Questions to ask your parents before it's too late
We think we know our parents. We know what they cook, what they say when we are late, how they worry. But most of us do not know who they were before we came along: what they dreamed of, what they gave up, what scared them. These questions can change that.
Before you ask
- Choose a calm moment, such as after a meal or during a drive.
- Say why you are asking: “I want to remember your stories.”
- Listen more than you speak, and do not rush the silences.
- If a question touches a painful memory, let them skip it.
Their childhood
- What was your home like when you were small?
- What did you do for fun?
- What was your favourite food, and who made it?
- Who was the person you looked up to most?
Their young years
- What did you want to become when you grew up?
- What was your first job, and what did it teach you?
- What was the hardest thing you had to do when you were young?
Love and family
- How did you and Mum or Dad meet?
- What do you remember about the day I was born?
- What was the happiest time of your life?
Sacrifice and lessons
- What did you give up so that we could have more?
- Is there something you wish you had done differently?
- What do you most want your children and grandchildren to remember?
Write it down
Keep their answers. Use your phone to record, or write after each talk. Then turn the best memories into stories. With UmarCalm you can type a memory in any language and get a heartfelt story and picture you can share with the whole family.
Free: 3 stories per day on this device, in any language. Read next: How to write your grandmother's life story · How to preserve family stories for your children