20 Questions

Questions to Ask Parents Before They Die

Meaningful questions to help you connect with your parents, learn about their life experiences, and preserve their wisdom and memories.

1

What's your favorite memory from when you were young?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their favorite memories helps you see what they value and cherish from their past.

2

What's the most important lesson you've learned in life?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their life lessons helps you learn from their experiences and gain wisdom for your own journey.

3

What was your childhood like and how has the world changed since then?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their childhood helps you see how the world has evolved and what changes they've witnessed.

4

What advice would you give to someone starting their adult life?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their advice helps you learn from their experiences and avoid common mistakes.

5

What's the biggest change you've seen in society during your lifetime?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding societal changes helps you see how the world has evolved and what transformations they've witnessed.

6

What's your secret to a happy and fulfilling life?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their secrets helps you learn what they value most and what has brought them happiness.

7

What's the most challenging thing you've overcome in your life?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Learning about their challenges helps you see their resilience and how they've handled difficult situations.

8

What's your favorite way to spend time now?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their current interests helps you see what they enjoy and how they like to spend their time.

9

What's something you wish you'd known when you were younger?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their regrets helps you learn from their experiences and avoid similar mistakes.

10

What's your favorite story from your life?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Learning about their favorite stories helps you see what they value most and what experiences they cherish.

11

How do you stay positive and optimistic?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their positivity helps you learn how they maintain a positive outlook and what keeps them hopeful.

12

What's your relationship with technology and how has it changed your life?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their relationship with technology helps you see how they've adapted to technological changes.

13

What's your approach to maintaining relationships with family and friends?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their relationship approach helps you learn how they maintain connections and what they value in relationships.

14

What's your favorite way to learn new things?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their learning approach helps you see how they continue to grow and what methods they prefer.

15

What's your approach to handling stress and difficult times?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their stress management helps you learn how they cope with challenges and maintain resilience.

16

What's your favorite way to give back to others?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their giving approach helps you see how they contribute to their community and what they value in service.

17

What's your relationship with your health and how do you maintain it?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their health approach helps you learn how they maintain their well-being and what they value in health.

18

What's your favorite way to connect with younger generations?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their connection approach helps you see how they engage with younger people and what they value in intergenerational relationships.

19

What's your approach to lifelong learning and personal growth?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their growth approach helps you see how they continue to develop and what they value in learning.

20

What's the most important thing you want younger people to know?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their message helps you see what they want to pass on and what they think is most important for future generations.

Preserving Family Wisdom and Memories

Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.

Having Meaningful Conversations

Listen with Respect

Show genuine respect for their experiences and wisdom. Listen actively and ask follow-up questions to show interest.

Be Patient and Present

Take your time with conversations and be fully present. Don't rush or try to fill every silence.

Share Your Own Experiences

When appropriate, share your own experiences to create mutual understanding and connection.

Find Your Perfect Questions

Search our collection of thoughtful questions for any conversation or situation