By Juana Balvín, Discovery Mom
The new "Badge Plan" for parents encouraged me to take a closer look at the tools Tinkuy offers to us in our community. This year, with my preteen children facing new challenges, I discovered a badge that has become a beautiful tradition: writing a family journal.
It all started with the idea of capturing our memories not just in photos, but in writing. As the badge suggests, the process is simple: you just need a notebook to begin. So we picked a nice one, grabbed some colorful pens, and decorated it with stickers and cutouts. We also added a cover page with a short introduction:
"To share our special moments, adventures, and challenges. We want to keep a record of the experiences that bring us together and remind us what truly matters. There are no strict rules, just the desire to share. Any family member can write what they feel, remember, or dream, whenever they want or need to. Over time, this notebook will become a treasure, our family treasure."
I started by selecting my favorite photos, from my pregnancy and the twins’ early years to their first day of preschool, outings, and trips. So many memories! Luchi quickly joined in, decorating pages and choosing her own photos to print. Soon, the whole family was immersed in our photo gallery, laughing over old stories. Daniel suggested we write some of those stories down so we wouldn’t forget the details. And just like that, we began.
There were moments when I doubted it would work. I thought my children might get bored, that printing photos would take too long, or that finding time to write would be tricky. But following Tinkuy’s advice, I took the first step by example: I wrote a letter of gratitude to my family, and everything started to flow.
Little by little, we began writing, each at our own pace. We don’t write every day, just when something special, funny, unexpected, or even tearful happens. There’s no “feedback” or spelling corrections; it doesn’t matter if the handwriting is messy or hard to read. Sometimes we take turns writing; other times one writes while another draws. Sometimes we write first and decorate later. As my Pumas say, we don’t stress about the “look” right away. Everyone writes what they want and feel. There are no rigid rules for a family journal, what matters is authenticity, a reflection of what we live and feel. Writing together became a simple yet deeply meaningful activity for us.
After a few weeks, I realized that what began as a way to preserve memories had become a powerful tool for communication and deeper connection. This journal isn’t just a record of our experiences, it’s a deliberate pause to reflect and express what’s inside.
Writing as a family may seem simple, but it holds a depth we hadn’t imagined. It’s not just about recounting the day, it’s about asking: What did I feel? What did I learn? What made me laugh or cry? What do I want to remember? Everyday moments take on new meaning: a game night, a funny conversation, a small disagreement and what we learned from it.
Our children, Daniel and Lucía, have made this space their own. They describe it like this: "It helps us remember hard, beautiful, and funny moments when we’re older. It also helps us reflect so we can improve. It’s a deeper and more fun journal. It’s really nice. We’re going to keep writing."
Reading their words shows me that the journal is already fulfilling its purpose. It’s a space they value, enjoy, and recognize as important.
We’re learning to reflect and to be grateful. We’re learning that what we feel truly matters, and that expressing it (in this case, through writing) is an act of courage and self-love. We don’t know what the future holds, but we do know this journal will be with us. It will be a reflection of our story, told by all of us, in our own words, with our emotions and perspectives. We’ll keep writing with open hearts, and maybe one day, when Daniel and Lucía are grown and open this journal, they’ll find not just memories, but a compass. A way back home, to that childhood where we all learned to listen to our emotions, nurture our bonds, and write each story with love.
Would you like to start your own family journal?
How to Start Your Family Journal (and Earn a New Badge)
As the badge suggests, it’s a simple process. All you need is a notebook to start recording your favorite family moments for at least six weeks. Begin by writing together about the moments you want to remember forever: who was there, what happened, and when. You can add photos, drawings, stickers, cutouts, ribbons, whatever you like. It’s also helpful to review your entries weekly and encourage everyone in the family to participate. After six weeks, share your journal with another family in the community.
