To feel a bit sad to realise I am the keeper of most/all of this information?

[grenlei]

When I was a child my mum would talk to me all the time about her childhood, her extended family, life in post war London, and then growing up in the 1950s-60s. I was blessed with a good memory (got me through school and uni with minimal effort!) so even now many years on can remember a lot of this.

My mum sadly died over 20 years ago when I was 21; of her siblings, only 3 (in their 70s/80s) are still alive, and 2 of those didn't have any children. I'm an only child; my cousins have little or no knowledge of our family history, and even my mum's siblings don't remember half the stuff I do. At a recent family gathering one family member was asking some family questions that I was able to answer, but others I couldn't (although I know my mum would have been able to).

It just makes me sad that it's all going to be lost. There's nothing massively earth shattering, it's just life and memories, connections to big events - a relative was at the Battle of Cable St for example, but my children are not interested at all (I've always loved history so a bit different for me) and no one else seems to be either.

I guess it's the case for all families sooner or later so I probably am BU!

[AlohaMolly]

Definitely write it down OP. So much of my fathers life is lost. He died last year and though we were estranged I find it difficult not knowing so much. Like others have mentioned, I didn’t care until I had 4 yo DS and by then it was too late for me.

[lottiegarbanzo]

Write it down - in small pieces, a story at a time. Don't feel you have to write anything like a book, that's too daunting.

Your DCs may become interested when they have children themselves. Few young adults are interested in family history.

[LanternLights]

Definitely write it down, it's social and family history. Imagine if your future DGC are interested in this family history, what a gift to have all these details which they'd never find from record searches.

I am far more interested in family history than I was as a teenager, although I'm glad I managed to ask my grandparents (who were both born in Edwardian times and raised by strict Victorian parents) how they met (in the late 1920s) and what they did for fun, recreation times, how they celebrated Christmas etc. I really wish I could go back and ask more in detail. For example I'd love to know (having gone through childbirth myself now) what my DGma's experience was like in the 1930s/40s of midwifery and maternity care. Street parties and birthdays and so on - community events. Birthday presents, Christmas presents - anything special that stood out? Any local "scandals" in the community/in their road? Any favourite outfits or party dresses? When did they get their first TV and telephone and what that was like. These are things that will vary and some are completely personal eg special outfits, presents and maternity care. So whatever details you have, write them down. They'll be valuable to somebody, someday.

[ReallySpicyCurry]

My dad tells a great story which is indirectly about Cable Street. He was wandering about London on a weekend trip, when to his horror took a wrong turning and found himself in the middle of a stand off between the BNP/EDL and some other group- I think it was the BNP lot who had decided to have a protest of some sort, and the other lot were counter protesting but anyway it was getting nasty and scuffles were breaking out. Police were there, tensions rising

All of a sudden, just before the control was completely lost, this tiny, ancient old Jewish lady appeared, holding a big fuck off brick. She tottered down the middle of the two groups, yelling

"fuck off yew fucking bastards, I didn't take it from Mosley's blackshirts on Cable Street, and I'm not going to take it from yew little shits now, fucking cunts"

On which note she lobbed this big sodding brick at the nearest skinhead.

He was

The police were

And apparently the would be riot petered out and everyone went home

[BestIsWest]

Definitely write it down. I’ve recently come across a book where someone has recorded my great-great grandmother’s stories. Inaccurately in places (He has her witnessing the Rebecca Riots which took place before she was born but never mind). But nevertheless it has been fascinating to me because it’s helped me get closer to true picture of our family history.

[ajandjjmum]

I've started writing down random stories that I remember from my Mum and Dad, and GPs, which of course are fascinating to me, and I think my DC will be interested too. One thing that struck me is that I only remember my parents as a successful couple, but the things that went wrong in the early part of their marriage are just as important, as part of their story. So many little stories that were mentioned over the years, and the various experiences that gave them the values they lived by.

The problem I'm having is getting it in to some sort of sensible order, and then remembering something else!

When things quieten down for me personally over the next few months, I plan to write something every day. That's if my motivation ever returns after lockdown!

[MyOldBeansy]

Another one saying write it down. I was never interested until my late 30s when it really started to dawn on me the passing of time, the loss of older family members and all their memories and knowledge.

Your children may not be interested until they are elderly but, if written down, they will be able to have this across-time conversation with you through your writing.

I think of all the knowledge gained over lifetimes and then lost in death. If I could have a few hours with my Gran to ask her about gardening. Or some time with my grandad to gather his knowledge about mountain walking in the Lakes. And so on...

[EasilyDeleted]

My mum is in the same position (in her 70s), her siblings are either dead or not in a fit state to remember due to illness. I'm not in the slightest bit interested but at the same time I don't want it to be lost in case I do become interested later on in life, perhaps when she's no longer around, or other family members wish to have the information, so she is writing it all down (electronically).

[Tootletum]

You'd be surprised. I wasn't interested in my history at all until I had kids. And I regret not getting much more information while I could. A blog would be great.

[2bazookas]

You should write it all down.

My mother's youngest sister, supposedly the frail runt of the family, outlived them all, and as keeper of the numerous secrets and scnadals she promised to write it all down, but no-one would be permitted to read it until after her death, because some of it was going to be shocking to the next generation (mine).
Then she died in her 80's but the long awaited family history never came to light. I am pretty sure it was suppressed by some of her children for the sake of their own.

[SockYarn]

WRITE IT DOWN.

Or if you're not happy writing it down yourself, get someone to do it for you. Record yourself talking about it. Whatever works for you, but this is the sort of thing that family history researchers love. Keep it safe, or post it online.

(I am currently trying to get to the bottom of a story in my own family tree and a distant uncle had a clear out last year and threw out a whole case of documents and photos beecause "nobody will be interested in that". I could throttle him. )

[Bikingbear]

Write it down!
Start with who's who and the stories of each person add to it as you remember.

My Dgrandfather didn't like talking much about his parents they died when he was in his early 20s, and it's a massive regret that his knowledge and info is gone. His sister a bit like your mum passed info on.

On the other side I was too young to be interested in the generations before me. It hit me when I had my own child that my paternal grandfather who was ancient history to me was only a generation before my dad.

[Redraptor]

My mum loves this kind of thing, shes done a huge family tree and has boxes and boxes of stuff. Shes so interested and it's great but she makes me feel so guilty for not being interested. She says she'll give it all to me one but I dont want it. I do feel awful but I'm just not interested

[Bluebellforest1]

OP, I’m an only child, not very close to cousins, and my parents died when my children were very small/ before they were born.

A couple of years ago, I wrote down everything I knew, scanned all the photos I had, and gave a copy of it all to each of my 3, now in their 30’s.
They tell me they’ve read it!

[grenlei]

ReallySpicyCurry those tiny old East End ladies take no shit

Thank you, you've reminded me of another memory from my mum, that as a child she used to earn a few pennies by going into the homes of Jewish families in their neighbourhood and turning the lights on for them on the Sabbath. She thought they were really fancy as in her own home they didn't even have electricity at that time!

[ravenmum]

You can even have it made into a little book quite cheaply these days!

[RedToothBrush]

You say no one else will be interested....

... you have no way of knowing this.

I have done research into mine and DH's family history.

As part of that I've looked at siblings and cousins of long forgotten relatives and its utterly fascinating. It draws a picture of the wider family that we are directly related to and where we come from, and the links between them.

Not only that but I've been in touch with a 4th cousin. Our common ancestor was born in the 1840s. She is also in touch with a lot of other 2nd cousins. Together we have written a book family history for our family members about our ancestor and what happened to all of their descendants. Its so interesting to see the quirks of fate and interesting common features.

You also don't know who might common along to study a certain area and what it was like in the past and how people live.

You do not realise how valuable and important the information you have is. It becomes even more valuable when you record it and it becomes a record of the past that who knows who might come across and think is amazing.

[Rudolphian]

Thinks it's been said multiple times.
But write it down in a physical form and then upload it.
This way you will have a physical record as well as one on the internet. Another option would be to self publish a book.

[Thisismytimetoshine]

@grenlei

ReallySpicyCurry those tiny old East End ladies take no shit

Thank you, you've reminded me of another memory from my mum, that as a child she used to earn a few pennies by going into the homes of Jewish families in their neighbourhood and turning the lights on for them on the Sabbath. She thought they were really fancy as in her own home they didn't even have electricity at that time!

I don't even know you and I'd read it!

[RoSEbuds6]

I found that I only got interested in family history when I got to about 40. If I were you I would start recording information you have - addresses etc - and then look the up on street map etc, and writing it up - then if they get interested years later it’ll al be there.

[whatistheworld]

how about putting the stories on Ancestry? I have my whole family tree on there and links to various photos and stories. with DNA testing now lots of people have contacted us and love to read them. I feel that it means those people and their lives can live on.

[IrmaFayLear]

It’s interesting that men rarely take an interest in their families. Maybe the exciting bits like a war hero or convict, but not the everyday details. Dh has no interest in his family, and fil never mentioned his people - mil saw to that!!

It does make you worry about the militant MNetters who declare that “dh has his own family now - cut the apron strings” - so much family lore lost. I shall start writing things down in case I have a dil determined to erase us!!

[Flannelpjs]

It is sad OP but its what happens in the end to most family stories. My Mum was great at telling me about family history so I have sense of who my great grandparents where, where they come from and what sort of lives they had but I don't really know much of my great great grandparents or futher back if anything. They are all long forgotton and by this point even there genetic legacy to me is very dilute, as they are one of 16 great, great grandparents.

Yes to writing it down but ultimately we are all lost to the sands of time, even the greatest of us are only remembered for a few specific things and not ourselves as such.

Its sad but its the way of things, one day the sun will swallow up the earth or the universe itself will end and even the work of Mozart and Michalangelo will disappear forever.

[pallisers]

another one saying write it down. Your children might not be interested now but they may some day and their children may some day.

I did a book about my dad after he died. His family history, story of his work, marriage etc. a bit about what life was like when he was born. Then I added in his favourite jokes and stories and poems and also some poems he had written. Plus photos. The last thing was the hymns he had picked out for his funeral. my nephews and nieces loved it but it resonated with my dad's nephews and nieces too because there was so much about his childhood (he was also a shabbat goy - turning on the lights for jewish families)

[Suzi888]

Write it up. Just because they aren’t interested now, they probably will be at some point. There’s things I wish I knew now, but all my grandparents
and most of my family have now died.