For My Children: A Mother's Journal of Memories, Wishes and Wisdom [Hardcover]

Dionna Ford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 2012

OPEN UP AND SHARE YOUR MEMORIES, DREAMS, AND WISDOM WITH YOUR FAMILY IN THIS KEEPSAKE JOURNAL THEY WILL TREASURE FOREVER

•An easy-to-follow and heartfelt journal for moms to pass down their life story and joy of motherhood to their children

As a mother ages and sees her children go off into the world, she begins reflecting on her time as a mom and yearns to share memories with her kids. Beautifully designed and illustrated, this perfect gift contains creative prompts that spark Mom’s recollections of fun family vacations, favorite childhood games, and special holidays. The thought-provoking queries allow Mom to delve into her own lifetime of experiences — her childhood and school years, falling in love and getting married, and, most of all, having and raising children. This collection of fill-in-the-blank lists is the easiest way for a mother to record on paper answers to the questions her children never thought to ask but will love to discover.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dionna Ford is a lawyer turned work-at-home mama of her amazing son, Kieran (with #2 on the way in November 2011). You can normally find Dionna over at Code Name: Mama where she shares information, resources, and her thoughts on natural parenting and more. Dionna also co-founded two other websites for parents, the Natural Parents Network and NursingFreedom.org.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Ulysses Press (May 8, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1612430619
• ISBN-13: 978-1612430614
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,352 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful and high quality journal April 26, 2012

By J. Hertzog

Format:Hardcover

One of the greatest gifts my father-in-law left us was his body of writing. He left behind his written stories, thoughts, letters, and prayers. His writings have left us with so few "oh, I wish I had asked him about..." moments and have given us much comfort. There isn't a better legacy to leave than to allow those who come after you to get to know you.

For My Children is a journal designed for a mom of grown children who is reflecting back on her years of growth, change, and wisdom. The writing prompts are clear, reflective, and vary from the heavy (have you ever nursed a broken heart?) to the somewhat lighter (what are your go-to recipes for social events?). I assure you this is no novelty book though it may appear to be one on your computer screen. If you held the book in your hands, you'd see the quality of the binding, the cover, and the pages and know that this is a serious journal meant to be written in and then read and read again.

The artwork, by Melanie Mikecz, is whimsical yet clean. The illustrations add to the character of the book and the layout is beautiful.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the Hustle and Bustle April 28, 2012

By Dtizzle

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

"They grow up too fast" maybe a cliche, but I've yet to hear anyone offer evidence to the contrary. For My Children's genius is that it forces the reader to deeply investigate the present and reflect honestly on the past. So often we get caught up in the craziness of daily living that we bury ourselves in the immediate, often failing to appreciate the true beauty of parenthood. Parents often become so embroiled in the now that they fail to acknowledge their own personhood, pushing their emotions, wishes, and desires to the background. This book causes one to stop, reflect, and "smell the roses" (my bad, another cliche). Beyond the poignant questions, the illustrations are beautiful and the entire presentation is first rate.

I'd recommend this for new mothers (although some of the questions won't apply until later) as they combat the sleepless nights and learning curve of parenting. For instance, the book asks "If you could ask your parents anything, what would you ask?" In a simple question, the mother is forced to investigate their relationship as a daughter while shaping their thoughts of building an honest relationship with their own child. This in itself, seems to be a worthy pursuit.

The book's primary design, though, is for mothers with grown children (I bought it for my mother). These writing prompts will cause mothers to remember forgotten events and dig up dormant emotions from the days of parenting. This is more than a simple reconnection with the nostalgic past, but an avenue to appreciate these relationships in the present. Many of the questions are fun, some cause deep thought and reflection, and others are downright heart-wrenching.

This book helps you move beyond the facile and temporary, offering a place for honest reflection in a journal format with insightful writing prompts. I highly recommend this book for all mothers.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Idea April 23, 2012

By ArizonaParent

Format:Hardcover

This is an excellent way for a mother to chronicle the journey that is the most important to the little ones in her care. I think the artwork is first class and that there are multiple original ideas that will increase the memories that a mother wants to share with her children. I have followed the author for ten years and I am not surprised at the quality of this offering.