Questions to Ask Your Grandparents About Their Life

Our grandparents hold memories of a world that can be very different from the one we know today, but how often do we actually sit down and ask them about it? Beyond the dates and names recorded in a family tree, do you know what their childhood home was like? What did they use to do for fun? What was their dream job as a child, or how did they meet the people they love?

The best conversations don't necessarily come from asking dozens of questions one after another, but from open questions that can lead to a world of unexpected stories. Use the questions below as prompts to ask your grandparents rather than a checklist, and give them plenty of time to wander into the memories that matter the most to them.

Top 10 questions to ask your grandparents before it's too late:

1. What is a normality from your childhood that would shock people today?

   
   

2. What age did you first leave home and where did you go?

   
   

3. Is there a single decision you have made that changed the trajectory of your life?

4. What is the most absurd situation you have ever found yourself in?

   
   

5. Tell me about the wildest night of your life.

   
   

6. Who is a relative furthest down your family tree that you know of through family stories, and what were they like?

   
   

7. What is your firmest controversial belief?

   
   

8. Good or bad, what is your most unforgettable work story?

   
   

9. Other than illness, have you ever had any near-death experiences?

   
   

10. Who was the most influential person in your life and why?

Asking your grandparents about their lives is a wonderful way to uncover stories, memories, and experiences that make up your family's history, which may otherwise be lost to time. But once those stories have been told, the next most important question is,

How will you preserve them?

At Relative Memories, we help families turn these conversations into lasting keepsakes. We create relaxed, documentary-style films where your grandparents can simply talk about their lfe, while we guide the conversations through thoughtful questions and prompts. Their stories will then be carefully edited into a beautiful life story film, and alongside their photographs, you will have a beautiful family heirloom to keep and pass down for generations.