A Family History Year in Review – Why This Simple Tradition Matters
Most of us live our lives at high speed. The year blurs by in a rush of work, errands, texts, and half‑remembered moments.
Then, suddenly, it’s December 31.
We look up, a little dazed, and ask:
Where did the year go?
What did we actually do?
What changed… and what stayed the same?
That’s where a Family History Year in Review comes in.
It’s one of the simplest, most powerful ways to slow down, capture your family’s story, and make sure the memories of this year don’t quietly disappear.
Celebrate and preserve your unique family storyWhat Is a Family History Year in Review?
A “Year in Review” is a short, written snapshot of your family’s life over the past twelve months.
It’s not meant to be a perfect, polished book. Think of it as a friendly yearly letter to your future self and to the next generations — a place where you quickly capture:
- The big events
- The small, everyday details
- The people, places, and moments that defined this year for your family
In 30–60 minutes, you can create a keepsake that will mean far more in 10, 20, or 50 years than it does right now.
Time passes quicklyWhy Bother? It’s “Just” One Year…
It’s easy to underestimate a single year. But add up fifty “ordinary” years and you get an extraordinary life story.
The problem is: details fade fast.
You think you’ll remember:
- What your kids were into this year
- Where you traveled
- The challenges you faced
- The jokes, the routines, the way life “felt”
But you won’t. Not all of it.
A Year in Review helps you:
- Preserve context: Future generations won’t just know dates and names, but what everyday life was like in your time.
- Capture personalities: How each family member changed and grew this year.
- Record milestones: Moves, jobs, graduations, illnesses, recoveries, new hobbies, new friends.
- Create a tradition: Something simple you can repeat every year, building a rich, chronological record of your family’s story.
This is family history on a very human scale — not dusty records, but living memories.
What to Include in Your Year in Review
Keep it simple and specific. Here are some prompts to guide you. You can answer these as short paragraphs or bullet points.
1. Big Events and Milestones
- Births, deaths, weddings, graduations
- Moves, new jobs, retirements
- Major trips or family reunions
- Health challenges or recoveries
2. Everyday Life Right Now
- What does a typical day look like for your family?
- What are your regular routines (work, school, weekends)?
- Are there any “rituals” — movie nights, Sunday dinners, game nights, walks, phone calls?
3. Each Family Member’s Year
For each person in your household (and optionally close relatives), write a short paragraph or bullet list:
- Age (this year)
- What they’re doing (school, work, retirement)
- Their interests, hobbies, or obsessions this year
- Any big changes (new job, new school, new hobby, major challenge)
4. Highlights and Lowlights
- What were the best moments of the year?
- What were the toughest moments?
- Did your family learn anything important from those experiences?
5. The World Around You
These details become fascinating later on:
- What’s going on in your town or country that affected your family?
- Prices of everyday items (gas, bread, rent, streaming services)
- New technologies or trends you’re using (apps, gadgets, social media)
- Major news events that made you talk, worry, or celebrate
6. Hopes and Plans for Next Year
- What are your family’s goals or hopes for the coming year?
- Any planned trips, projects, or changes?
- Is there anything you’d like to do differently?
Imagine your grandchildren reading this one day. They would have a vivid sense of who you were and how you lived — not just a list of names and dates.
How to Create Your Year in Review (Step by Step)
You don’t need to be a writer to do this. Here’s a simple process you can follow every year.
Step 1: Pick Your Format
Choose where this will “live”:
- A dedicated notebook
- A document on your computer
- A printed template or worksheet
- A section in your family history binder or digital archive
The key is consistency: use the same spot every year if you can.
Step 2: Gather Your “Memory Helpers”
Before you start writing, pull together things that jog your memory:
- Calendar or planner
- Photos on your phone or computer
- Social media posts
- Emails or texts about big events
Flip through the year month by month. You’ll be surprised how much you’d already forgotten.
Step 3: Use Prompts to Write (Don’t Overthink It)
Set a timer for 30–45 minutes and work through the prompts above:
- Big events
- Everyday life
- Each family member
- Highlights and lowlights
- World context
- Hopes for next year
Write in your normal voice. Don’t worry about grammar or style. You’re capturing reality, not trying to win an award.
Step 4: Add a Few Photos or Mementos
Choose 3–10 photos that represent the year:
- A holiday or trip
- A normal day at home
- A celebration
- A “candid” everyday moment
If you’re on paper, print and attach them. If you’re digital, insert them into the document or create a folder for each year and link to it.
Step 5: Label and Store It Safely
Make it easy to find in the future:
- Clearly title it: “Family Year in Review – 2024” (or whatever year)
- Store it with your other family history materials:
- In a binder
- In a clearly labeled folder on your computer or cloud drive
- Backed up (external drive / cloud backup)
If you do this every year, you’ll gradually build a powerful, chronological family history.
Make It a Family Tradition
You don’t have to do this alone.
Here are some ways to turn it into a shared activity:
New Year’s Eve Activity
Sit down for an hour as a family on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. Ask everyone the same questions:
- “What was your favorite moment of the year?”
- “What was the hardest thing that happened?”
- “What’s one thing you’re proud of?”
- “What are you hoping for next year?”
Interview Family Members
Call or visit grandparents, aunts, uncles, or older relatives and ask them about their year. Save their answers alongside your own Year in Review.
Involve Kids
Ask children to draw a picture of their favorite memory this year or write a few sentences. Include that with your Year in Review. Imagine them discovering their own childhood words decades from now.
Over time, this becomes more than a “nice idea.” It becomes a family ritual that keeps your story alive.
Why Your Future Family Will Thank You
Keep It Short and Doable
If you make it too complicated, you won’t keep up with it. A solid Year in Review can be 1–3 pages.
Use the Same Prompts Every Year
That way, you can easily compare one year to another and see patterns in your family’s life.
Don’t Wait for the “Perfect” Time
If you miss December, do it in January. Or even mid‑year. The point is to start.
Accept Imperfection
You’ll forget some things. That’s okay. You’re still capturing far more than you would otherwise.
"Time marches on and the years blur together. Remember, time is no friend to the procrastinating family historian!" - Unknown
Leave Family Year in Review Page | Return to Family History Articles Page
Please Share This Page with Your Friends on Facebook
Site Search
|
|
"A 321-Page Downloadable Fill-in-the-Blank Life Story Workbook"
1001 Things about Your Life That Your Kids Will Want to Know Someday, but Won't Think to Ask.
Download it and Start Filling in the Blanks!
Recent Articles
-
Preserve Family Memories - 2015 Family Year in Review
Nov 26, 25 02:53 AM
Preserving Family Memories. A Year in Review: Preserve memories of you and your family over the past year -
Passed and Present: Keeping Memories of Loved Ones Alive
Apr 13, 16 03:35 AM
This book just released today, April 12th, 2016. It sounds like a very good book for "discovering creative and meaningful ways to keep the memory of loved ones alive." I am looking forward to receivin…
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.