MIL: From one of our readers

  Here's an idea from one of our readers that would open the door to  spending some quality time with your IL...


     "One Christmas 10-12 years ago, I took along a tape recorder while visiting my in-laws in their home in another state.  Today everyone has newer technology used for recording purposes.  However, this cassette tape recorder served its purpose well.  My father-in-law was very pleased when I asked him to share some of his life stories with me on tape.  I more or less interviewed him about his childhood, his military service and his career as an artist and art teacher.  To everyone’s surprise, he ended the recording by singing a few songs while I accompanied him on the piano.  My husband’s ninety-year-old grandmother was also visiting. She, too, joined in with a few of the old Norwegian songs she remembered from her childhood along with stories of her more memorable experiences.  When Christmas Eve came, I also got the nieces and nephews to say a few words.  Probably the most precious of all was little Steven being interviewed about the birth of Christ.  When asked where Jesus was born he replied in his child soprano voice that Jesus was born in a barn.  His matter of fact, all-knowing answer to the question of why was Jesus born in a barn was priceless  “Because there was no room in the motel.”
     Needless to say, these recordings have proven to be  a golden glue that has cemented our family together in the years that followed--especially now that the children are grown and both my father-in-law and my husband's grandmother have passed away.  I am so glad I made the effort to record these precious in-laws stories and songs." 

Great story.  Recently my youngest son used his tape recorder to interview both of his grandmothers.  Four months later he's still listening to them--and I've enjoyed hearing some stories from my MIL that I hadn't heard before.  I really should make copies of those tapes to share with all the grandchildren.  These lovely ladies are both in their 80s and won't be around forever and someday these tapes will be priceless.

Do you have an IL story/memory to share?  If you do, please send it to us.  If you have problems posting to this website, email us at:  outlaws2inlaws@gmail.com