Have you ever wondered what stories you should or shouldn’t share with your children and grandchildren? Many of us believe we should focus on the positive and avoid sharing stories about difficult or challenging times. Recent studies, however, suggest otherwise – that sharing stories of hardship is actually beneficial for our children and grandchildren to hear.
In an article by Sue Shellenbarger titled ‘The Power of Myth: The Benefits of Sharing Family Stories of Hard Times’ (Wall Street Journal), Shellenbarger discusses current research on the subject and offers valuable food for thought to parents and grandparents.
The article on sharing your story notes that…
‘Kids who knew their family history had higher self-esteem and fewer emotional problems, such as depression. The children seem to gain a sense of self in relation to other family members and to the past, building confidence. “Families who tell family stories have kids who are doing better,” says Robyn Fivush, an Emory psychology professor.’
Furthermore…
‘Stories of relatives’ suffering, leading eventually to growth or success, may be helpful, according to a study of 74 middle-aged people by Dan P. McAdams, a psychology professor at Northwestern University. He found that adults who were the most nurturing and supportive of younger generations, based on tests completed by each subject, were five times more likely to tell stories of suffering leading to expansion or growth, compared with adults who were less nurturing….’
Your experiences have made you who you are today. Sharing your story, the good as well as the not so good, along with the valuable lessons you learned as a result is a gift you can give your grandchildren.
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Give your family the gift of a lifetime by capturing your life story in a Legacy Video.
Here at Family Tree Video we produce Legacy Videos, modern-day memoirs that weave a filmed interview together with family photos documents, maps and other memorabilia. The result is a beautiful “moving portrait” capturing you sharing your story in your own words – a gift your family will treasure for generations to come.
To learn more about capturing your stories in a Legacy Video, visit us at FamilyTreevIdeo.com.
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Sharing Your Story
“There are only two lasting bequests we can give our children.
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