The best family stories come out when someone asks. Pick five or six of these, sit down with a cup of coffee and an old photo, and let the conversation wander.
How to get the best answers
Start with a photo. "Who is this?" opens more doors than any question on a list.
Ask for a story, not a fact. "Tell me about the day you…" works better than "When did you…".
Record it, with permission. A phone voice recorder is enough. Their exact words are worth keeping.
Keep it short. Twenty minutes, then another day. Nobody remembers everything in one sitting.
Growing up
Where were you born, and what was the house like?
What did your parents do for work?
What was a normal day like when you were ten?
Who was your best friend as a child, and what did you get up to?
What games did you play, and what toys did you have?
What was your favorite meal growing up, and who made it?
What were you scared of as a kid?
Did you have a nickname? Where did it come from?
School and first jobs
What were you like at school?
Which teacher do you still remember, and why?
What was your first job, and how much did it pay?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
What was the hardest work you ever did?
Love and family
How did you meet Grandma or Grandpa?
What was your first date?
What was your wedding day like?
What surprised you most about becoming a parent?
What was my mom or dad like as a child?
What family tradition do you hope we keep?
Places and moving
Which homes have you lived in, and which was your favorite?
Did your family ever move? Why?
What was the best trip you ever took?
Where would you go back to tomorrow if you could?
Holidays and traditions
What did holidays look like when you were young?
Which recipe should we never lose, and how do you make it?
What songs or music remind you of your family?
What did your family do on Sundays?
The big moments
Where were you during an event everyone remembers?
What is the bravest thing you have ever done?
What was a hard time, and what got you through it?
What are you most proud of?
What is a funny story the family still tells about you?
Looking back and ahead
What is the best advice you ever received?
What do you know now that you wish you had known at 20?
What has changed the most in your lifetime?
What do you hope your grandchildren remember about you?
What would you like to tell the family that you have never said?
Turn the answers into a book
Once you have a few stories, add the photos they belong to and you are most of the way to a family book. MyMemory organizes your notes into editable chapters with a caption under every photo; you preview the whole PDF for free, and keep it for $9.99. See a sample or start yours.
