Why do only famous people have biographies (传记)? This is the question two young sisters, 7-year-old Aishvarya, and 11-year-old Vaishali, asked their parents. They were reading biographies in school and realized they knew more about Beyonce than about their own grandparents. So they decided to do something.
They created "Grand Stories", a workbook that helps grandchildren learn about their grandparents. Through answering guided questions and telling stories, Grand Stories help families learn more about each other.
This family had come from India to the US, and all four grandparents live far away. Through modern technology and some family visits, the girls know their grandparents—but they want more. Where did they go to school? How did they meet, get married, and raise families? What were their stories? These reflect the "Do you know" questions in the workbook to study how much people know about their family history.
The sisters asked their own grandparents to talk about their stories. The grandfather, who is a quiet person, didn't share much during the interview. But then he stayed up all night writing his biography. When the father looked through the biography, he realized there was so much he'd never known about his own father! Through these stories the father felt closer to his own family.
What the two sisters discovered is how much we depend on knowing our family stories to understand who we are in the world. These stories are important for young children growing up, as well as our becoming parents and grandparents. "Grand Stories" is a great way to start these conversations. Whether you're 7 or 70, it's never too early or too late to start sharing family stories.
