The Good Things Journal
A journal for their words, drawings, and all the ordinary things in between. They talk. You write. And somehow, one page at a time, you end up with a book of who they were right now.
What's waiting inside
A record of childhood, one page at a time
A question. Three good things. A face to draw. Somewhere to start.
Then your child takes it from there.
You might find out what they think you do at work, who the funniest person in the family is, or why adults are allowed to stay up late.
Write it down exactly as they say it.
One day, this will be the good stuff.
Pick a moment that’s already there
After dinner. Before bed. At bath time. Whenever it fits.
Miss a day? Nothing happens.
Ask the question
Every page gives you somewhere to start.
Read it out loud. Then let them take it somewhere completely different.
Resist the urge to correct
The funny answers. The made-up words. The unexpected logic.
The weird answers are the best ones.
The Good Things Journal
For the things they say
The Good Things Camera
For the things they don't
A peek inside
Inside a daily page
Five little things
01 — The date
So you know when this version of them existed.
02 — A quote
A little something to read together.
03 — Today’s face
They draw how the day felt.
04 — Three good things
Whatever made them happy today.
05 — Today’s question
One question for them. Or sometimes one for you.
INSIDE A DRAWING PAGE
Every so often, the pen is theirs
These pages keep a different kind of record: how they draw themselves, the people they love, and the world around them right now.
Wobbly legs, enormous heads and all.
INSIDE A PHOTO PAGE
For the things only a photo can keep
The photo prompts point the camera at details you might not normally think to capture.
Their hands. Their smile with exactly these teeth. The toy that goes everywhere.
Completely ordinary now. Surprisingly easy to forget later.
A few words from people who already have one:
“We've been doing it at bedtime for three weeks and my son now asks for it before I do. Last Tuesday he said the best part of his day was 'the way the soup smelled.'
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“It’s beautiful enough that you know you’ll keep it, but it’s the answers that got me. I already have things written down that I would have completely forgotten.
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