Porch Stories
Tell Me Your Story, Dad memory journal on a wooden table with tea and reading glasses

Printable guided memory journal

Tell Me Your Story, Dad

His life story, in his own words and handwriting. For the dad who answers “nothing much” when you ask about his life.

$10.99 Instant download

Buy on Etsy

Checkout is handled by Etsy. The files are ready to download right after purchase.

See sample questions

What is inside

A keepsake journal that helps your father put his life story on paper, in his own words and handwriting. A printable guided memory journal with 100 guided questions across ten chapters, from childhood and first love to work, family and the lessons of a lifetime, plus about 120 quick memory prompts. Includes photo pages, then and now pages, a family tree, a keepsakes page and a letter page. Instant download: five PDF files in US Letter and A4, full color and ink saver, plus a printable cover.

176 pages
Designed like a real book, with room to write by hand on every page.
100 guided questions
Ten chapters, from childhood and first love to work, family and the lessons of a lifetime.
About 120 quick memories
Short prompts for favourite songs, first cars, recipes and the little things.
Photo and then-and-now pages
Space for the pictures that belong with the stories.
Family tree and a letter
Names, dates and places, plus a letter from your father to the next generation.
Five PDF files
US Letter and A4, full color and ink saver, plus a printable leather-look cover.

Who it is for

Filling in the Tell Me Your Story, Dad journal together
  • A parent who has great stories but never tells them unless someone asks.
  • Anyone who wants your father's words kept, in his own handwriting, before the details fade.
  • A birthday, holiday or quiet Sunday gift that means more than another thing on a shelf.
  • Families far apart: send the file, print it where he lives.

How it works

  1. Download

    Buy on Etsy and the five PDF files are ready right away. No shipping, no waiting.

  2. Print or use a tablet

    Print at home or at a local print shop, or open it in a PDF note app on a tablet.

  3. They answer

    One question at a time, in their own words. Or ask out loud and write the answers down together.

  4. The family keeps it

    A book of their life, in their handwriting, to pass down.

Questions, answered

Is this a physical book?

No. It is an instant digital download: five PDF files you print at home or at a print shop, or fill in on a tablet. Nothing is shipped.

Which paper sizes are included?

US Letter and A4, each in full color and an ink saver version, plus a printable leather-look cover.

Can it be filled in on a tablet?

Yes. The files open in any PDF note app that lets you write on the page with a stylus or keyboard.

What if he does not like writing?

Sit together and ask the questions out loud, then write down what he says. Many families find that is the best part.

How long does it take to fill in?

There is no rush. One question a week fills most of the book within a year, and any order works.

Is there a hardcover edition?

A hardcover edition is on its way to Amazon. It adds a Start Here section with twelve questions to begin with and a 52-week tracker.

What if a file does not open?

Email porchstories5@gmail.com and we will send a replacement file.

Buy on Etsy

Free printable

25 Questions to Ask Your Grandparents Before It’s Too Late

The questions families most wish they had asked, on one page to print or keep on your phone. Free when you join the porch list.