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Sharing Your History
Creating a Legacy
for Your Grandkids By Sue Marquette Poremba
for Your Grandkids
When Lenna Scott's grandfather died, he left his children and grandchildren an "ethical will." It was a letter outlining his beliefs in areas he felt were important, such as education, family and charity.
"There were actually two versions," says Scott. "The first one was written when my mom and uncle were young adults. The later version was an update after my daughter was born. I think he believed that the most important legacy you can leave your family is not monetary but moral. This is a way that I can remember his impact on my life."
Ethical wills are just one way grandparents can leave a legacy for their grandchildren and future generations. Scrapbooks, audio recordings, photo albums, recipes and home movies are other ways grandparents can provide a history of their lives for the people who love them best.
This curiosity extends to grandchildren about their grandparents. Grandchildren want to know about when their grandparents were children or when their parents were children. As the grandchildren get older, they want to know what their grandparents believe and how they look at life.
Even though most of us don't want to think of our mortality, the sad truth is that the time with our grandchildren is relatively short. We may not see them as often as we'd like, or our health might fail before the children are old enough to appreciate or understand the values we want to share.
Part of the legacy that should be shared is practical information. Grandchildren and subsequent generations 
should know medical histories, for example. But part of it should also be to carry on traditions and share your personal history.