DEAR ABBY: The other day someone asked me if I remember when "Taylor," my 2-year-old daughter, loved to play with golf balls. I tried hard to remember, but the truth is I don't recall it.
About three months ago, I decided to start a journal for my daughter. In it, I tell her what's going on in her life and in mine. I have written in it every month, and it doesn't take that long to do. Taylor recently learned to spell her name, say her ABCs, and she even knows her days of the week. I'm not sure I'll remember in 20 years what she did at a specific age. This way, I'll have written it down for her to see.
I frequently ask my mom how old I was when I did this or that. She replies, "I think you were 2 or 3." I would urge parents to take the time to write a journal for each of their children. If nothing else, it will let them know how special they are to you. -- KRISTIN HAWKINS, TEXARKANA, TEXAS
DEAR KRISTIN: I'm passing your excellent idea along to mothers everywhere. The fact that your journal picks up where the average "baby book" ends is especially appealing.