Free list · 47 questions
Questions to ask your parents while you can
Small questions that open big stories. Tap the ones you like to save them, print them, or send them.
Growing up
Start here. Early memories come back easily.
Love and family
How they met, and what held it together.
Work and making a living
The jobs, the bosses, the first paycheck.
Hard times
Go gently. Short answers are fine.
Traditions and holidays
The recipes, songs and small rituals.
Places
Where life happened.
Advice and looking back
Save these for the end.
Questions
How do I start asking your parents questions?
Pick three or four easy ones from Growing up. Early memories come back easily, and one good story usually leads to the next. Save the big ones for later.
What if they give short answers?
That's fine. Ask about one small, concrete thing instead: a smell, a room, a person. "What did your kitchen look like?" gets more than "What was your childhood like?"
Should I record the answers?
Yes, if they're happy to. A voice holds things a written note can't: how they laugh, the pauses, the way they say a name.
Can someone else ask the questions for me?
Yes. Libby, a friendly interviewer, can ask your list over a few short talks while you're away. You keep every recording, with captions, and only the people you choose can hear them.