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6 guides from the Journal about parents.
For parents10 min read
To leave birthday letters for your child in case you die, write a small set for key ages such as 5, 10, 13, 16, 18, 21 and 30, keep them short and specific, and set each one to arrive on the birthday it was written for. Tell a trusted adult the letters exist. Sealed paper copies with a guardian are an optional extra.
For parents9 min read
Choose a guardian for your children by thinking about who shares your values, has the energy and stability to raise them, and already has a bond with them, then ask that person directly and name them in your will. Keep care and money separate if that suits your family, and leave a letter so the guardian knows your children the way you do.
For parents12 min read
Ask your parents about their childhood, how they fell in love, their work, the hard times they got through, what they believe, their practical wishes and what they remember about you. Ask one topic per visit, record the conversation with their permission, and write the answers down afterwards so they can be shared.
For parents8 min read
A wedding day letter to your child works best when it's short and specific: one memory of them as a child, what you see in them now, a few honest words about love and marriage, and a welcome for their partner. If you're writing years ahead in case you're not there, keep it about them rather than the unknown partner, label it "for your wedding day" so it can arrive with other letters or on a meaningful birthday, and make sure your child or someone you trust knows it exists.
For parents7 min read
A legacy video is a short, unscripted recording of you talking to your children or family. Pick three or four questions per video, such as what you were like at their age or what to do when life gets hard, record on a phone at eye level near a window, and keep each video between three and ten minutes.
For parents7 min read
Write a letter to your child by choosing one milestone for them to open it, such as their 18th birthday, then telling one small true story about them now, naming what you see in them, and ending with one hope and the plain words “I love you, I'm proud of you.” Store it somewhere that will still exist, and know the date, years from now.
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