Journal Gift - Need Question Ideas

[Queenie]

Hey gang,

I need some creative input and I know this is the place to find it! 'm giving mum a little matching box and blank spiral book for Christmas. The box will have 52 strips of paper in it, each with a question on it. Each week she will get a question out of the box and write the answer in the book to create a journal of memories (I got the idea from Scrapbooks Etc). Problem is I'm at about 33 and stuck!! What kinda things would you ask? The kind of questions I have are:

What lessons have you learned that you'd like to pass on?
Who did you think your daughters most looked like when you first saw them? - Have we changed over the years?
What have been your proudest moments?

So that kinda stuff. Little background, I have one sister and she has a 4 year old daughter. My dad passed in 1991 so I don't know what to ask about him?

Any ideas???

 

[PrincessNancy96]

Ask Mum about the moment she meet Dad.. Did she know that they would get married? How did Dad propose to Mum? How did she tell Dad that they were expecting each child?
Just some ideas.. I love this idea.. I might have to put my thinking cap on.. that would be a neat idea to do for kids...
Maybe ask Mum about her favorite TV show/ musical group/ special event..

 

[hopemax]

I would also like to know about her childhood/early adulthood? What was fun like, what responsibilities did she have, first movie she remembers seeing, family memories about things that would have been new to her but common to us(one of my Dad's favorite stories is the first time his Dad brought home a pizza which didn't become an American staple until the 50s).

One of my relatives made a book about the geneology of my Dad's side of the family, and some of the stories in there were amazing. My Dad knew his father was always interested in music, but something that came out that he didn't know was that his Dad sang in a "big band" and turned down an opportunity to go to LA with the band and try to make it big, and got married instead. It's great that you are trying to get stuff preserved.

 

[ddavis860]

COOL IDEA!!!!

I always like favorites questions...favorite traditions, favorite remembered dress, favorite recipe, favorite color, dessert...favorite daughter
Leave that last one out unless you are sure it's you....

 

[Mickster]

You could ask her about school? Favorite subject. Favorite teacher.

Let me think some more...

 

[piratesmate]

I wish I had a book of this type for my parents before they got old enough to say "I have no idea - that was soooooo long ago!" to everything. I'm into researching family genealogy & this type of info is both interesting & useful for the search!

Oldest memory (first thing she remembers from childhood)
Description & location of the house she grew up in
Her father's job/background/schedule - i.e. how he interacted with her
Favorite foods from childhood - least favorite foods
Games she played
Friends she played with
Her chores as a child
New fads of her time such as Scrabble (1955), Canasta (1960s), Twister, go-go boots, etc.
Favorite family vacation
How she met your father
Their first date...honeymoon trip
Describe a typical family holiday such as Christmas
Her first job
Her school memories
Her greatest joy in life
Her greatest disappointment
Her scariest moment
The moment she considered a huge tragedy that she now laughs about
Her favorite recipes
Describe how she felt about various moments in history: (not knowing ages it's hard to make suggestions, but this type) 1st space launch, King Edward VIII abdicating the throne, their first TV, outbreak of the World War, the Great Depression, etc.
Similar questions about your father's childhood that she might be able to answer
Similar questions about your grandparents

 

[PrincessNancy96]

I wish I had a book of this type for my parents before they got old enough to say "I have no idea - that was soooooo long ago!" to everything. I'm into researching family genealogy & this type of info is both interesting & useful for the search!

Oldest memory (first thing she remembers from childhood)
Description & location of the house she grew up in
Her father's job/background/schedule - i.e. how he interacted with her
Favorite foods from childhood - least favorite foods
Games she played
Friends she played with
Her chores as a child
New fads of her time such as Scrabble (1955), Canasta (1960s), Twister, go-go boots, etc.
Favorite family vacation
How she met your father
Their first date...honeymoon trip
Describe a typical family holiday such as Christmas
Her first job
Her school memories
Her greatest joy in life
Her greatest disappointment
Her scariest moment
The moment she considered a huge tragedy that she now laughs about
Her favorite recipes
Describe how she felt about various moments in history: (not knowing ages it's hard to make suggestions, but this type) 1st space launch, King Edward VIII abdicating the throne, their first TV, outbreak of the World War, the Great Depression, etc.
Similar questions about your father's childhood that she might be able to answer
Similar questions about your grandparents

Great Questions DEB!!! My mom is not the family historian...I have to go to my Aunts for that... so this is ideal for me to get her to take time and tell me and her grandbabies about this...

Thanks again QUEENIE for a wonderful idea!!!

 

[New England Eeyore]

This topic came up here about a year ago for "journal jars." I have two documents saved in my computer of possible questions - 10 pages worth for adults and 220 questions geared toward kids - way too many to post here. If anyone would like them PM me their email address and I'll send you both lists.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Can you e-mail the list to me too! This is a cool idea!!

BTW Congrats to Vicki!! A boy, you know I love little boys.

 

[piratesmate]

I'm going to send you a PM with my email address too. I'd love to see that list! Maybe you have some questions that will break loose my FIL's memory. He's just dreadful. *sigh* He'd told me repeatedly that he knew nothing of his father's family...absolutely nothing - not even their names. I finally found an obit for his father (from another researcher) which listed their names. When I said that I'd found out their names his response was "Oh yeah. They're right." He makes me want to bang my head against the wall! LOL He still didn't know any dates - not even the decade when they died - and neither did my husband. Then last year at my IL's 50th anniversary party I mentioned it to a cousin I never see & found out that FIL's grandmother actually lived with his parents until she died 2 yrs before his father! But he had no idea when she died or where she lived....

And Nancy...try asking for old photos & use those as prompts. I've had much better success getting my parents and DMIL to remember info when they see photos as opposed to just asking questions.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

And Nancy...try asking for old photos & use those as prompts. I've had much better success getting my parents and DMIL to remember info when they see photos as opposed to just asking questions.

I've done that too.. the weird thing is.. she knows everyones names.. but no stories.. according to her Uncle.. he said her nose was always in books reading..instead of playing w/ all the other kids... but than when they are all together they tell stories upon stories of one another..but I can never find a paper and pen when I need them.. NOW, I carry one in my purse and one in my van, and one in the kids' bag.. I'll even write in crayon if I have too!
DD and I are working on our genealogy during Christmas break.. I have emailed and talked on the phone w/ 2 members of our extended family.. One member was actually a neighbor of a great Aunt...and we didn't even realize she was family until 3 years ago..

 

[piratesmate]

That's too bad. My nose was always in a book too, but I'm the one who remembers all the stories.

Do you have a subscription to Ancestry.com? I used to share one with my father, but we let it lapse last year. I'd kind of hit a wall there. But just 2 weeks ago someone sent me a link for a free 3-day trial - no credit card required. (Their 14-day trial requires a CC and that you cancel if you don't want to continue.) I'm not sure how long that 3-day thing is good for, but I'd be happy to send it if you want to try for a few days. I used mine 18 - 20 hrs/day for those 3 days & got quite a bit of new info. I may have to give in & re-subscribe after the holidays.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

That's too bad. My nose was always in a book too, but I'm the one who remembers all the stories.

Do you have a subscription to Ancestry.com? I used to share one with my father, but we let it lapse last year. I'd kind of hit a wall there. But just 2 weeks ago someone sent me a link for a free 3-day trial - no credit card required. (Their 14-day trial requires a CC and that you cancel if you don't want to continue.) I'm not sure how long that 3-day thing is good for, but I'd be happy to send it if you want to try for a few days. I used mine 18 - 20 hrs/day for those 3 days & got quite a bit of new info. I may have to give in & re-subscribe after the holidays.

Yes, I had the major subscription to it up til a year ago and let it lapse too.. I found myself on there for hours and hours!!! Our local library offers it for free...and so does the one by mom... Thank you for the offer though, if only I had extra time...
Off to make lunch.. I finally got the computer program to release my Christmas address from it's grasps.. I think the few choice words and the threat to be thrown outside and run over get the point across.. Actually DH installed new software.. forgot to teach me how to convert the files.. DH got a "wife rant" for that one.. All he could say was.. Sorry, you are right..