Interviewing Family Members While We Have the Chance

Thanksgiving is next week! Make plans this year to finally ask those questions of loved ones that perhaps you've never had the chance to ask. I've already done some research for you and found some fairly good questions to get you started.

It's just that I've heard people say time and time again (and I've said it myself), I wish I had asked Aunt Sophie; or I'm sorry I never asked Uncle Roy about.... Don't let another family reunion pass without doing exactly that.

My blog is usually directed at grandparents, but this is one I hope my younger friends read--the generation that still has children at home, and still has their parents and plenty of aunts and uncles. You should interview them while you can.

While you're working over your hot rolls and letting them rise, think of some of those questions you've never asked. Keep those in mind. Maybe it's something you'd like to ask your aunt about growing up with your mother; perhaps you want to ask your uncle things about the war. Whatever. Go down the list in your mind and be prepared to ask those questions.

And get your little kids, grandkids or great grandkids involved.  
​I've found some questions that the little guys can ask grandparents or great aunts and uncles:

1. What kind of toys did you have when you were little? What was your favorite?
2. Did you have a bike? Do you remember your first bike?
3. Did you ever get hurt playing outside?
4. Did you have a tree house or a favorite tree to climb?
5. Favorite Christmas that you remember? Favorite Christmas gift?

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Our Grandpa Sam was so charming. I know none of his grands would have hesitated to ask him questions.

Press upon the teenagers to ask some questions too:

1. Did you have a car? Tell about it.
2. Did you have a curfew?
3. First job or job that you had in high school?
4. Did you ever get in trouble in high school?
5. What was your favorite subject in high school?
6. Tell me about your first date in high school?
7. Did you like school?
8. What did you wear to school? What were some of the fashion trends in your day?

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What was I like as a kid? Yeah, I was pretty much a stinker.

Random questions anyone can ask:

1. How did you propose to your spouse?
2. What did your family do for fun when you were growing up?
3. What did you want to be when you grew up?
4. What did you admire the most about your mother? Your father?

Two of my children and their cousins with their great-grandmother Ona.

Seriously, there are so many important reasons for doing this. First and foremost, we should all know these stories and our family history. Our little guys need to learn how to converse with their elders. It's important for older family members to reminisce. For goodness sakes, we ALL love to reflect on days past. It's just another layer of bonding that can occur within a family. You'll hear people saying things like. . . I never knew that about Uncle Jackson. Heartwarming comments like that. Just do it--it just adds another dimension to your Thanksgiving time together.

Websites where you can get additional questions:

​www.familysearch.org/blog/en/20-questions-capture-grandmas-story/

​www.aegisliving.com/resource-center/30-questions-to-ask-your-grandparents/

​Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! And how wonderful to be thankful for ALL our family! And especially for those who can share with us the days gone by. What a blessing! Take advantage of that.


One more item:

Check out this link. If you have older kids/grandkids, they might want to record their interview for StoryCorps~

​​storycorps.org/participate/the-great-thanksgiving-listen/?fbclid=IwAR3p84ruo2-3LWnsI_NnTEM5Vm5yuMgwjHunze8TE-vzX5UZswUfoIc9Cdk