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Researching with your
children: be prepared for the odd looks.
I get strange looks all the
time. It could be my eclectic sense of
style, or the five pens sticking out of my ponytail because I keep forgetting
that is where I put the last one. But more often than not, when I walk into a
research facility it is one of two other things. First, it seems to some people that I am too
young to be doing this “stuff,” which makes
me realize that a grown woman, married with children, and quickly approaching
her 4th decade on this planet is still a kid to a large number of
people. That’s okay, I laugh and don’t mind at all. Second, it seems that if I am too young to be
there, then certainly my kids shouldn’t either.
Well, that’s where I call foul.
Alright, so I may not be a
mainstream normal person. My kids,
falling in line right behind their parents, are not what media shows as the
typical children either. When did being interested in the past, reading about history, and wanting to do things as a family become unacceptable to the general public? Or to the genealogical community? Aren’t we the ultimate family organization? Don’t we lament about how younger members of
our families just aren’t interested?
Maybe they were at one time and maybe they were turned off of the
subject by well-meaning relatives.
Now, I will admit, not all
kids out there are prepared for research at a library, archive, or other such
institution. Each child is
different. Some may never have the
patience, manners, or desire to go. But shouldn’t
you trust the parent’s judgment? The
glares, the mummers, the outright hostile sighs at times when I have brought my
kids with me to the library have amused me.
Why? Well, usually within an hour
the librarians are the ones who tell me what great little helpers I have. A statement I have heard numerous times over
the past decade. I wish people would
give others a chance and not assume anything about what type of child they are.
People. Yep, kids are people, too. They laugh, they cry, they act silly, and
some of them love genealogy. I have two
in my house right now who can’t get enough of it. One wants to be a historian specializing in Colonial
American History and the other an archeologist. (My husband and I joke about
what a great show that would be in 20 years.) As an adult I realize that those
passions may change and morph into other careers, but our first loves never
truly die. I wanted to be a
paleontologist until I was in middle school.
I ended up with a biology degree with an emphasis in human genetics
instead. However, I still love those big old bones and sometimes it crushes me that my kids don’t. Right now, on the other hand, we have a
shared passion for looking into our past.
A passion I hope they will continue to love and appreciate as adults.
I am not going to tell my
kids they are too young to love their family history. I am not going to tell my kids they can’t go
with me to research at the library or archive (as long as the rules allow
it). I will teach them sound research
principles, source citations, and what an exhaustive search is. I will watch with pride as they make
discoveries on their own and laugh with them when the microfilm rolls across
the floor. I will know, as their mother,
when they have reached their done point, pack our bags so that we don’t disturb
anyone else, and continue to search another day. Most importantly, we will build our own
memories, our own history, and one day those will be passed down to another
generation.
Encourage and nurture those
budding genealogists in your family, no matter their age. Engage them and bring them into the
community. When you see children at the
research center talk, to their parents and give them words of encouragement,
too. Trust me, it will brighten their
day. Make learning about family heritage
the greatest adventure in the world and they will want to come back over and
over again.
This May NGS will be in Richmond, Virginia and I am lucky enough to get to drive there every day. Unfortunately my kids will still be in school and, with Virginia State Testing that month, I cannot take them out to join in on the fun during the week. However, we will be at the Kids Genealogy Camp Saturday and I hope you will, too. I can’t wait for them to meet other people
their ages who also enjoy digging up the past.
Feel free to find me and chat. I’d love to talk to you about ways to
encourage, educate, and grow the future genealogists in our midst.
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