- “Monica McGoldrick writes about the priority of family stories in her book, You Can Go Home Again: Reconnecting with your family.’We are born not just into our family, but into our family’s stories, which both nourish and sometimes cripple us. And when we die, the stories of our lives become part of our family’s web of meaning. Family stories tend to be told to remind members of the family’s cherished beliefs. We sing of the heroes and even the villains whose daring the family admires. Taping or writing down the stories of older family members can bring a richness to our search for perspective on family that cannot be achieved in any other way.” Wealth in Families Third Edition (Charles W. Collier) Page 2-3
- “Family stories are vital to the well-being of a family and need to be told time and time again. They provide a view of the family’s history and send a message to the children, in-laws, and grandchildren that they belong and that their family is unique. The next generation gains a sense of the vital “differentness” of their family. Moreover, one reason for the proverb “shirtsleeves-to-shirtsleeves in three generations” being true is that the individuals in the third and fourth generations often have no connection to the source of the family’s financial wealth. They have no idea what it took to create the money they must now steward. Family stories keep that connection alive for many generations.” Wealth in Families Third Edition (Charles W. Collier) Page 82