“I Wish It Wasn’t Too Late”: The Moment That Inspired Remento’s Mission to Preserve Family Stories

Introduction: When Regret Becomes a Wake-Up Call

If you’ve ever thought about creating a life story book for a parent or wished you had recordings of their voice telling the stories you grew up hearing, you’re not alone. When Remento co-founder Charlie Greene began sharing the earliest idea for Remento with friends and family, he kept hearing the same two reactions over and over.

“The first was, ‘There’s someone with amazing stories I know I want to do this with.’ And the second is, ‘I wish it wasn’t too late.’”

That heartbreaking pattern became the spark for Remento, a family storytelling platform that helps people start recording family stories—simply, naturally, and before the opportunity slips away. In the podcast clip below, Charlie shares the emotional moment that inspired the company’s mission and everything that’s followed.

The Heartbreaking Realization So Many Families Face

Charlie describes an almost universal regret among the people he spoke with.

“It’s so heartbreaking to know that so many of us miss out on the opportunity to ask the questions of the people we love, that we never ultimately do.”

Many of us wait for the “right time” to ask about a parent’s childhood, the story behind a treasured photograph, or a grandparent’s memories of early adulthood. But that time often comes far later than we expect.

Charlie shared the moment this reality hits hardest for many people:

“For so many of us, it’s in the process of writing a eulogy that we realize we don’t know details about their past, that there are boxes of photos without memories associated with them.”

This insight sits at the core of Remento’s mission: to help families capture these stories today, not someday.

Remento Tip: If you’re not sure where to start, begin with a single photo. Asking “Tell me the story behind this” often unlocks memories that would never surface otherwise.

The Questions We’re Taught Not to Ask—And Why We Should Ask Them Anyway

Charlie also reflects on how many of us grow up believing that certain questions are off limits.

“As children we’re taught not to ask too many questions. Don’t ask Dad about his military service. Don’t ask Grandma about the choices she made around her career versus raising a family.”

But those very questions help us understand the people we love and the moments that shaped their lives.

“Asking these questions creates an opportunity to share with these people that to us, their stories matter.”

This idea is woven deeply into how Remento works. The platform sends thoughtful storytelling prompts—many chosen by family members—that gently invite reflections on childhood, milestones, challenges, turning points, and more. They are questions that express care, curiosity, and connection.

Remento Tip: When in doubt, lead with appreciation. “I’ve always admired this about you. Could you tell me the story behind it?” is a powerful opener.

Why Remento Exists: A Simple Mission with a Deep Purpose

In the podcast, Charlie emphasizes something essential: Remento wasn’t created to build a business first. It was built to solve a deeply human problem.

“We built this company not to make money, but to inspire people to do with their parents and grandparents what we know with such clarity they’ll be glad to have done in the future.”

That future matters. Decades from now, hearing a loved one’s voice—full of warmth, humor, cadence, and personality—can be one of the most meaningful gifts we ever receive.

“There will be a day in the future, 20, 30, 50 years from now, where having these stories recorded will be one of the most important investments your family has ever made.”

Remento makes that investment simple. No apps, no logins, no technical setup. Just video or audio recordings captured from any device, turned into a beautifully written family story book that blends printed stories with QR codes linking directly to the storyteller’s voice.

Remento Tip: Don’t wait for a milestone to start. Everyday memories are often the ones we miss most later.

Why We Can’t Afford to Wait: The “Too Late” Problem

Charlie’s words are a powerful reminder that our chance to document stories is finite.

“For so many people, we miss the opportunity to be able to record those stories while we still can.”

And the moments we overlook today often become the ones we most wish we had captured. Childhood memories. First jobs. Early love. Life-changing decisions. Even simple details—where Mom went to elementary school or the story behind Dad’s old military photo—become irreplaceable threads in a family’s history.

This is why Remento’s mission is urgent and hopeful at the same time.

“Our core mission is to inspire as many people as possible to be able to do with their parents and grandparents today what will bring so much joy into their lives in the future.”

The Beauty of Having a Story You Can Return To

A recorded story isn’t just an archive. It’s a connection point. A way to feel close to someone no matter how much time has passed.

Remento’s approach blends the intimacy of a loved one’s voice with the timelessness of the written word. Families receive a hardcover printed book filled with their stories and photos, plus QR codes that allow future generations to hear the storyteller’s voice whenever they want.

The result is something more than a memory book. It’s an heirloom that ensures stories never fade, voices never disappear, and families never have to say, “I wish it wasn’t too late.”

Conclusion: Don’t Wait for the Perfect Moment to Ask the Questions That Matter

Charlie’s message is simple and deeply human:

“If this doesn’t matter to you today, there will be a day in the future when it will.”

Preserving your family’s stories is not something to postpone. It’s a gift to your future self and to every generation that follows.

And the truth is, all it takes is starting the first conversation.

Preserve your family’s stories before they’re lost.

Remento makes it simple for anyone to record memories on video or audio without any apps, logins, or technical skills. Thoughtful weekly prompts spark meaningful stories, and our technology transforms those recordings into a beautifully printed life story book your family will treasure. Capture their voice, their laughter, their stories, and the moments that shaped them.Start recording today at Remento.co.