Life Stories: 94 Questions to Ask Your Family Members

The saying goes, “every photo has a story,” but we also have to remember that every person has his or her own life story too.

The problem is that we often wait until it’s too late to ask someone, especially our elders, to tell their stories. After my grandparents’ deaths, I found out that they got married in Indiana instead of in their home state of Michigan. When they got married in 1934, it was illegal for a teacher (which my grandmother was) to get married and to keep working in the state of Michigan. Because of this marriage bar, they went over state lines to get hitched and then kept their marriage a secret for several years from everyone except close family.  I would have loved to learn more from my Grandmother, but sadly it’s too late.

Don’t let this happen to you. Holidays and family get-togethers are the perfect times to share these life stories with each other and capture them for future generations. There isn’t a need for a formal interview of your family members. Ask some open-ended questions instead to learn more about the family’s stories. Once you get them talking, who knows where the stories will take you.

Be sure to record the answers for prosperity. Grab a pen and paper or put your phone or camera on a tripod in the corner and record the storytelling. Future generations will thank you for capturing these life stories.

Growing Up

• When and where were you born?
• Why did your parents pick your name? Were you named after anyone?
• Did you like your name growing up?
• Where did you grow up? What do you remember about that place?
• What is your earliest memory?
• What were you like as a child?
• Did you get an allowance as a child? What was your favorite thing to spend it on?
• Did you have pets when you were growing up?
• What sports or games did you play when you were young?
• Who was your childhood best friend? What about in high school?
• What was your favorite food growing up? Who made it for you?
• What was the first movie you ever saw?
• Did you have a nickname as a child? How did you get it?
• What is your favorite kind of music? What was your first concert?
• What major world event do you remember from your youth?

School

• Did you enjoy school? What kind of student were you?
• What was your favorite subject(s) in school?
• Tell me about your best friends from school.
• Who was your favorite teacher?
• Are you still friends with your childhood friends?
• Did you go to college? Where did you attend, and why did you choose that school? 

Home

• Where did you live as a child?
• Did your family move a lot or stay put? How did that make you feel?
• Tell me about your childhood home(s).
• Did you have any interesting neighbors?
• Did anyone other than your immediate family live with you growing up?

Family

• Do you remember your grandparents? Tell me about them.
• What were your parents like? Tell me a favorite memory of them.
• Were your parents strict? What did you get in trouble for the most?
• Tell me about the important people in your life.
• Tell me about the oldest family member you remember.
• Have you inherited any special family heirlooms? What can you tell me about them?
• Did your family have pets? Tell me about them.
• Did you have siblings? What was/is your relationship like?
• Was there any family drama in your family? Can you tell me about it?

Holidays

• What is your favorite holiday? Why?
• Tell me about your favorite holiday tradition.
•  Tell me about a memorable gift you gave or received.
•  What did your family do on Christmas morning (or other holidays) when you were growing up?
• How did your family celebrate birthdays as you grew up?
• Tell me about an exceptionally memorable birthday.

Work

• What did you want to be when you grew up?
• What was your first job?
• What has been your favorite job you’ve ever had? What did you like about it?
• Have you ever owned your own business?
• Have you ever served in the military? Tell me more about your service.
• What volunteer positions have you held? How did it make you feel?

Travel

• Did your family take regular vacations together? Where did you go?
• What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited?
• What was your favorite vacation you’ve taken?
• Is there one place you’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t? Why not?
• Tell me about the worse traveling experience you’ve ever had.

Love and Marriage

• Who was your first boyfriend/girlfriend? Tell me more about them.
• With whom did you share your first kiss?
• Tell me about any really memorable boyfriend/girlfriend.
• Where is the most memorable place you’ve ever kissed someone?
• How did you meet your spouse/partner?
• How did you get engaged? 
• Tell me about your wedding day.
• When did you decide to have (or not have) children?

Big Picture

• What’s the best piece of advice you were ever given?
• Tell me your favorite memory about me.
• What smells remind you of home?
• What is the best decision you’ve ever made?
• Can you share any hardships you’ve faced and overcome?
• Do you have any funny stories from your past?
• What advice would you give your younger self?
• What role has religion played in your life?
• What would you like your legacy to be?
• What was the happiest time in your life?
• What scares you?
• Has anything extremely surprising ever happened to you? Can you tell me more about it?
• What accomplishments are you most proud of in your life?

Fun Questions

• If you could be any Disney villain for a day, who would it be?
• What’s your favorite movie of all time?
• Toilet Paper? Over or under
• What is your favorite food?
• If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
• If you could be an animal, what would you be?
• What superhero would you be, and what would your superpower be?
• Who is someone who always cheers you up?
• Would you rather have no hair or no teeth?
• Would you rather live in a graveyard or a deserted island?
• What are you scared of?
• Do you think Santa would say you are naughty or nice?
• What chore do you hate doing?
• What’s the funniest word you know?
• What’s your favorite flower?
• Would you rather ride a roller coaster or go skydiving?
• If you had $1,000, what would you do with it?
• How long would you last in a zombie apocalypse?
• If you could have your own reality show, what would it be?
• What is something on your bucket list?
• What was your favorite Halloween costume?

Bonus: Pull out a few old photos and see what life stories get shared.

For other ideas to capture family life stories, read:

Create a Family Timeline for Photo Organizing

Fun Family History Activities for the Holidays

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