Maëlis Mittig is a proud NYC Savvy Auntie, and the Director of Marketing at Francis Financial, a Boutique Wealth Management and Financial Planning firm. She has mastered various facets of the Marketing “umbrella” including Networking, Event Planning, Branding, PR, Strategic Partnerships and more. Maëlis is an active member of Step Up Women’s Network’s Connections Committee and a dedicated volunteer with The Pajama Program. She graduated with four degrees in International Relations, Business, Spanish and French from The Pennsylvania State University, and is currently working towards a certification in Event and Wedding Planning.

As a child, I never appreciated or understood my grandmother’s emphasis on journaling. Every trip, every holiday, she always gave me a blank journal and encouraged me to write about my day to day activities along with whatever else was going through my mind. After discovering these journals recently, and finding so much joy in reading about my personal journeys through life, I realized how important it is for our nieces and nephews to do the same. As we get older, we forget a lot of the memories that shaped us into who we are today. Being able to go back to those memories is a gift, and one worth sharing with our nieces and nephews. Sure, the term “journaling” is a bit uncool in your teen years, but there are ways to make this a fun activity.

1. Finding the perfect journal...
Depending on the occasion, if there is one, offer to go shopping with them to find the perfect notebook. If they are going on a family trip abroad, visit your local crafts store and find fun accessories related to their destination. Help them find a journal they are excited about, and one they can easily carry around on a day to day basis. I recommend a sturdy notebook, such as a bright blue Moleskin, which is the perfect size for traveling. It comes with blank pages or lined, depending on preference.

2. It’s not all about writing.
Although we think of journaling as primarily writing, it’s good to encourage them to think outside the box. What is it that they want to remember years down the road? When I went to Spain, I saved all of our receipts, postcards, and other memorabilia on a day to day basis. I went home and wrote a few words about each location we visited, the people, the culture, and the genuine feelings I experienced throughout our exploration. Having visuals to tie in your experiences is very important. Some days, they may not feel like writing. It’s fun to draw, paint, and create collages in their journals as well.

A tip: Because photos are difficult to print while on vacation, outline spots for the photos you plan to insert. Write a little blurb about the photo in the blank space, and once you are able to develop them, glue them in.

3. Make sure to date each entry.
My friends and I were discussing our trip to Madrid the other day, and realized that we’d forgotten quite a bit of what we’d done. I remembered journaling during our trip, and after finding the notebook, we were able to relive our day to day activities. Especially when going abroad, or taking any trip, teach your nieces and nephews the importance of dating each entry. Being able to chronologically remember each adventure is very helpful.

A tip: I don’t find the same value in online journaling, but since we live in a digital world, I recommend a great app called Evernote, which saves all of your ideas, photos, etc., as you go. This app syncs to your desktop, iPad, phone, and more. If you’re traveling, when you snap a photo through Evernote, it will save the location, date, and any notes you choose to write.

4. Staying organized...
I prefer to think of journaling as a mix between writing and scrapbooking. As we know, scrapbooking can get a bit messy. What I recommend for helping your nieces and nephews stay organized, is to create a shoebox of memorabilia for each adventure. If it’s not an adventure, then for the year. If they don’t have the time to write during a trip, advise them to save all tickets, brochures, and other materials throughout the trip. Then once they have time, preferably shortly after, have them write about their experiences.

A tip: Organized hoarding is okay, sometimes. Keeping everything is okay, as long as it’s in an organized manner. This durable shoe box from the Container Store is perfect. It doesn’t take up too much space and it’s easy to label. Encourage them to save every note from friends, birthday cards from family and teachers, and any other knick knack that might spark a pleasant memory for them. You would be surprised at the amount of inspiration you can draw from reading old cards from family and friends, especially grandparents.

As soon as your niece or nephew can write, it’s crucial to encourage them to make notes of their feelings, goals, and what they foresee in the future. This will be extremely helpful when they reach an age of exploration. During a Step Up Women’s Network Power Breakfast, I asked CEO of Dermalogica, Jane Wurwand, what recommendations she had for finding our dream job. She simply said, “Go back to what you wanted to be when you were 10, when your ambitions and dreams weren’t clouded by society’s burdens. That’s a good place to start.” Writing and crafting together is a wonderful way to spend quality time with our little ones, and trust me, they will be extremely thankful one day.

Photo: Sira Anamwong
Published: March 26, 2013