How to Preserve Your Parents’ Life Stories Forever: Michelle's Journey with Remento

When Michelle started thinking about preserving her mom's life stories, she knew the biggest barrier would be technology and writing. Her mom wasn't comfortable with complex digital tools, and the thought of typing out decades of memories felt overwhelming. That's when Michelle discovered Remento, where her mom could simply record her stories through video or audio, with no writing required.

Why Michelle Turned to Remento to Capture Her Mom’s Life Stories

For Michelle's mom, who doesn’t have extensive technology experience, the simplicity mattered most. Traditional memory books often require hours of writing and effort, but Remento removes that barrier completely. What made it even more special was that this entire journey began as a birthday gift. For her mom’s 80th birthday, Michelle wanted to give something more meaningful than flowers or a party. She wanted to give her the chance to share her life stories in her own words.

"She wouldn’t have to type anything. She could just do audio or video recording with Remento, and then we would have weekly stories to look forward to watching and listening to."

This gift transformed what could have been a daunting project into something Michelle's mom actually looks forward to each week. Remento’s straightforward recording process has given her the confidence to record memories without hesitation, turning a birthday present into an ongoing family legacy.

Capturing and Preserving Stories, No Writing Required

Michelle was amazed at how quickly her mom adapted to the process, despite having limited experience with technology. The interface proved intuitive enough that even someone uncomfortable with digital tools could navigate it successfully.

"The learning curve for her, with not a lot of technology experience, has been really good. She goes straight from the prompt she receives from her email or text to recording by just talking on her phone or computer."

Instead of struggling with software or long writing sessions, her mom could focus entirely on storytelling. Each recording is automatically transcribed with Remento’s Speech to Story feature, creating text that can be saved, edited, and added to her keepsake. This ensures every voice, expression, and detail is preserved in a Remento book in two forms: the written transcript and the original recording.

How Remento Shapes Memories Into a Lasting Family Collection

One of the most meaningful surprises for Michelle was how her mom’s stories began to take shape as a complete biography. Instead of scattered memories, Remento helped the family create a structured life story with a natural flow. Michelle combined her own customized prompts with Remento’s personalized prompts and paired them with photos, which brought even more depth to the project. The built-in question bank and additional resources on the Remento blog also make it accessible for families to find new inspiration on what to ask next, ensuring no chapter of life gets left behind.

"The first four or five chapters of the Remento book will be in chronological order, from when she was a baby to her first memories after the war. Then it’ll have her stories about what school was like, along with later stories. It’s pretty fascinating how it’s turning out."

This thoughtful structure means Michelle’s family is not only preserving stories, but also uncovering how those memories connect across different stages of her mom’s life. Many families notice that loved ones often recall childhood and young adulthood most vividly, a phenomenon known as the Reminiscence Bump. Remento makes it simple to capture those formative years alongside later life experiences, giving families a fuller picture of an entire lifetime.

From Weekly Recordings to a Lasting Family Treasure

The ongoing process has exceeded Michelle's expectations in every way. What started as a simple goal to preserve memories has evolved into something much more meaningful, a weekly tradition that brings the entire family closer together and creates anticipation for each new story.

"This Remento journey, it’s been and it continues to be great. We just love watching and listening to my mom’s stories. We are very happy we have this chance to get to know her even more. The book we’ll have is going to be amazing."

When her mom’s Remento book is printed, it will feature beautifully written stories alongside QR codes that open the original audio and video recordings. What began as a heartfelt gift will become a living legacy, giving future generations the chance to read her words, watch her expressions, hear her voice, and truly feel her presence.

Learn more: See inside a Remento book

Start Your Family’s Remento Journey

Michelle’s story shows how a single gift can grow into something far greater than expected. What began as her mom’s 80th birthday present is now becoming a keepsake filled with laughter, memories, and connection, something her family will hold onto for generations.

Now is the time to create your own family treasure. Give your loved ones the gift of being remembered, in their own words and voice.

👉 Start your family’s Remento journey today.