My girls, who are five and seven, found two little books in a bookcase that I was to fill out at some point. The books are similar, each is called A Mother’s Story, and they are meant to be keepsake journals, records from one generation to the next.

Being a procrastinator, a recorder on blogs and social media now more than in journals, I’ve left those little books alone. But the girls were happy to fill in the answers themselves, and as I went through the books with their unfinished statements, clearly meant to record and save a mother’s childhood and personal thoughts for her daughter(s), I laughed and was a little surprised at the places we intersect.

(I didn’t help them with these; I suspect they did them together as only one girl knows how to read well. I have corrected the spelling to spare you the hours of effort.)

 

Mother: Wendy

Dauther: Ellie

 

My favorite outfit to wear was….

My mommy bought me a stuffed bunny and she bought me a yoga mat.

 

My favorite subject in school was…

Art is the best.

 

My very best friend was…

Santa got me a Stuff Stuffy.

 

The person I looked up to the most was…

Luna. [Luna is a kindergartner.]

 

My first job was…

My babysitter bought a toy for me.

 

The most important lesson I ever learned was…

I love my mom.

 

The best advice anyone ever gave me…

You can’t say the word Die

 

Some of my goals were…

Ballet.

 

When you were a child, a typical day was…

When my kids hit me. [That is not a typical day.]

 

You made me laugh when…

When I did silly dances.

 

You surprise me most when…

When you wear a wig.

 

You remind me of myself when…

I was a baby.

___

Mother: Wendy

Daughter: Molly

 

My earliest childhood memory is….

My sister. She was a baby. She was sitting on my lap.

 

The happiest time in my childhood was…

When we went to Disney World.

 

As a child, people would describe me as…

A beautiful girl and sunshine sun.

 

When I was growing up, I wanted to become a…

Police woman because so I can help the world not get hurt and in trouble.

 

My most mischievous moment was…

When I was born.

 

When I was little, I liked to spend time…

With my family.

 

My favorite outfit to wear was…

A shirt and shorts or leggings or jeans or pants.

 

My favorite subject in school was…

Art and computer and music and library and Spanish.

 

The person I looked up to the most was…

Caroline. [Caroline is a second grader.]

 

My first job was…

Table cleaner.

 

The most important lesson I ever learned was…

Math.

 

The best advice anyone ever gave me…

You should always look both sides.

 

Some of my goals were…

Do a good job.

What I consider romantic…

Always make friends. [She asked me what “romantic” meant. I told her it meant what you like to do.]

 

How our family began…

I was born in my mommy’s tummy then my brother came along then my sister came long that is why my brother is a little bigger than my sister.

 

When I saw you for the first time…

I was so happy and surprised.

 

As a new mom, my biggest fear was…

Take care of my children.

 

After you were born, my life changed in lots of ways like…

Getting older.

 

When you were a child, a typical day was…

Getting born.

 

You remind me of myself when…

I was a baby.

 

The best advice to share about being a mother is…

Rules.

 

Inside my handbag, you’ll always find…

My life.

 

A family recipe I cherish…

We have Thanksgiving.

 

My idea of a perfect day is…

Thanksgiving.

 

A pet peeve of mine is…

Cat.

 

My wish for you in life…

Because I have someone to love.

 

This was first published on Appleseeds blog.