Recently I’ve been inspired by the creative ways in which moms around the globe are finding ways to connect with their kids. Legacy building is a big part of this, and can be done in so many different fun, practical, and whimsical ways. Our kids know us as “mom” or “dad”, but it’s also good to invest in helping our little ones get to know who we are as people, our lives before them, and the experiences that have shaped us into the individuals we are today.

It’s great to be able to share another side of ourselves with our kids and I am currently doing my best to make this happen through a number of different writing exercises that I can one day share with Lux when he’s older. You can do the same and start this project: 30 things your kids should know about you. There’s no rush to begin documenting your notes and you can take each step at your own pace. The first I have already completed and is titled: ‘20 random facts about myself’. You can use these notes to create a striking digital legacy page with graphics for the family, or create a hardback illustrated book or set of cards using beautiful templates.

Here’s what I created:

I used different fonts and a ‘Love’ template to create my card

1. I love cheese; any time of the day and usually with salty cold cuts and a glass of wine.
2. I’m very particular about where things go. Everything should have a ‘home’ inside the home.
3. I have always wanted to learn to play the saxophone and have dreamed about doing my own rendition of “My Funny Valentine” to an audience.
4. I am theater-trained and my dream was to become an actress when I was younger. I even traveled to New York when I was 19 to pursue an acting career.
5. I love the ocean and am also terrified of it at the same time.
6. At Christmas I love watching Edward Scissorhands.
7. When I was younger I wanted to be one of the ‘Goonies’ from Steven Spielberg’s adventure fantasy, and probably still do!
8. I’m extremely sensitive and words are everything to me.
9. I’m not very good at math, so put extra effort into excelling in humanities.
10. If I could study anything just for fun it would be Folklore, with a focus on the history and generational passing on of fairy tales.
11. I always wanted to have a house on the beach and wouldn’t mind having my own bed-and-breakfast.
12. I really dislike impoliteness. It’s one of the most unnecessary traits to have.
13. I’m a dreamer. The complete opposite of your dad.
14. I met your dad and a week later moved in with him (this does not give you license to do the same when you’re older and meet someone!)
15. In other life I would be an interior designer or a chef.
16. I love scary, dystopian, and melancholy movies.
17. My favorite animal is the blue whale. They have access to a part of the ocean that remains unknown to man. They’re mysterious and are the giants of the ocean.
18. Christmas is my favorite time of the year.
19. I’m a night owl. Your dad is usually in bed before I am.
20. I’m quite a good cook and wish I had time to do it more often.

Some of my random things were too long for my card, so I shortened them and you can do the same.

Below is the remaining list of prompts:

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe three legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your spouse. 
4. List ten things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the five things that make you most happy right now?
6. If you could have three wishes, what would you wish for?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are five passions you have?
9. List ten people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe ten pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. What’s the hardest part of growing up?
14. Describe five weaknesses and strengths you have.
15. Describe when you knew your spouse was the one, or how you fell in love.
16. What are your five greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What do you think your spouse loves most about you?
19. How did you feel the moment you became a parent?
20. Describe three significant memories from your childhood.
21. Describe your relationship with your parents.
22. Where do you see yourself in five years? ten years? 15 years?
23. What’s your favorite holiday and why?
24. What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about parenthood?
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What’s your favorite quality in your spouse?
29. What are your hopes and dreams for your prosperity?
30. List ten things you would hope to be remembered for.

If you start your own project let us know and share the finished product!

Photos: Nicole Bonnah

The 2014 Beijing Design week kicks off this Friday, September 26 to the much-anticipated buzz from mainstream media. The event consists of seven main sections held in various locations around town 798, Caochangdi, Sanlitun, Taikooli and China Millennium monument. Apart from the events involving the government officials, the rest are open to the public and free to attend.

Most events will cater for teens and adults but there are some that are geared towards children. One such organization is bāc-tā-gon, which is fosters creative collaborations across visual art, design, architecture, performing art, music, literature, moving images and cuisine. Find out more about them here. The organization is doing something unique with their Bibliorium program– they’re hosting a children’s illustration workshop for ages 6 and above to teach kids how to use graphics as a tool of storytelling technique. It takes place on September 28 at 11am-12.30pm.

The workshop dubbed from Dot to Neverland will focus on using the Chinese traditional folklore of The Three Monks for the children to have the same base but will be encouraged to be creative in the way they interpret the story, there is no right or wrong. Kyle Skor, a painter and children’s book author, and Stelart Wang, designer, will be leading the bilingual workshop.

Children will get to go home with their pieces of work. The other benefit of this workshop is that it’s free, the materials such as paper, pens, coloring pencils and paints will be provided for no extra charge.

Sign up by sending an email to kyle@bactagonprojects.org

Photos: J.D. Thomas, Thoth, God of Knowledge (Flickr)