Leaving a legacy

Many of you have probably spent more than your fair share of time behind a camera/camcorder during vacations and holidays to capture those perfect memories to be shared with family for years to come. I know I've spent countless hours editing and getting it just right but always felt like an important piece was missing from those compilations, namely me. Sure my voice might be heard asking questions or letting out a hearty laugh but where was my time? Well I realized I could make a special contribution to my childrens education about our family thanks to Google.

Here's the gist - register for google account using your child's name (johnsmith@gmail.com). It's free and will likely last forever. Now you can begin emailing your children whenever the mood strikes. Perhaps he was singing a favorite song on the way to school and it made you smile and inspired you to share the story with "him" in an email sense. Over time you'll have collected lots of stories about them, about your feelings and thoughts, and special events in your lives. I've been doing this for over a year now and it feels great to write like an adult to my kids and know that in time I will turn the accounts over to them for their personal use but also as a journal of the times before they could understand big picture life realities. Attach pictures, video, and other mementos. What's so great is the simplicity. How long does it take to send an email? You can even share the address with your relatives or friends to have them email the kids too. Afterall, we all have a different perspective on things.

So there's my contribution to the busy dads out there. Keep it simple and love your family.