50 questions to ask your parents that’ll bring you closer than ever
You could think You know your parents fairly well. Maybe your mom is strangely enthusiastic about Costco races, or your father is the type to insist on getting to the airport five hours earlier “in case”. But how much do you do Really Know them? Like … who were they in their twenties? What did they stay late when they dream before becoming your parents?
When you are young, it is difficult to imagine that your parents have had a complete life before you, with hopes, fears, errors and memories that change life. But once you have grown up, it usually becomes easier to see them as more than those who have given you rides or have scoured you to sneak. This makes adulthood the ideal time to know them not only as parents who have raised you, but also as real people, says Ciara Bogdanovic, LMFT, owner and founder of Sagebrush Psychotherapy in Los Angeles. “And since we no longer count on them for all our needs, [this shift] Create a place for an adult-adult relationship to train, ”explains Bogdanovic.
However, it is not always easy to know them, especially if you have never had these types of conversations or you were not very tight to start. Getting closer to someone does not occur overnight, which is why having some thoughtful questions to ask your parents can be a great way to open the door to more significant cats, explains Aaron Gilbert, LICSW, founder of Boston Evening Therapy Associates. For example, what did they do for fun when they were your age? How did you raise and look at you to grow in who you are today? “If we can be curious to know who our parents are as an individual, we can form a more complete image of their personality and, hopefully, find understanding, appreciation and empathy for them,” explains Gilbert.
Continue to read for a list of questions to ask your parents – some light, some deep, all perfect for knowing them better.
If you want to have a better idea of their life outside of work or parenting
- What are you waiting for at the end of the day?
- Who is your best friend right now? How did you meet?
- What is the last meal or restaurant you really liked – and should we try it together one day?
- When you don’t work or don’t do family stuff, what are you doing just for yourself?
- What have you tried or started to do lately? Stress relief activities? A new sport? Something creative?
- Is there a book, a show or a film that you recently liked? Why do you like it so much?
- Besides us, who do you call or do you send the most SMS? What are you talking about guys?
- How do you usually meet new people these days?
- How about that are the greatest values of life or family at the moment?
If you are ready to make a trip in their young years
10. What was your social life at school?
11. Who were you closest to your family growing up?
12. In what kind of trends or fashion styles are you in adolescence?
13. Who were the most popular artists or celebrities when you grow?
14. What hobbies did you have when you have a child? Have you participated in activities?
15. What was your favorite class at school – and your least favorite?
16. What was your first job? What did you learn?
17. What did you get in trouble when you were younger?
18. Did you have a childhood pet that you really like? What do you remember the day you got them?
19. Where is your favorite city in which you lived? What made him better than other places?
20. Have you taken a memorable vacation growing? Wherever you always wanted to come back?
21. If you could change something about how you were raised, what would it be?
22. Who was someone you were looking for when you were my age?
23. If you could go back and have a job you want, what would it be?
If you are curious to know how they imagined family life before it becomes real
24. What is the biggest lesson in the relationship you have learned? How did you learn?
25. How many children have you thought you would have?
26. Did you do more like your parents as you get older? In what ways?
27. What kind of parent made you think You would be before you become one?
28. Have you felt “ready” to be a parent? Why or why not?
29. What names do you envisage before choosing mine?
30. What is a advice from your parents you still think of?
31. With hindsight, what is the parenting you want to know earlier?
If you are ready to become nostalgic and sentimental on your relationship
32. What was the most difficult part to rise?
33. What is the best part of being a parent?
34. What are the traditions in our family that make sense to you?
35. What is your favorite memory of both of us?
36. In the future, what activities would you like to do more together?
37. What time did my experience make you feel the most proud? What do you remember?
38. What is your favorite way to create links with me?
39. Is there anything you want to know about you? What is this?
40. What do you think we have misunderstood each other over the years?
41. What parts of yourself do you see the most in me?
42. What is your greatest hope for my future?
43. Do you have any regrets about how you raised me? What would you have done differently?
44. How do you see yourself in the next 5 or 10 years?
45. What would you like to learn, experience or try?
46. What do you want to have more time?
47. What are you hoping for?
48. Do you never think about what you want your next chapter to look like? Tell me about that.
49. What is “success” means or looks like you now?
50. Is there something you still try to understand about you?
