Let’s Read The Little One’s Diary (Err… I Mean Journal)
by Jenners • 02/08/2011 • BB/The Little One • 120 Comments
Before you think that I’m one of those nosy poke mothers who gets all into her kid’s stuff (and yes, I will probably be that kind of mother if I have to be … but he is only 6 now so I’m not too worried as he still tells me EVERYTHING that goes through his mind), I did get the Little One’s permission to share his diary/journal with you.
This whole diary thing started when he began reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid
So he set to work and has diligently recorded the highlights of his day ever since. Let’s take a look.
Translation: February. Thursday. I was running to the bus stop and I scraped my knee on the way to the bus stop and back. It really hurt!
A Mother’s Note: Well, that is what you get when you run on the ice when I told you not to!
Translation: Saturday. I was playing catch with my dad. We got up to 86.
A Mother’s Note: We can so beat that!
Translation: In Big Brain, I got 1014 and C++. I WAS REALLY HAPPY.
A Mother’s Note: He is talking about this Wii game called Big Brain Academy, which we started playing. He was actually doing scarily good …. like he was going to do better than me good. I told him if he got over 1000, we would get him an action figure. He did. And we did.
In Big Brain, my mom got a B--!
A Mother’s Note: A B– in Big Brain Academy is actually much more impressive than it sounds. (And keep an eye out for a comment from Mr. Jenners noting that HE got a B. I’m sure he’ll want the record accurate and reflecting his greater glory. He’s that kind of guy. But hey, it is my blog; I can feature whatever pages of my son’s diary I want to!)
Sunday. I was playing pillow fight with my friends. It was fun!
A Mother’s Note: This pillow fight took place in the living room with the couch cushions during our Superbowl gathering. Nothing was hurt or harmed until Mommy joined in and hit a lamp. Oops.
Sunday. I got an iPod Touch! I was happy!
A Mother’s Note: Please note we are not in the habit of giving a 6-year-old expensive electronics. What happened was that I got an iPhone 4 (after seeing Mr. Jenners gloat and crow about his iPhone for almost a year now while I sat around with my stupid DUMB phone) so we said the Little One could use my old iPod touch. Guess what he uses it for? He plays burp and fart noises from this sound app. I guess I didn’t think this through too well. (And, for the record, I am in LOVE with my iPhone. Yessss…my pretty. Mommy loves you.)
I love his journal!! Your Little One is very talented just like his Mommy! Let’s try and get together again soon! Love Ya!!
Yes! We need to get together for our March lunch.
A very sweet post! Love it. I think the mom translations and red input is great. Years from now, you will appreciate the translation and input because we tend to forget context of stuff. It is so fun to read the thoughts of children; I still get a kick out of it with my girls. I don’t snoop but if a note is casually laying around; I read, and insightful it usually is….shows me a piece of how their mind is working.
Again, a very sweet post. Thanks for sharing.
It is such a treat and to get to glimpse inside our children’s minds, isn’t it? And I know what you mean about forgetting details. I thought I would remember stuff from when he was a baby forever, but when we look at videos I realize I already forgot so much stuff.
Adorable! Love his journal writing skills. He’s a pro already. My boys would be happy to hear those burping and farting noises. I like his drawings too. Very creative.
I think boys of all ages love the burping and farting noises. It was Mr. Jenners who brought it into the house in the first place!
Just wanted to stop back by and thank you on behalf of Princess Nagger for the inspiration.
I’m hoping I get to see her journal pages soon! My Little One just started Book 4 today! He is burning through these!
I posted it today in your honor.
Because your son inspired her, she’s burning through them, too – and wants me to buy her her very own set. I’m working on that one…we’ll see! 
I think it is probably well worth the money. I could see them rereading them when they are older and getting more out of them. Plus, Amazon has them for under $7.00 each!
These diary pages you shared are precious!!
Wait until later this week when I share his text messages! HAHA!
how adorable! you have an amazing son and the love your family has for each other is reflected so clearly in his diary – way to go jenners!
Thanks for you lovely comment. He is much loved and a happy kid … and I’m glad that shows!
What fun!! He’s now officially kept a journal for more days than I have ever managed my entire life. Hope he keeps it up.
I must admit, he has slowed down in the last few days … as I suspected might happen. Mommy might have to offer some gentle encouragement to keep going with it. (I have a blog to run here after all!!! I need material.)
I wonder if I could get Z to keep a journal. Probably not. He rarely finds things extraordinary — just kind of takes everything for granted unless someone else points it out to him.
And lord, I hate the sound apps that my husband has installed on his iPhone. Both he and Z are guilty of playing them too!
Those sound apps are made for boys by boys, I’m convinced. I bet no woman feels compelled to make a fart noise over and over by pressing a button.
My husband uses his iPhone to make burp and fartong noises too! Oh wait, it is your six year old that does that…hmmmm.
Adorable post
It must be a boy thing (no matter what the age!)
This is just way too much fun! I love his little life encapsulated like this.
And seriously…the iPhone 4 is that good???
Yes … I think the iPhone 4 is that good. Of course, I’ve never had a smartphone before so I don’t know if they are all created equal but I’m in deep deep like with it.
Oh, I LOVE IT!!! I especially love all the ‘Mother’s Notes’ following each page…
Princess Nagger brought home her Scholastic book order – the only thing circled is the set of Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. I think I’ll have the hubby write a check from his account for that one.
She also wants the ‘Do It Yourself’ book that just came out, where you can write your own diary notes in it. She’s obsessed with those as much as she’s obsessed with dinosaurs. 
We saw that version. I think this “do it yourself” version came about because “Mean Mommy” wouldn’t get it for him
Aww, I love this!! How fun! Very cool that the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are turning out to be such an inspiration. I really enjoy the mom commentary, too…that would’ve been an interesting element for Kinney to add to his books, just to keep the parents entertained! Re: your new iPhone — I’m jealous! I wish they’d come to Sprint, because I WANT one!
The Wimpy Kid books are proving to be quite the thing around here. And I waited patiently for the iPhone to come to Verizon. It was so worth it.
The Girl has to do a daily journal for class. OMG..some of the stuff she writes it too funny. So I totally GET the sharing of the journal. How can you not?
That is so cool. I bet she is past the age of letting you share it though.
This is pretty much the cutest thing ever. I wish I had Diary of a Wimpy Kid when I was little so I could have a journal full of awesome drawings and writing.
I know I would have loved these books when I was a kid. (Heck … I love them now!)
What else would you use an iPod Touch for? Am I missing something?
I know!!! I mean that is the point of them, right? To be able to make some calls and play fart noises. I think that is in Apple’s mission statement — right near the top.
i didn’t realize that poor mr. jenners has only one leg! what a trial for him when playing catch.
your son’s writings are adorable and as for small children with apple products, my NOT-YET-4-year-old nephew is a WIZARD with angry birds…and a few other games on my iphone. he even knows my password and hacks into my phone when i’m not looking. so cute!
We don’t like to talk about Mr. Jenners’s one leg. He manages quite well with it though. : )
And it is amazing that your not-yet-4-year-old-nephew can hack your iPhone!! He has a potentially lucrative career as a hacker ahead of him! I’m sure in a week or so, my son will be teaching me things I didn’t know. (I’m still very clumsy with the iPhone … it drives Mr. Jenners NUTS. he calls me an “iPhony.”)
Adorable!! I’m impressed with The Little One’s printing and drawing, too
He might enjoy the Aldo Zelnick books (Karla Oceanak). It’s a diary format, great characters, and super vocabulary.
(what was the damage to the lamp during your Superbowl pillow fight?!)
Thanks for the tip on the Zelnick books. We’ll have to keep an eye eye for them. They sound like a good fit for him.
And as far as the lamp, I knocked it over and the little thing that keeps the shade on got knocked off. Fortunately, it can be fixed!
How fantastic would it be if he kept it up! I have a friend in England who has kept a daily diary since the 1960′s. He was either in his early teens or tweens. He can look back and read his reflections of watching the Beatles on TV. That said, the diary is the cutest thing ever! And there are a ton of ways he can use that iPod Touch for educational purposes, which I’m sure you know.
That is so cool about your friend’s diary! I think things like that have the possibility to be of historic significance. It makes me wonder what he thought of the Beatles when they first appeared: did he seem them for what they were (geniuses/pioneers) or did he think “ugh.” Fascinating stuff.
And he has been having a blast with the iPod touch. I’m going to have to find some more apps with more “educational” value than the sound one! : 0
I love reading little kid speak, but watch out because it is easy to become a hoarder of kid journals. It is so hard not to want to keep everything little master piece they create.
I know! I learned quickly in nursery school that every paper was not going to be so special or saved. He expects me to keep everything though!!! Journals, though, seems worthwhile to me. I bet he keeps this up for a few weeks and quits though. : )
How stinking cute! It’s always a blast to take a peek inside their heads.
It is fun to see what is going on in there. It is full of exclamation points and happiness for the most part. : 0
so precious
I saved my kids journals and they love looking back and reading them. They are so fun and funny.
It really is a gift to everyone — the parents, the future child, and the people who will meet him later in life.
Too cute!!! Keep these forever and ever — your little one will love to see this later! I still occasionally get out my old journal when I visit Mama and always get a good laugh out of the things I thought were important back then.
Oh I will keep these. I have some of my old journals (which I think I shared on my blog one time) and that stuff is just priceless. (I did, however, keep my scribblings from college and post-college to myself. No one needs to see that horrible drama.)
This is the cutest thing, and I love that you included a note from mom after all the entries. My kids are at the point where they hide their diary from me, so you might not ever see a feature like this on my blog, but I love that your son shares these things with you. and also, congrats on getting a new iphone. My husband got one when they came out and he just loves his!
I dread the day when I won’t be allowed to read his stuff. Right now, I get to read it in person, hear it read to me, and then we analyze it together. He’s very very proud of his journal!
And I am in LOVE with the iPhone. It really is a neat piece of technology and so helpful as well as fun.
There is nothing more special than the mind of a child. So innocent. I hope the journal writing continues for years.
It is fun to see what he deems important and how he sees stuff. I hope he keeps it up too.
What a wonderful way to start blogging….err, I mean journaling! Pretty soon he’s going to upgrade from the paper and pencil method to the electronic blogging. That’ll definitely be interesting.
I love how he draws pictures to illustrate what he’s talking about
It’s too cute! I just love how innocent all his entries are at this age.
Btw, how are you liking the iphone 4? It’s so cool, isn’t it? I can’t live without mine
I hope he sticks with the “old-fashioned” blogging method first. Though now that he has my iTouch to play with, I’m sure he’ll make the leap soon. HAHA! We’re going to raise a bunch of kids who can type but not write!
And I’m loving the iPhone 4!! I resisted a “smart” phone for so long because I didn’t really see the point but now I feel like it is so handy and helpful. It keeps me on track with the to do list app!
It’s like a blog before the web! A pre-web weblog! Your son keeps a “log,” if you will.
I wonder when he’ll make the leap and connect it to blogging?
Now that fact that I put his “log” on my “web log” kind of makes this all very meta and hurts my brain.
I love the diary/journal entries! Thanks for sharing them with us. I really want to try the Big Brain Academy. My kids were talking about it and suggested it to me since I’m not into playing action games. Very cool that your son did so well!
My six year old wrote a love letter to his best friend from school yesterday, saying she was “his bestest friend ever” and that he loved her. It was so sweet!
I love Big Brain Academy! It isn’t an action game at all. You take little tests in categories like Identify, Analyze, Compute, Memorize and so forth. They are fun but challenging. They did a good job of making it accessible for kids and adults. I would highly recommend it.
And your son sounds like quite the little romantic!
I don’t know where to start!
First – your 6 year olds spelling is better than some of my 7th graders — I kid you not! I needed no mother translation — although I greatly appreciated mother’s notes
I am seriously considering an iPhone when my contract runs out in November. I have hear of way too many cool apps – and I love the pictures that the iphone takes. Hope you plan to post a list of your favorite apps someday.
And the fact that the little one uses the itouch to make fart noises is absolutely priceless!
That terrifies me that the spelling of a 6-year-old could be better than a 7th grader! YIKES!
And I am just loving the iPhone. Just two days I’ve had it and I see what all the hype is about. I found this great little to-do list app that is now running my life (and helping me remember all that I’m supposed to be doing). Plus I got caught up on blogging while at my son’s swim lessons. What’s not to love!
His writing is impressive. And I love how he discusses his feelings. Sounds like Little One is a sensitive guy. Must make you proud.
He is very sensitive … sometimes too much so I think. Good thing that mostly his life is very very happy.
I love the journal…. he is a very good writer, I could understand it all.
He’ll be so proud!
I have got to get Lily to start journaling! Instant blog post material! Although right now she’s not as great as a speller as your little one.
More translating will be necessary!
I think it is a great thing for little kids. Not only does it provide great blog fodder (HAHA!), but it is a wonderful way to improve their writing, spelling and drawing skills. I think it is so precious.
Very cute journal entries!!! And in reference to the above commenter – the magic tree house series has my 3, 5 and 7 year olds clamoring to read! My 5 year old is trying his darndest to read the things by himself.
Enjoy the iPhone!
I tried to get my Little One to try those Magic Tree House books but he says the covers “look too scary.” We’ll see … I’m sure he’ll “man up” soon!
I love this post, but I feel like a bad parent. My son could never read the Diary of a Wimpy kid books. He is really struggling with this subject. He had a difficult time reading Goodnight Moon last night and he is in 1st grade.
And guess what he wrote the other day at school? “I can beet ppl up!”
Yep, I’m gonna have one of those bumper stickers…My kid can beat up your honor roll student.”
I think every kid comes to it at a different time. And I’m pretty sure your son could beat up my son … my son is truly a wimpy kid!
I love the little one’s diary!! He’s already showing so much talent!! My son wrote some looooong books when he was in elementary school and he still reminds me to this day that I never read the longest one. (It was about “street fighter” type stuff) He forgets, though, that I DID play the board game (full of wizards, mages, etc) he made a number of times.
Keep encouraging that creativity!!
I switched from a BlackBerry to an iPhone last summer and now I can’t imagine how I lived without it! (mine is the 3g…I got it the week before the 4s came out and they were on sale bigtime)
I love that your son made a board game! And you played it multiple times! This kind of stuff is so fun to see. It amazes me that my “little baby” is writing a journal.
And I’m in love love love with the iPhone! It is so cool … I didn’t realize how much stuff you could do with it!
While I’m totally impressed by your son’s artistic abilities (he draws better than I do!) and his mad spelling skillz, I’m even more excited by your iPhone! You need to download the Words with Friends app so we can play scrabble.
I don’t know how I lived without an iPhone for so long!!!! It is like a whole new world. I got this great little to do list thing with alarms and I’ve basically handed over half my brain to it.
And I suck suck suck at Scrabble. I’ll have to practice before taking you on! : )
I love this. I hope you will keep them forever and ever and give it to him when he grows up. What a great way to document his life from his own point of view! You should also give him a camera and see the world from his view too!
Keep encouraging it!!
I will definitely save all this stuff (but not every school paper he brings home … though he expects me too). We have let him take photos every so often …. it is fun to see his perspective and what he focuses on.
I love the printing.
He writes better than his father! HAHA!
That is so awesome. And I knew I should be reading the Wimpy Kid series. Right after the TBR Dare is over, I am buying them.
They really are quite amusing. I’m sure he is missing the little nuances but he gets the basics. I’m betting he’ll reread them at some point when he is older and get more out of them.
This is priceless!
I thought so too!
I hope he keeps it up forever…and reads it to his own children one day. What a gift you have given him. I can’t wait until my granddaughters can write. Well, the five year old writes now but it’s really inventive spelling and without context it makes no sense.
I love the whole “kid writing” (aka inventive spelling). So much of it makes more sense than the real spelling!
And I hope he keeps it up too! That would be quite a record of his life if he did.
That is really precious. I remember it was Magic Tree House that inspired reading in my son, and Harry Potter that inspired my daughter (in second grade no less). And yes, the iPhone is worthy of obsession and deep, undying love!
Wow … Harry Potter in 2nd grade? I’m impressed. I haven’t been sure when to start those with him … I was thinking maybe when he is 9 or so.
And now I’m in deep love with my iPhone. Why did I not have one before now??? How did I exist?
They must be great books to get kids to read AND write! Love the look into a 6 year old boy’s mind. Now I know what to look forward too!
Yes … keep these in mind for Gage! And you have so much to look forward to at this age … but enjoy the moments now. It will be over before you know it!! (I know that sounds cliche but it is so true!)
That is so cute! His drawings are adorable. I was excited when I got my first iPod and it was just a nano. Now I’m addicted to my iPhone 4. We have one iPod touch that all the kids use (oldest is 9, the twins are 4). and yes, they all play the burp/fart games. ha!
I can see why people get addicted to their iPhones. I thought Mr. Jenners was ridiculous for so long … now I am being ridiculous! It is such a cool thing!
Pre-Wimpy Kid, The Boy loved the Amelia notebooks by Marisa Moss. If the Little One isn’t put off by the female slant, I think he’d love the doodles, drawings and stories that Amelia tells about her family and life.
Also, I see an out of print book by Moss – Max’s Logbook, which sounds pretty cool, too.
The Boy also loved Captain Underpants and The Wimpy Kid stuff.
I’ll have to look for the Amelia books. He got a “Kitty Corner” book at the book fair that looks kind of girly to me and he is all over it so he isn’t too picky.
This is very wonderful! You must be very proud of TLO!!!!
I am so proud of him. He just amazes me every day with what he comes up with.
It’s so funny that you posted this today because I’ve started book 3 and thought about The Little One when I did. I hope Jeff Kinney sees this post, because the diary is fantastic!
That is funny that you started Book 3 today! I love that you are reading all of these books. I’m still on Book 2. : )
I just love that he got inspired to do his own diary after reading these books.
Yea for reading and writing and drawing! I think that is brilliant. I really didn’t think that any translation was necessary. I understood his inventive writing perfectly when paired with the pictures. I am very impressed. And he is just 6? You tell that boy he is awesome sauce with a cherry on top.
Enjoy the day!
Erin
He’ll love that saying “awesome sauce with a cherry on top.” In fact, I’m prepared to hear it about 1343x a day! He is almost ready for Book 4 of the Wimpy Kid books and has it THANKS TO YOU!! Thank you!
That is one intelligent child you’ve got! Great artist for his age too. I’m new to your blog, but looking forward to browsing through some of your past posts!
Welcome to my blog! Always nice to have a new visitor. And my Little One amazes me every day.
I’m loving the illustrations and all of the exclamation points! How fun that he was inspired by the Wimpy Kid books. They are fun. My son read me some of it and we were both laughing hysterically. I love those books. I’m glad The Little One loves them too.
He loves the exclamation point when he learned about it. He uses it liberally!!! Just like his momma! : )
we will see how long this open book policy holds…
but in the mean time… “He plays burp and fart noises from this sound app”… I think that is simply amazing behavior for a 6 year old boy, amazing
Well he learned about that burp app from his father. Enough said.
What a fun post. You all will love looking at these years from now (back up your computer every day, LOL).
Yay for your new phone. I have the 3G (or whatever the old iPhone is called) – LOVE IT!
I now see what all the fuss was about the iPhone! Why did I wait so long?
I don’t think I know any other 6 year olds, so my comment isn’t going to matter much. But he can read those “diary” books! Wow, I am impressed. I bought one for my nephew who is 9, I thought they might be too much for him?! I am really impressed with your son.
I thought it would be too much for him too but he seems to understand what is happening. I think he misses the nuances though.
OMG I love this post. So much. So awesome. I love kids. They make me smile (when the don’t stink- or whine or etc).
Yeah…the stinking and whining part isn’t too good. Haha
So cute! HE actually has very impressive penmanship and spelling (note: I had to do spell check for “penmanship”) for a 6 year old!!! I can see why he got a C++!!
I love the drawing that accompanies the first entry- esp. the stick figure on the ground with the open “o” mouth. HAhahahaha!
That is a pretty accurate drawing of what he looked like after the Big Fall. His handwriting is 10000000x better than it was in September.
Oh, my goodness, I’m giggling so much, I had to put my coffee down – these are too cute! Do we have a future Jeff Kinney on our hands here? I love it!
And I just love, love my iPhone as well – I have the 3g, but am so jealous for anyone who has the 4…
I am actually writing this comment to you on the iPhone as I sit at the Little One’s swim lesson. I am in love with it. And the fact that I have a better iPhone than Mr. jenners and he is soooooo jealous is icing on the cake
Oh, I love this idea. I think I am going to use it on the girls this weekend. Journalling would be such a great Sunday activity. I want to get them hooked on writing.
I think it is a neat and creative thing to do…especially if they do illustrations too.
No judgment from me. Every 6 year old needs his own ipod touch.
I feel the same way about Jeff Kinney. My boys both LOVED that series.
Now if only I could publish these diaries and make as much money as Jeff Kinney.
LOL my kids don’t have ipod touches yet, though they want them. Instead they just have ipod shuffles to listen to music. Or audiobooks, as my youngest has taken to lately. Turns out he loves reading if he can just listen to the books while he’s running around doing other stuff…
You are raising that kid right. I think it might be time to try audiobooks in the car with my Little One.
So cute!!! It is lovely to know what is important to them and I just love all the little drawings that go with each entry. Make sure you save them to show his girl friend when he’s older
I just love reading the entries each day. I just hope he keeps it up.