Childing Resource

50 Essential Interview Questions

"Capturing their voice, their stories, and their legacy."

One of the greatest treasures you can create for your family is a recorded interview of your parents. Long after they are gone, having their voice, their laugh, and their stories preserved on video or audio will be priceless.

Pro-Tips for Recording:

  • Set up your phone camera on a tripod, hit record, and then sit next to the camera so they are looking at you, not the lens.
  • Do not rush. If they pause, let the silence hang. The best stories come after a thoughtful pause.
  • You don't need to ask all 50 questions in one sitting! Pick 5 or 10 at a time.

1. Childhood & Roots

  1. What is your earliest memory?
  2. What were your own parents like? What do you remember most about them?
  3. What was the house like that you grew up in?
  4. Did you have a favorite childhood tradition or holiday?
  5. Who was your best friend when you were young, and what did you do together?
  6. What was the hardest thing about growing up in your generation?
  7. Did you have any nicknames? How did you get them?
  8. What was your favorite meal that your mother or father cooked?
  9. What did you want to be when you grew up?
  10. What was the most mischievous thing you did as a child?

2. Adulthood & Career

  1. What was your first real job? What did you learn from it?
  2. What is the proudest accomplishment of your career?
  3. Did you ever take a big risk that paid off (or didn't)?
  4. Who was the most influential mentor in your life?
  5. If you could have chosen any other career path, what would it have been?
  6. How did you balance work and family life?
  7. What historical event had the biggest impact on your daily life?
  8. What was the hardest financial lesson you had to learn?
  9. What did a typical day look like for you in your 30s?
  10. What advice would you give to someone just starting their career today?

3. Romance, Marriage & Parenting

  1. How did you meet your spouse/partner? What was your first impression?
  2. How did you know they were 'the one'?
  3. What is the secret to a long-lasting relationship?
  4. What was the hardest year of your marriage, and how did you get through it?
  5. What do you remember about the day I was born?
  6. What was the most surprising thing about becoming a parent?
  7. Is there a parenting decision you look back on and laugh about now?
  8. What was your favorite age or stage of raising kids?
  9. What values were most important for you to teach your children?
  10. How has your definition of love changed over the years?

4. Legacy & Wisdom

  1. What is a belief you held strongly when you were young that you have completely changed your mind about?
  2. What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
  3. If you could spend one more day with someone who has passed away, who would it be and what would you do?
  4. What are you most proud of in your life?
  5. What is something you wish you had spent less time worrying about?
  6. How do you hope your children and grandchildren will remember you?
  7. What does a 'good life' mean to you now?
  8. What is the greatest piece of advice you ever received?
  9. Do you have any regrets? How did you make peace with them?
  10. If this recording is watched by your great-great-grandchildren 100 years from now, what is your message to them?

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