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From: "Elissa Scalise Powell, CG" <>
Subject: RE: [APG] Suggestions on how to get your grown children interested requested.
Date: Sat, 6 May 2006 17:41:51 -0400
In-Reply-To: <445CCBB7.19080.50C58B2@localhost>


Joyce,
No words of wisdom but just a few words of my experience. My 20 year old
daughter is a tosser. My father was a tosser and tossers don't care to keep
things past their immediate usefulness. Although she is a history major with
a large interest in writing, I don't look to her to be the keeper of the
family light.

My 17 year old son is a saver. Old homework papers to old Kleenexes line his
room which I have given up cleaning. He is sensitive and very patriotic. He
is a mom, country and apple pie kind of guy. I think he will be "the one."
This was somewhat confirmed one evening when I met a client for dinner in a
distant city that we were visiting colleges in. My son sat through our
conversations about the client's family and biographical tales. Later he
said, "I never knew what you did." Now he has glimpsed the excitement that
was exchanged between my client and me.

However I will have to simmer and boil both pots and may even never witness
the full baked genealogist that may emerge from one of my children. Like
many things in life, timing is everything.

You don't say if your children are married, but once one has kids, the
perspective on the family changes. Or perhaps it is the grandkids who are
the catalyst. Either way, the adult wants to know more in order to share
with the younger generation. That is when we all moan, I wish I had paid
attention to all of grandma's stories.

As for getting them interested... you can keep talking but perhaps a diary
of your discoveries and revelations would benefit them when their ears are
ready to hear. Whether or not you are able to convey your knowledge when
they are ready, the diary will do it for them. It will help them say, "I am
glad Mom took the time to explain this to us. She is one smart lady."

My .02,
-- Elissa

Elissa Scalise Powell, CG
www.PowellGenealogy.com
CG and Certified Genealogist are Service Marks of the Board for
Certification of Genealogists used under license after periodic evaluations
by the Board. http://www.BCGcertification.org/

-----Original Message-----
From: Joyce C. Wicks [mailto:]
Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2006 5:16 PM

Has anyone come up with any ideas to get your grown kids
interested in your family history? I'm guessing the answer
is, if they're not interested, they're not interested.
<snipped>
I love my children and would like very much to share these things. Anyone
have any words of wisdom?

Joyce




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