There is something really special about learning about your ancestors. I'm always fascinated to learn as much as I can about these people. However, a lot of time we only have limited information like birth, marriage and death. I always want to know so much more. Life is more than dates and places it's, likes and dislikes, standards of living, world events and personal events. That's where my family history project comes in.
My husband and I came up with 52 questions for our parents. One question to answer a week. The questions range from first car, to parental advice. Week One question is "What was your favorite subject in high school and why?"
Hopefully we will gain some great insight and memories from our parents that we can share with our children and future generations.
I was interviewing my grandma and asking her questions about motherhood. I asked her about her mother's personality. My grandma was the youngest of 11. She told me her mother worried a lot. I asked why and she said because she had 5 sons fighting in the war. It took me a second to soak that in. I still can't comprehend what my great grandma must have been feeling. It gave me a new respect for a great grandmother I have never met.
UPDATE: The project is finished and I've had a few people ask for the questions. In the end I had 42 different questions and a handful of short answer questions as well. I turned the responses into a book with lots of pictures.
Here are the questions:
1. As a
child what did you want to be when you grew up?
2. What
activities did you like to do as a child?
3. What
chores did you have as a child?
4. What
are some qualities you love about your mom?
5. What
are some things you learned from your dad?
6. Who are
your siblings?
7.
Describe what you remember your parents looking like when you were a child.
8.
Describe your childhood home.
9. What
were some of your favorite foods your mom would make for you?
10. What was
your favorite school subject?
11. What
are some of your favorite vacations?
12. What
was your favorite room in your home growing up and what is your favorite room
now?
13. What
are your favorite books?
14. What
are your favorite holidays and why?
15. Have
you had a favorite age? Why? What age do you think you looked your best?
16. What
modern day appliances are you most grateful for? Why?
17. What
car did you drive growing up? What did
you like and dislike about it?
18. Who
was your best friend as a child and what did you do together?
19. What
was the first thing that attracted you to your spouse?
20. What
kind of music did you listen to in high school? College? Now? Any particular
songs bring back memories?
21. Why
did you pick the college you attended?
22. What
ridiculous things did you do with your college roommates?
23. What
are you afraid of? Did you have any fears as a child?
24. What
skills would you like to learn?
25. If you
could visit a time in history where would you go?
26. What
world event has been the most historic in your lifetime? Where were you? Can you remember where you
were or what you were doing during any other historic event?
27. What
have been some of your past Halloween costumes?
28. What
pets have you had?
29. What
was one of your favorite fashion trends or clothing items growing up? What
fashion trend or article of clothing do you think, “what was I thinking!”
30. How do
you know the church is true?
31. Do you
have a particular experience where your testimony was strengthened or gained?
What events have led to your beliefs?
32. What
was the most difficult and rewarding things about your children? My Dad said this was a loaded question. J This question could also be
something like “How are each of your children different? What qualities make them unique?”
33. What
fun activities did you do with your children?
34. What
has parenting taught you? What advice do you have? What would you have done
differently?
35. What
were some of your first jobs?
36. What
different jobs have you held?
37. What
has been the most difficult occupational decision you have had to make?
38. What
did you do on your first date with mom (or dad)?
39. What
are the differences about being a grandparent compared to being a parent?
40. What
are some accomplishments you are proud of? (ie Work, home, school, family,
sports, hobbies, religious) Big or small.
41. What
makes you happy?
42. Words
of Wisdom for your posterity?
Lightening
Round Questions (I put these responses at the beginning of the books.)
Favorite color
Favorite animal
Professional
Sports Team
Favorite home cooked dinner
Favorite
fast food
Best restaurant
Favorite dessert
Favorite TV show growing up
Favorite TV show now
Dream Vacation
If you had a $1000 shopping spree what one store/place would you spend it?
Guilty pleasure
Favorite band
Favorite dance song
Favorite rock song
Favorite awesome song
Favorite scripture
Favorite temple
Favorite car
Favorite feature on yourself
Favorite website
Favorite sport to watch
Favorite sport to play
Favorite game to play with the family
Favorite
thing to do in your free time
If I were
to do this project again I might add some other questions that might provoke
some more stories like: Describe a time you were overcome with happiness. What was
one of your most embarrassing moments? Share a time in your life where you felt
sad. Can you think of a story in your youth when you learned a valuable life
lesson. Share a favorite moment you had with each of your
children. What’s a funny story from your childhood? Share a memorable date night you had with
mom/dad.
 |
| My dad and I on the farm in Idaho. |
My husband found this picture frame at church in a Lost and Found pile of things being given away. He thought it might work for his diploma but it didn't. It just sat around in our closet. I decided to turn this eye sore into something fun for my home. I got my ideas from various projects.
