Last year, I picked up Matriarch by Tina Knowles (mother of icon Beyonce Knowles) and heard the tales of multiple generations of mothers told.
It wasn’t just a memoir. It was a lineage. A weaving together of motherhood, identity, resilience, and legacy across generations. As I read, I found myself thinking not just about her story, but about mine. About my mom. And about my grandma.
And I realized, if I don’t write these stories down, who will? That’s why I’ve been slowly taking down my story, our stories, in various forms: journaling, dictating, writing, etc.
The Books That Sparked It All
I was inspired after I read the Matriarch in one weekend. If you’ve ever felt the pull to document your life, or the lives of the women who raised you, here are a few powerful places to start:
- Matriarch by Tina Knowles – A beautiful reflection on motherhood and generational strength
- Becoming by Michelle Obama – A masterclass in storytelling and self-discovery
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba – A reminder that stories shape how we see possibility
Each of these reminded me that our stories matter. Not because they are perfect, but because they are ours.
Why I’m Writing Mine Now
My grandma recorded some of her stories on cassette tapes years ago. At the time, it probably felt simple because I heard her tell those stories over and over. But now, those recordings are priceless.
We get to hear her voice. Her pauses. The emotion in her voice, good and bad. The way she told her own story.
My mom and grandma both passed away younger than I expected. And with that loss came a quiet fear: What else have we lost with them?
The little stories. The details. The memories that never made it into photo albums.
I don’t want that to happen again.
I want my children to know our stories. I want them to hear not just what happened, but how it felt to live it.
And I want to preserve the stories of the women who made me who I am.
You Don’t Have to Be a Writer to Start
I was thrilled to hear from author John Green at the Bucksbaum Lecture at Drake University this spring. Green stressed that anyone can be a writer. Nearing Mother’s Day again, I was inspired to pick this project back up. I am vowing each May to find a day to completely unplug and dictate my stories in various voice memos.
Here are a few ways to begin with no pressure, no perfection required:
- Get away (even just a little).
Find a quiet pocket of time. A morning at a coffee shop. An afternoon alone at home. Space helps memories surface. I personally booked a yurt at Windy Goat Acres in Tama, Iowa. - Just get it down.
Whether you type, write, record your voice, or dictate your voice to text, get your words down. Just be sure it’s some form that you can archive and keep for the next generation. - Use AI as your assistant.
Once you have recordings or rough notes, you can use tools (like ChatGPT) to help organize your thoughts into themes, timelines, or even full drafts. You don’t have to do this alone. - Start with prompts.
Try simple questions like:
- What did my mom teach me without saying a word?
- What do I remember most about my grandma’s home?
- What do I hope my kids remember about me?
- Capture your voice—literally.
Even if you do write things down, consider recording your stories too. One day, your voice may be the most meaningful part.
This Is Bigger Than You Think
This isn’t just about memory-keeping.
It’s about identity and legacy. It’s about giving your children, and their children, a sense of belonging that stretches beyond what they can see.
Your story doesn’t have to be extraordinary to be meaningful. It just has to be told.
