Many of us may not have taken enough time to discuss and document all sides of our family history and stories with our grandparents and parents.

When both of my parents were living, visiting them was like going through a double swinging door; both doors opened. We focused on current issues of the time, not family history. When my father passed away, his door was closed forever; a lot of history was gone. But the door to my mother still opened.

While going through my father’s possessions, I found an old box of family photos. I asked Mom to write on the back what she knew about each image. I lived in California, and she was in Missouri, so I missed the opportunity to learn the stories about our family as she looked at each of those photos. She did what she could but told me that many of the photos came from my dad’s side of the family, and she knew nothing about the people in those pictures. When she passed away, both doors were closed, and the stories and history were lost forever.

Since many of us are now parents or grandparents, there is still time to document as much as possible for our children, grandchildren, and beyond. They may show little interest now, but they will be forever grateful when the time is right.