I have recently done some thinking about families and memories. A friend of mine has just lost her mother, and as a result, my daughter's best friend has lost her grandmother. It made me think about my parents and losing them, which I know will happen some day (though I'd

rather not dwell on that one).

Ever since my children were born, they have done things and said things that I thought I would remember forever. I want to, I really do, but only a few years in, I'm struggling. Let's face it, there are times I have forgotten that funny thing they said only hours later. I have started journals and then mislaid them or forgotten about them only days later. Today, I set up email addresses for my two children - simple to do with just a few clicks. I like my computer. I know where it is at all times and I can write emails. Already I have emailed them some quick messages about the things they have done and said just in the last few days, so that there is now a permanent record (although I don't think I'll ever forget about how my daughter complained when she "bumped my youngest toe"). For once, I can see this as a project that I can keep up will little effort, but with a result that can last a lifetime.

The second thing I have done is to try and work backwards. I have bought my Mum and Dad lifetime journals as presents from them to me. These are a wonderful, simple concept with questions to help my parents think back about their childhood, meeting each other and my subsequent arrival and my own childhood. I have also bought a version for me to fill out, along with my partner, so that we can give them to our children when they are old enough to appreciate them.

Mother's Day in the UK is tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to seeing both my Mum and my Mother-in-Law's faces when they see a gift that will give them the opportunity to record their memories for future generations. I'm sure that there are many great versions out there, but I have plumped for books in the "from me to you" range. I have no imagination, so having someone else do the work for me is just great.

Memories are great, but memories fade. Some live only in the telling. Let's keep the special ones alive as long as possible.