As we detailed before, your ultimate legacy isn’t your bank account, or your written words, or any awards you have won. The legacy that you grow throughout your life is your flesh and blood: your family. In order to leave a legacy and pass it on to further generations, you must properly document your life and the lives of your family members that come before and after you.
For parents, this means taking photos, keeping journals, and keeping track of important milestones for their children and grandchildren to appreciate. But this responsibility to nurture one’s legacy also applies to those that must pass it on. Children who grow into adults should cherish the time and memories they make with their senior loved ones, and capture these irreplaceable memories to ensure their legacy lives on.
The proof is in the pudding – every senior loves engaging in activities that promote their legacy. Watch as their eyes light up as you suggest you and the family go through one of their old photo albums. Ask them to drive you to their old high school or workplace and just try to stop the outpouring of stories, anecdotes, and memories.
Sometimes, taking adequate video footage for our family archives, or capturing family memories as they unfold in real time can prove frustrating. Our parents are still our parents, and with that relationship come occasional (or constant) difficulties in communication. In David Solie’s helpful book “How to Say It to Seniors,” he explores the communication gap between seniors and their loved ones.
Taking the opportunity to educate yourself on how to properly connect with your parents and grandparents is just the first step on your journey to preserve their legacy for your family. Recording technology has improved tremendously in the last decade, but there is still an art to capturing a truly timeless memory on camera.
One general problem with pointing a video camera at a senior is the strangeness of the experience. Often, when anyone knows they are being recorded they may act differently than normal or may become reserved. This impulse is heightened with seniors who may feel intimidated or confused by unfamiliar technology.
Don’t try to create a false impression of a point in time by recording something that seems forced. Instead, capture real moments to create lasting memories. When your loved one calls on the GrandPad, that interaction is recorded. These moments are gifts that can be savored over and over. Just instruct your parent or grandparent to sit near a light or by a window so they are easily seen.
The key to capturing great videos is to ask the right questions. Don’t limit seniors with yes or no questions – probe into areas of their life you haven’t heard about. Ask about their favorite memory from high school, or what they wish they had known as a child. These open-ended questions help their grandkids connect with them as grandkids see the similarities they share.
Tools like the GrandPad make it simpler than ever to capture memories and to pass on the legacy of those we hold dear. By recording video of candid interactions and taking photos throughout the years you can create a timeline of your loved one’s legacy and see it grow and transform. See how easy it is to get started creating a library of video conversations here. Your family is your ultimate legacy, and with the GrandPad that legacy is just a few clicks away.