Melissa Pennel

Questions You'll Wish You Asked Melissa Pennel

This journal deepens the parent/child bond while creating a keepsake for when conversation is no longer possible.




With questions for a parent to answer that include:




"What is a concert you'll never forget?"

"Is there a book you hope I'll read?"

"When you're gone, what is something you'll want me to remember you saying?"




These questions will transport you from the daily routine into a time when the ordinary has been rendered sacred.




Whether you're a parent looking to leave a legacy to your child, or a child recording memories of your parent, make time for the questions you'll later wish you asked: your future self will thank you.




Commonly asked questions:




Who is this journal for?




The journal provides over 100 questions for a parent to answer for their child.




It makes a perfect gift for a pregnant friend, baby shower gift for a new parent of a baby, keepsake gift for an aging parent, and thoughtful present for parents and children of all stages in between.




This journal also makes a thoughtful gift for members of non-traditional families, LGBTQ+ families, or those who identify as non-binary, whether a parent or child. The questions within are not structured around or catering to any specific gender - they were created to be inclusive of the varying forms of family and identity.




Some adult children sit with their parents and fill out the journal while asking the questions: this invites thoughtful conversations, generational connection, and intimacy. Others choose to purchase the journal for themselves, fill it out, and later present it as a gift to their children. This journal can be an especially thoughtful gift for a parent who has lost their own mother or father; these individuals often deeply recognize the importance of recording thoughts and memories for their children.




This journal is also a thoughtful gift for adult children whose parents may be struggling with early signs of memory loss, dementia, or Alzheimer's; asking these questions can jog a parent's memory, inspire thoughtful conversation, or simply provide a space to appreciate the parent who still remains.




What if I have multiple kids? Do I need multiple journals?




Most of the questions in this journal are about the parent, but there are also questions particular to each child. For this reason, most parents choose to have one journal per kid; this also eliminates the need to "choose" who eventually receives the journal. However, it's also possible to answer these particular questions separately for each child within one journal. (One could split an answer on the 6x9 journal page provided, and use the blank pages included at the end of the journal if more room is needed.)