Thursday, January 28, 2010

Do You?


I teach Kindergarten every day as I write. It's true. My 4yo daughter started reading at age 3 and this year she's ready to learn "everything else." Yesterday we picked up the sweetest owl journal* and my daughter penned her first entry:


SUUM TIMS MI DAS R GUD
AND SUUM TIMS MI DAS R BAD.

I can't imagine a more perfect way to start a journal. I used to keep a journal, but looking back realize it was one of those things I did because I was scared to sit down and get busy writing. So I no longer keep one regularly, though sometimes I wish I did.

Do you keep a journal? Does it help you in your writing?

*The journal pictured was designed by Susie Ghahremani for Chronicle Books.

46 comments:

Unknown said...

I have a journal, I try and keep up on daily events, or little stories I think of from time to time. I also keep a small one in my purse for random thoughts throughout the day.

My husband also just bought a journal and since he doesn't wear his emotions on his sleeves (like I do) he started to write what he felt in the notebook, they are our love letters and I couldn't be happier with them... they are raw, personal, and emotional.

I love notebooks!! They are like shoes too me!

Tere Kirkland said...

Jen, lol, I'm the same way! I'd snatch up Suzette's daughter's journal in a second!

Suzette, than is the most appropriate first entry I've ever read. Really encapsulates life, huh? ;)

Tina Laurel Lee said...

That journal entry is sweet! I journal on the computer these days. But keep a notebook and pen around just in case.

Stephanie Thornton said...

That is absolutely adorable! My daughter is 3 and I'm teaching her to read. People think I'm crazy, but she loves it and so do I!

Unknown said...

I volunteer every week in my son's Kindergarten class (with my 2-yo daughter in tow) and hope you know there must be a special place in heaven for you -- I would've lost my mind ages ago!

The only journal I keep is a gratitude journal. It reminds me what's really important -- especially when I think I'm having an off day.

Tabitha.Montgomery said...

Journalling is great writing excerise as well as a safe place to vent and release thoughts.Sometimes I am amazed at what I can discover under this skin of mine I never knew was there..Writing is liberating.
Blogging is also a great way to feel like I am journaling..and sharing..it's all a win win
when you write from the heart though!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

That is too precious!

I try to keep a journal, but I am inconsistent about it. I always have good intentions, though. :-)

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

Yes, I've consistenly journaled since I was seven. I keep doing it because every now and again I go back and read through a little section of my life. It helps me to get some persepective. Your daughter will love reading her first journal some day -- and her kids will love reading it, too. :) My daughter has read all my middle school journals. *groan*

Christina Lee said...

aww that is sooo precious!! My son (age 5) is starting to write things like that too. And being an ex-teacher I know if they have a jump start with their beginning and ending sounds learning how to read and write well is next!
I do keep a journal-- more sporadically now and it's the place where I've written lots of poems over the years too. I should go back and look at them now--yikes!

Liza said...

I kept a journal for ten years and then stopped...too many years ago to count. Now though, The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron requires one, so for the time, I'm back at it, a half hour a day. It feels lovely.

Tracy Loewer said...

I love writing in my journal, but when I'm working on other projects, it kind of falls by the wayside. I haven't written much in my journal over the last 18 months...

Eli said...

I keep a journal and without it, I'm sure I wouldn't write poems like I do everyday. It really helps me focus my emotion... so it's very private. I don't really write other then that.

DL Hammons said...

My blog is the closest thing to a journal that I have. Does that count?

Kelly H-Y said...

That is adorable ... and she is so, so right! :-) Love it!

Anita said...

My blog is my journal...only, Husband is thinking about running for mayor, so I may have to tame the blog a bit!

Carolyn V. said...

I use to keep a journal when I was a teenager - I only wrote about boys. weird huh? I should write more in my journal, but sadly, I don't .

V. S said...

I keep a journal where I write letters to my MC. I find it to be a great way for him and I to connect.

Veronica and Thomas said...

I use to keep one and yes it was mainly about my writing. I promote journaling with my daughter, because I think it also helps her acting things. Since the computer age though I really don't do a whole lot of journaling. I keep a notebook by my bed just in case something strikes me when I'm hanging out in there.

Kelsey (Dominique) Ridge said...

I used to journal religiously. Then my life got interesting and I stopped writing about it. I guess I got too busy living it.

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Oh, I love this! I used to keep a journal, but sadly, I've long since given it up. When my oldest was little, I used to keep one where I would write to her every day. I still have it and will give it to her when she turns 18. But I do regret that I stopped writing in it after she got to be about 2.

Jemi Fraser said...

I haven't kept a journal since high school. Burned all those one day at a camp fire :)

Little Ms J said...

I love her entry! I don't keep a journal now, but I do keep a pretty notebook in my purse at all times and scribble notes to myself or dialogue that pops into my head when I'm just our and about. I visited my sister in NC recently and found that my three year old niece had a journal. She saved up her allowance for it and hides it in her room. It makes me adore her even more!

sarah darlington said...

I kept a diary all through middle and high school. And I guess it has helped me as a YA writer. I can look back and see just exactly how it was for me in high school. And it's the unedited version of all those feelings.

Rachele Alpine said...

I totally think a blog could be a journal...you write on it pretty much every day and it's your thoughts and ideas. I kept a ton of journals when I was growing up and they are pretty funny to go back and look at. I took a bunch of pictures of my senior year journal and posted them on my blog....I laugh every time I read it!

http://freckle-head.blogspot.com/2010/01/smells-like-teen-spirit.html

Stina said...

When my first son was born premature, one of the NICU nurses recommended keeping a journal to see how much he had progressed. He was three months premature. I was never very good at the whole diary thing, but I did keep writing in it for at least a few months. It's amazing looking back at it now and reliving that period in our life.

My 7-year-old son (different son) had a journal for a while, but he got bored of it.

Jennie Englund said...

Inventive spelling is so great!

And your little girl is quite reflective and wise!

Sometimes days ARE good, and sometimes they're bad.

Suzette Saxton said...

How I have loved reading your comments tonight! I *almost* want to pick up a journal and start writing...

I do think a blog can be a journal. (Not a diary, though.) I know there are companies that will print and bind your blog for you and send it to you as an actual book. I think that would be really neat!

Little Ms J said...

Is it sad that I read "that would be really neat" as "that would be really tweet." I think I'm social networked out for the night.

Tweet dreams.

Unknown said...

I keep a journal sort of. Once a week through my personal blog. I wrote my personal history a few years back and I just tack on those blog posts to the end of it. Does that count? lol

Nikki said...

This is so cute. I love her invented spellings. I feel the same these days.
I used to write those Morning Pages all the time, but now I usually just write a blog post.
Love your blog, BTW!

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Your daughter must have the same schedule as me. :)

This absolutely adorable! A keeper...

Michelle McLean said...

I used to keep a journal. I did when I was younger. In fact, I just found them as I was unpacking. Sooo funny to go back and read through them :) In my high school years, I mostly wrote bad poetry in them :)

Elana Johnson said...

I don't keep a journal, though I used to in high school. Now I count my weekly emails to my family as my "journal" entries.

So cute, on your daughter, BTW.

Anonymous said...

I'm a lousy journal writer. Although I've recently started diary entries for a character to get to know her better and she's fascinating. If my life was that chock full of fun happenings, maybe I'd write more. =P

B.J. Anderson said...

I have a crazy writing journal of my ideas and plot possibilities and characters, etc. I don't keep a personal journal though. Maybe someday. :D

Angie said...

That is so precious! I just love that girl. I write in my "for posterity" journal once a week, usually Sunday, and my "my eyes only/feeling/recovery journal almost every morning. None gets to see that one but me!

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

my blog is my journal - is that sad?

Suzette Saxton said...

Blog=journal is not sad. Not at all!

I too carry notebooks everywhere. I just stumbled on one that had the two first blurbs of books I wanted to write - and ended up writing. It was fun to read back and see how the stories have evolved.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Suzette!

I used to keep a journal all the time. I think I have about three that I kept from the time I was thirteen until my senior year in high school. And... my mother found all three. :)

Most were about boys, friends, school, and teachers, but some of them were fictional stories I composed and had forgotten all about. It's interesting to go back and read them now and see where my love for writing began. And I sometimes wish I still kept one too. But just like Shelli, I think my blog counts, right? :)

Mrs. Major said...

Oh, that is priceless. To you now. And, it will be to her when she's grown. I love the way kids write. My 7 year old still spells some phonetically and it's so satisfying to see how things should be spelled. What a great first line!

Diana Paz said...

How. Cute. Is. That.

Can I hug her?? She seems squeezy and loveable!

I don't keep a journal. Unless you count blogging, but that is sort of too public for venting my deepest thoughts and feelings, but it is an outlet :)

Suzette Saxton said...

*waves* Hi everyone!!! Yes, my little one is precious and squeezy and oh-so-lovable. :D Today I taught her how to make a list with bullet points so she's not smooshing everything together.

I too carry notebooks everywhere. The problem I have is remembering which notebook I wrote the all-important idea in. And sometimes I write on random things, like at the Jazz game the other day. I wrote on the backs of the paper where I'd printed up my e-ticket confirmation. There was this most interesting family sitting in the row in front of me. A dad who kept cheering for the away team, and his seven kids who cheered for the Jazz. He had six sons and one cute red-headed daughter. And, um, I even took a picture of him with my cell phone. *blushes*

Jackee said...

So sweet. What a smartypants!

I keep a journal for the WIP. I use it as a side by side doc for whatever I'm writing. Then anything that doesn't "fit" in the book right now goes in there. As well as little notes to myself about where I am in the WIP and where I'd like to be.

Thanks for the smile, I love what your daughter wrote!

Michelle H. said...

No, I never kept a journal... unless you count my memories. I have an incredible recollection for the past. The closest thing to a journal is the memoir I'm working on right now.

Jess of All Trades said...

I think most of the long winded journal entries I've made in my life could be summed up with your daughter's profound observation.

I always liked the Idea of keeping a journal, but after age sixteen, I fell out of the habit. Writing energy goes toward the novels, the blog, and the notebooks full of ideas. That's probably as close to a journal as I get nowadays...

Suzette Saxton said...

It's fascinating to learn what each of you do! Thanks for sharing this with me.