Questions to ask
The questions families wish they had asked.
Every question from the Tell Me Your Story journals. Pick one, ask it this week, and write down the answer.
Who are you asking?
Theme
100 questions
Childhood
- When and where were you born? What's the story of the day you arrived?Dad · Mom
- What were your parents like when you were small?Dad · Mom
- What is your earliest memory?Dad · Mom
- Describe the home you grew up in. What was your room like?Dad · Mom
- Who were your brothers, sisters or closest cousins, and what were they like?Dad · Mom
- What did your family do together on weekends?Dad
- What was your favourite toy, game or thing to do outside?Dad
- What was the first thing you remember getting into real trouble for?Dad
- What smells, sounds or foods take you straight back to your childhood?Dad · Mom
- What did you want to be when you grew up, and why?Dad · Mom
School days
- What were you like as a student?Dad · Mom
- Which subject came easily to you, and which one never did?Dad · Mom
- Tell me about a teacher who made a difference to you.Dad · Mom
- Who was your best friend growing up? Are you still in touch?Dad · Mom
- Did you play any sports or music? Were you any good?Dad
- What was the worst trouble you got into at school?Dad
- What did you and your friends do after school?Dad · Mom
- What were you most proud of in your school years?Dad · Mom
- What was the most embarrassing moment of your school days?Dad · Mom
- What do you wish someone had told you back then?Dad · Mom
Growing up
- What were you like as a teenager? Be honest.Dad · Mom
- What music did you blast when no one else was home?Dad
- Tell me about your first crush.Dad · Mom
- What was your first car, bike or way of getting around?Dad
- What rules did your parents have that you broke?Dad · Mom
- What was the most adventurous thing you did before you turned twenty?Dad
- What did your hair and clothes look like? Were you proud of them?Dad
- Who were you trying to be like back then?Dad
- What was a big disappointment in those years, and how did you get over it?Dad
- When did you first feel like a grown-up?Dad · Mom
Work and purpose
- What was your very first job? How did you get it?Dad · Mom
- What did you spend your first paycheque on?Dad · Mom
- How did you end up doing the work you do?Dad · Mom
- Who taught you the most about work and responsibility?Dad
- What is the proudest moment of your working life so far?Dad · Mom
- Tell me about a time you failed, and what you learned from it.Dad · Mom
- Was there another path you almost took?Dad · Mom
- What does a good day at work look like for you?Dad
- What do you still want to do or achieve?Dad
- What would you tell me about choosing my own path?Dad · Mom
Love
- When did you know she was the one?Grandpa · Dad
- How did you and Mom meet? Tell it your way.Dad
- What did you notice about her first?Dad
- What was your first date like? Did it go to plan?Dad · Mom
- How did you propose, or how did you decide to build a life together?Dad
- What was your first home together like?Dad · Mom
- What was the hardest time you went through as a couple?Dad · Mom
- What do you love most about her?Dad
- What have you learned about love since you met her?Dad
- What is your favourite memory of the two of you before I was born?Dad · Mom
Family
- How did you feel when you found out you were going to be a dad?Dad
- What were you most worried about?Dad
- Tell me everything you remember about the day I was born.Dad
- What did you think the first time you held me?Dad
- How did you choose my name?Dad · Mom
- What were the first few weeks like?Dad
- What was I like as a baby?Dad · Mom
- What surprised you most about becoming a father?Dad
- What did you promise yourself you'd do as a dad?Dad
- What did you feel that first night we were all home together?Dad
- What is the funniest thing I ever said or did as a kid?Dad · Mom
- What did we love doing together when I was little?Dad · Mom
- What was the hardest part of raising me?Dad · Mom
- When did I make you proudest?Dad · Mom
- When did I worry you most?Dad · Mom
- What did you learn from me?Dad · Mom
- What family traditions did you want to keep, and which ones did you start?Dad
- What was a moment when you felt you got it right as a dad?Dad
- Is there anything you'd do differently?Dad · Mom
- What do you see in me that reminds you of yourself?Dad · Mom
Home and everyday life
- What does your perfect weekend look like?Dad
- What is your signature dish or grill secret?Dad
- What song always gets you singing?Dad
- What hobbies or projects make you lose track of time?Dad
- What is a film or book that changed how you see things?Dad · Mom
- What is your favourite place you've ever been?Dad · Mom
- What can you fix or build with your own hands?Dad
- What little thing always makes you laugh?Dad
- What are you secretly very good at?Dad
- What has changed most in the world since you were my age?Dad · Mom
Life lessons
- What does it mean to be a good man?Grandpa · Dad
- What are you most grateful for?Grandpa · Grandma · Dad · Mom
- What is the best advice you've ever been given?Dad · Mom
- What do you know now that you wish you'd known at twenty?Dad · Mom
- What have you changed your mind about as you've got older?Dad · Mom
- How do you deal with the hard days?Dad
- What is worth fighting for, and what is worth letting go?Dad
- What does real friendship look like?Dad · Mom
- Is there anything you regret?Dad · Mom
- What makes a life a good one?Dad · Mom
For the next generation
- What should I know about money and work?Grandpa · Dad
- What do you hope for me as I grow up?Dad · Mom
- What should I know about love?Dad · Mom
- What should I do when I feel afraid or lost?Dad · Mom
- What should I do when I make a big mistake?Dad · Mom
- How should I treat people who are unkind to me?Dad · Mom
- Which family story should I pass on to my own children?Dad · Mom
- What is one thing you want me to always remember?Dad · Mom
- What have you always wanted to tell me but never quite said?Dad · Mom
- Finish this sentence for me: 'I am proud of you because...'Dad · Mom