# Invite the people who know them best

> How to ask grandparents, family, and friends for their memories, without making it feel like homework.

By For You, Later · 2026-11-01

Someone else remembers a version of your child that you never quite get to see. The grandchild who helps water the garden. The niece who explains all the rules of her invented game. The little friend who makes everyone laugh.

Inviting those people to contribute gives their perspective a place in your child’s story.

## Begin with one or two people

Think of someone who spends time with your child and enjoys telling you about it. You don’t need to invite everyone at once.

In For You, Later, add a child’s archive first. Then add a contributor’s name and email, choose which child or children they’ll write for, and record their relationship to each child. They’ll receive an invitation by email.

## Explain why you’re asking

A personal message before the invitation can help. Here’s a starting point you can adapt:

> I’m putting together a private collection of stories for the kids to have when they’re older. I’d love to include some of your memories too — the little things you notice, funny conversations, or time you spend together. You’ll get an email with a link. You don’t need an account, and a few sentences is plenty.

Make it sound like you. The point is to explain what their contribution will become, and to make the first step feel small.

## Give them a specific starting point

“Write a memory” can feel surprisingly difficult. A question is often easier:

- What did the two of you do the last time you were together?
- What’s something they said that made you laugh?
- What do you love about spending time with them at this age?
- Is there a family tradition you’d like them to remember?

A memory doesn’t need a photo. Written words are enough.

## Let reminders carry the habit

Contributors can choose a weekly, monthly, quarterly, or birthday reminder on the contribution form. Birthday reminders need a birth date on the child’s profile.

You can also send a memory request from your contributor list when there’s something you’d particularly like them to capture.

## Explain what the link lets them do

A contributor doesn’t need a username or password, and doesn’t have to register or install anything. Their magic link — a private link sent by email — opens a form where they can submit a memory with an optional image for a child you’ve selected.

That link doesn’t let them browse your archive. The parent’s account holds the collection. Ask contributors to keep their links private, and to use the newest email if an older link no longer works.

## You stay in control

You choose who gets an invitation and which children each person can contribute to. Memories arrive in your archive, where you can read, edit, or remove them. If a story isn’t one you want to keep, you can remove it. You can also remove contributors.

Your family can help tell the story, while you decide what stays in the collection.

You can read more about [family contributions and reminders](/features/#family) on the Features page.