sounds a really good idea.

Calendargirl Sun 05-Jan-25 07:45:36

My DIL gave me one of these books when their first child was born.

It took me ages to start filling it in.

It covered all my earlier life, my childhood, schooldays, working life, meeting DH, having children.

My father died suddenly when I was 19, my own children never knew him, it was before we were married. I wrote that the day he died was the saddest day of my life.

I hope my DS reads this book one day, and thinks about that.

(Must look the book out, it was called ‘My Grandparents Life’ or similar).

BlueBelle Sun 05-Jan-25 07:46:39

Its www.fromyoutome.com

It’s a lovely book with such a nice thoughtful reason to it

DanniRae Sun 05-Jan-25 07:53:42

What a lovely idea! smile

Dwmxwg Sun 05-Jan-25 07:59:14

My niece bought this for my 91 year old mum for Christmas. She absolutely loves it and has already filled in lots of the questions. She is a widow with undiagnosed dementia, short term memory loss and lives in the past much of the time. It has been the perfect gift and will be a precious keepsake for the family when she dies

poppysmum Sun 05-Jan-25 08:04:24

yes i had one of these and they are marvellous. i dont know if same one but mine had things like greatest achievement could be great for generations to come

Nanato3 Sun 05-Jan-25 08:09:01

That sounds a lovely gift. I'd like one so it would be something for the Grandchildren to read and
know more about me .

Witzend Sun 05-Jan-25 08:11:08

What a lovely idea!

HowVeryDareYou2 Sun 05-Jan-25 11:08:56

Our eldest son got me the same kind of book. It's "Mum, tell me..."

Athrawes Sun 05-Jan-25 11:56:52

What a lovely idea! I'll look out for that sort of book. Thanks for sharing

crazyH Sun 05-Jan-25 12:01:15

I was given one last Christmas - I started on it, but haven’t completed yet.

MissInterpreted Sun 05-Jan-25 12:09:15

I think that's a lovely idea. I wish I'd known more about my parents' lives from their early days. Going to have a look at it now.

Grandyma Sun 05-Jan-25 12:26:04

I was given one when my 2nd grandson was born. It took me a long time to complete it. He is now 13 years old and he treasures it. A lot of family members have borrowed it over the years and found it fascinating. It really was a wonderful gift.

BigBertha1 Sun 05-Jan-25 12:30:45

That is a lovely idea BlueBell. I bought a friend who wanted to get healthy a Wellness Diary.

Indigo8 Sun 05-Jan-25 12:34:06

My DD gave me 'Letters to my Grandchild' by Lea Redmond.
It is book of envelopes which open up to reveal lined paper to write on. Each envelope is titled with a topic about you and your family. You fill in the date when you wrote it and when it should be opened.

I have a problem getting started and can't think what to write, the first topic is "Here is a special story about our family".confused

Oldbat1 Sun 05-Jan-25 13:12:06

I was given one a few years ago. I put it on the bookcase and havent looked at it again but that says more about me.

SuzieHi Sun 05-Jan-25 13:45:43

I found an unused “grandparent” book in a charity shop. Sounds similar to yours. I’ve yet to fill it in- I will do so this winter & then gift it to the grandchildren’s parents next Xmas. Think they can keep safe as a new family heirloom!
If you fancy one yourself google ‘grandparent’ books you’ll find several to choose from. Think Amazon has some too.

Redrobin51 Sun 05-Jan-25 17:05:30

Wonderful idea

Willow11 Sun 05-Jan-25 17:12:27

That is a great idea.

KathrynP Mon 06-Jan-25 12:26:23

I have recently bought a book called ‘When I’m Gone’. Do not give this one as a present though!
It contains questions about your life and you can leave letters in it for loved ones to let them know your thoughts on them. Also where your Will is and details of bank accounts, insurances, financial information, final wishes re burial/cremation etc and loads more which will be helpful to your family & friends and executors of your Will. You can see why you wouldn’t want to give it as a present but it had so many questions in there that I had not thought of. You would have to tell someone where it was but you can keep updating it. Sorry not so happy a thought but may prove useful to someone getting their papers in order and as my husband has dementia he has done one too which he can refer back to.

sandye Mon 06-Jan-25 12:28:49

DD5 bought one for my mum but she didn't fill it in, but DD 2 asked for one for her hubby who is quite ill. I hope he fills it out as he was born the last of 7 on a farm and would be interesting. I am going to do mine on the computer if I ever get round to it.

mabon1 Mon 06-Jan-25 12:31:16

Whilst it is a lovely gift it is not unique in the real sense of the word as there are thousands of them. What will make it unique is your input.