Here are the questions:
Questions for your children and grandchildren:
1. Childhood Memories:
- Where I was born
- First friends that I remember
- Games I played, favorite stories
- A time I was scared
- A time I felt proud
2. Memories of my school days:
- The schools I went to
- My favorite teachers
- Classrooms I can remember
- My favorite subject
- My saddest memory
- My happiest memory
3. Fond memories of my parents when I was growing up:
- Our daily routine
- What we’d talk about
- How we shared feelings
4. Things I’ve learned about life, love, friends, family, etc.
5. Places I’ve lived:
- About the city I live in now
- How I came to live here
- The population
- Changes I’ve seen since living here
- Interesting things close by
6. Memories of the houses I’ve lived in:
- The yards
- About our house now
- What room I like best and why
- Things I like about our neighborhood
7. Dinnertime:
- Meals we usually eat
- Topics we discuss
8. My average weekday:
- How it starts, develops, and ends
- Does it change as seasons change?
- The weekend: how it starts, develops, and ends
- What I like to do on the weekend
9. Things I collect:
- How I came to collect them and why I like them
- Where I have found some of my favorites
- How long I’ve been collecting them
10. The weather:
- What time of year I like best
- Dangerous weather I’ve seen
- Beautiful sunsets, starry nights
11. My favorite holiday when I was growing up:
- Memories that come to mind
- My favorite holiday now that I’m grown
- Our family traditions
12. My thoughts about pets:
- Pets I had as a child
- Their names, my memories of them
13. My memories about how I learned to drive:
- What I’ve learned over the years about driving, about cars
- My first car, my favorite car
14. Memories of my first Mother’s/Father’s Day:
- My feelings
- Other Mother’s/Father’s Days I especially remember
15. The emotions I felt when I discovered we were going to have a child:
- The first people we told
- My thoughts and feelings when I saw our baby for the first time
- What I remember about that day/week
16. How prices have changed over the years:
- Cost of a doctor’s visit
- Weekly grocery bill
- Price of gas
- Utility bills
- House payments
17. The kind of music played in our house when I was young:
- The kind of music I enjoy listening to now
18. My first job:
- What it was like
- Other jobs I have had
- My favorite job
- The ups and downs of working
- Suggestions about choosing a career
19. Friends:
- How we met
- How we managed to stay in touch over the years
- What it means to be a friend
20. What I’ve done differently with my own family compared to what my parents did when they raised me:
21. Things I love:
22. What I think the future will be like:
- The changes I’d like to see
- What I fear will change
23. If I had to describe a few of my happiest memories, these are the ones I’d think of right away:
24. Vacations I remember going on as a child and through the years:
- Good ones and bad
25. If I could change three things about myself, they would be:
26. Things I would do differently if I were to have another child:
- Things I’d relax about
- Things I’d notice more
27. Places I have visited:
- My memories of those places and what I liked/disliked about them
- Thoughts on traveling
28. Favorite foods:
- How my tastes have changed since I was young
- My favorite snacks, desserts, drinks, etc.
29. My favorite movies:
- Why I watch them over and over
30. An important lesson or two that I have learned:
31. My wish list:
- Things I don’t necessarily need, but would enjoy having
32. Things I’ve done that have taken me out of my comfort zone:
- How it feels to take risks
- How those things turned out
33. How I feel about my name:
- Story behind how my parents chose my name
- Other names I like
34. Toys I remember from my childhood:
- Toys I still have
35. If I could travel anywhere in the world, it would be:
- Why I would choose this place
36. If I could live anywhere I wanted, I would choose:
37. If someone gave me a million dollars, no strings attached, I would:
38. If I had to name a few things my parents taught me they would be:
39. I hope that, when my children are grown, they will say they learned this from me:
40. How my parents made/make a living:
- Memories of their jobs
41. When I am gone, I want to be remembered this way:
42. If I had to describe the most challenging part of being a parent, I would say:
43. If I had to describe the most rewarding part of being a parent, I would say:
44. Some of my favorite books and why I like to read them/why they mean so much to me:
45. Some of the happiest memories of my grandparents:
46. Some quotes that have inspired me, that made me stop and think:
47. People I admire and why:
48. Some things I have done that I’m proud of:
49. Some thoughts on relationships:
- Friends
- Family
- Children
- How relationships change
50. My favorite:
- Flowers
- Smells
- Sound
- Color
- Why these are my favorites
51. How technology has changed since I was young:
52. When I was young, more than anything else I used to wish for:
53. Memories of my sisters and brothers:
- How many years between us
- How we got along when we were young
- How we get along now
- How we’re different from each other
- How we’re the same
- Traits and habits we inherited from our parents
54. How I like to dress:
55. Trends I’ve seen come and go:
- Trends I’ve seen come back
56. My description of success and some examples I have seen:
57. Goals I have achieved and ones I’m working on now:
58. What part of the day I like best and why:
59. What I like to daydream about:
60. Housework:
- How we as a family share house chores
- Shortcuts I have learned
61. The best and worst thing about getting older:
62. When I retire, I would like to:
63. A list of things I want to do before I can’t do them anymore:
64. If I were to consider all the birthdays that I have celebrated, these are the ones that stand out in my mind:
65. Sacrifices my parents made for me when I was growing up that I would like to thank them for:
66. A person in my family history that I would like to have a conversation with is:
67. Famous/well-known people I’ve met:
68. Some pieces of advice that I have received from family and friends that I’m glad I took to heart:
69. My talents and hobbies:
- How I’ve developed them over the years
- What got me started
70. When I think about my dad, these words and memories come to mind:
71. When I think about my mom, these words and memories come to mind:
72. Some of the things I see in my parents that I also see in myself:
73. First impressions aren’t always what they seem:
- These are instances when I was surprised about a person or situation, and instances when my first instinct was right
74. Thinking back to how I behaved when I was a teenager:
- How my parents handled my many moods
75. Things I’m thankful for:
WHEW!!!
Now you can understand why it has taken me so long to only complete HALF of it! I have taken these questions & combined some in an effort to organize it so that it makes sense for me. So far, I am enjoying this process - being a history buff, it is always a good idea to reflect on where we've been so that we can appreciate where we are going.
The more I experience life, the more important family becomes to me. I treasure my memories of family and the times I've spent with them. I want my children and grandchildren to know who they are and where they come from - family is an heritage, not just a bunch of names but real people with real lives. Recording personal and family histories will help us remember and tell "their" stories/experiences. I hope you will take time to write down your favorite memories so your children and grandchildren will know "who they are and where they came from."
Writing my personal history has been more than just documenting events; it has provided me with a profound spiritual insight into the meaning and purpose of my life and helped me gain a clearer perspective on the eternal nature of the family and life itself. It's a sacred at of remembering, reflecting, and bearning witness to God's love and involvement in our lives.
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