Put it in Writing

sample of my Mom's handwriting
approx. 1978

I feel fortunate to have several samples of my Mom's handwriting: notes, letters, recipes. When I see her script, I get a strong mental image of her.  I don't have any samples of my Dad's handwriting and only a few from my siblings.

Several years ago, I asked my family not give me tradition Christmas gifts; instead, I asked for hand-written notes, and I would write reciprocate. Handwritten letters and notes are personal: it is impossible to write something without revealing a bit of personality.

Do you have samples of your parents and siblings' handwriting?


Comments

  1. I have my grandmother's "Girl's Book" from high school. She wrote stories about herself and her friends wrote memories of her. It's amazing how much her handwriting and mine look alike.

    My mom had beautiful penmanship, but I don't have any examples of it. My dad ---- oh yikes! BAD penmanship. LOL

    I like how your Mom equated a new book with looking into someone's house. It's so true. :-)

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  2. What a great idea! I do have samples of handwriting, and you're right--those handwritten notes are precious!

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  3. Yes, I have both my Mom's and Dad's and I have no siblings.

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  4. Love the poem!! Yes, isn't it special to have handwritten pieces from family members? I have samples of my parents' handwriting, and I treasure it.

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  5. I think that is a wonderful idea. I have no siblings, but do have samples of both of my parents' writing. And of my maternal grandparents. I actually have letters that my grandfather wrote to his mother and to a brother about 1920 while he was "riding the rails" - just exploring the US after coming home from WW1. Wonderful letters!!

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  6. There's nothing quite like a real letter! I love the story your Mum wrote. Yes, I do have some of my Mother's handwriting. Special

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  7. Our mother's handwriting was beautiful until she started to fail with dementia. I treasure finding her notes in old cookbooks etc

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  8. I have a letter from my mom. She knew she was close to the end so she wrote all of us a letter of encouragement. My sister has her recipe book in her hand writing....love that!

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  9. I treasure most of all my mom's handwritten recipe cards. I actually took four of my favorites and framed them to hang in my kitchen where I can see them every day! My kids are just going to have links to cooking webpages. ha!

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  10. What a dear keepsake! I agree that one's handwriting evokes memories of them. I do have examples of my parents writing...mostly my dad who used to send short notes along with little snippits of articles and Sunday comics for his grandchildren every couple of weeks. I wish I had kept them all, but I did keep the last one he sent before he passed.

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  11. My Mother wrote in a journal everyday and blessed me with a trunk load of her writings. I read from her journals on days when I miss her most and can't seem to feel close to her. She had beautiful handwriting and shared wonderful thoughts!

    I love the idea of asking for notes or letters from family members for Christmas. I would really like to do that!

    One thing that kills me is the loss of cursive writing. They don't teach it in many schools these days and it hurts me that my grandson struggles to read my cursive.

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  12. I don't think I have anythingn from my mom, but I still have time to get something from her. I wish I had something from my dad though.

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  13. I love this Nancy. I have saved cards and random letters my mother has sent me. Stationed at various places with The Colonel it's always lovely to get a note from them. To this day they send me post cards.

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  14. I do have a couple of samples of my mothers but not my fathers. I also have 3 of my grandmothers journals that I treasure.

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  15. yes I do, I am a saver and have saved cards and letters for many years. That is a wonderful sentiment that your Mother wrote...in this day and age it works for blogs too:)

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  16. What a great post idea. I have picked out recipe cards from my two grandmothers and my mom. Someday I would like to get them matted and framed. Who knows why I haven't followed through on that yet. I have every intention of teaching my granddaughter's cursive at some point. They are too little now but I think it will be necessary to understand their history. I have journals from one grandmother she wrote in off and on for 5 years from a year or two before her marriage to a year after her marriage. I also have my grandfather's journal he wrote in during WW I. I used bits from both with my fifth graders when I discussed primary research material. I treasure them both. Good post this time!

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  17. That's a real treasure! I have a few recipe cards in Mom's handwriting and a autobiography that she wrote in high school. Don't know if I have any of Dad's writing though. I get notes from my sister fairly often as well.

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