152 insights into my baby’s soul: cultivating love with one question a day

I was doing some cleaning over the holidays and pulled out my wedding memory box when I stumbled upon our copy of What I Love About You – a fill in the blank book for couples. I so enjoyed filling this out for my husband on his first deployment.

As I mentioned in a recent post, I’ve been having a hard time with my 5-year-old, and have begun the year attempting to cultivate love for my child – in any way possible.

So I ventured off to Amazon to see if there was a What I Love About You version for kids (there wasn’t), but I stumbled upon this GEM of a conversation journal for kids and I HAD to share it with you all!

Q&A a Day for Kids: A Three-Year Journal*

Here’s what Amazon has to say about it:

A journal for parents and children ages roughly four to ten (although age range is flexible) to share the evolution of thoughts, feelings, and dreams over the years. Also great for kids who want to keep a time capsule of their own whimsical thoughts and serious ideas about the world.

Inspired by the previous bestselling Potter Style title, Q&A a Day, this journal is the perfect family keepsake. A question by children’s author Betsy Franco is featured for each day with only a few lines provided for a response, making this journal the ultimate no-fuss record keeper. Simply turn to today’s date and record your child’s answer. When you finish the year, move on to the next section. As the years go by you’ll notice how your child’s answers evolve, sometimes silly, sometimes precocious, but always interesting. The diary can be started on any day of the year and makes a terrific keepsake or gift for parents.

Ezra and I started it the day we received it (January 4th). I know it’s only January 10th right now, but we are both LOVING THIS! He reminds me every day to ask him a question, and I record his answers.

He has already had so many beautiful things to say:

#meltmyheart

And this one was just funny in its redundancy:

(I promise we don’t make him do that many dishes!)

This has already been so helpful for both of us. While it’s an activity I started for just him and I (because we desperately needed some one-on-one connect time), often Daddy is also present to hear his answers and participate.

It’s been so neat to see what’s really going on in his mind and heart, underneath all of the behaviors. Because when he has a 15 minute kicking and screaming fit because the bean bag chair is in his room instead of in the basement (and he couldn’t figure out that all he needed to do was ASK us to move it), it’s nice to know that we are his heroes and he wants to love God more. For reals.

Another wonderful thing about this journal is that on every page, there is space for three years of answers. Which means, we will be able to watch his thoughts grow and change over the next three years!

Q&A a Day for Moms: A 5-Year Journal*

I also purchased the companion version for moms, a 5 year journal in similar style.

A mother and child share so much together–countless milestones, simple joys, unexpected challenges, and all the little surprising moments in between. This five-year journal will help you capture it all–simply turn to today’s date and take a few moments to answer the question at the top of the page. As the journal fills, it will become a loving record and cherished family keepsake.

This is something I’ve been filling out privately, but has proven to be just as wonderful a balm for my Mommy heart. Some of my favorite questions so far have been I love seeing my child _____, What’s a smell you associate with your child?, and I was in awe when my child _____.

It also asks personal questions about YOU, such as How is your mom-esteem right now? and What’s your resolution for yourself?

It also has a pretty ribbon bookmarker. That’s just a bonus

Because the mom version is a 5 year journal, rather than a 3 year journal – and is a smaller book physically, sometimes I find the space tight when I want to write things about both of the boys. That is my own criticism. I’m just learning to write small!

Knock Knock Why You’re So Super Fill in the Love Journal*

Finally, I purchased a small fill in the blank journal that asks me questions to share with Ezra about why I love him and think he’s awesome. This is a TINY book (about the size of a smartphone – Ezra has taken to carrying it around the house pretending it’s a handheld video game device) and only has 50 questions total (which, when Ezra counted them all, resulted in him telling me that I have a LOT of questions to answer!). It’s super sweet and is yet another thing we can do together to bond. I love it!

If you are a mom of pretty much any child, but especially if you are struggling to connect with a difficult child, GO TO AMAZON RIGHT NOW AND GET THESE BOOKS! That’s all.

(*affiliate links)