Questions for Mom

I'm really scared of the day when I'll have a question for Mom and she won't be there to answer it.  I have those days about Dad and those are the days when the loss of him hits me the hardest.  I want to know what he thought about a certain idea and how he made choices in his life.  I crave for his voice in my life telling me that everything is going to be alright and that I'm loved completely.  I can turn to Mom when I need to be loved but there is so much about her that I want to keep with me - her recipes, her laughter, her memories. I want her to remind me what to do when I need to get a certain stain out of a certain shirt.  My Mom is a mom with a capital M - she can cook, knit, crochet, can fruits and vegetables, make jam, calm babies, send the best care packages, remind me not to gossip, and love everyone around her.  She's the Mom that always wants to give and expects absolutely nothing in return.  It's sometimes hard for me to remember she's human as well.

Dad kept a journal since before I was born.  I have a lot of hope that I'll be able to still read through them and learn so much about him.  But Mom doesn't keep a journal.  I've been pestering her lately to send me all of her recipes and now it's about her thoughts.  I sent her questions and I told her to take her time to answer but not too long.  I thought maybe this list could be useful to you as well as a starting point to collect those important memories.

Mom asked me how long it took for me to think of this list of questions but it barely took 30 minutes.  I think I've been curious about these things for a very long time.  I also think I know some of the answers but I might be surprised.

What is your first memory?
What is your favorite color?
What is your favorite flower?
What is your favorite dessert?
What is your favorite item of clothing (from your entire life)?
What was your favorite vacation/trip? Why?
What kind of a house did you grow up in?

Did you have any pets growing up?

Who were your friends?
What did you do for fun?
How did you celebrate Christmas?
How did you celebrate Halloween?
How did you celebrate Easter?

Did you admire any of your brothers? Why?

What was your relationship like with your sister?

What were your favorite foods that Grandma made?
What are your favorite memories of Grandma?
What are your favorite memories of Granddad?

Did Grandma and Granddad sing songs to you?  If so, which ones?

What was your favorite subject in school?
Did you read for pleasure?  If so, what kind of books?
Did you go on family vacations? If so, where?
What kind of advice did Grandma and Grandpa give to you growing up?

Who did you turn to when you needed emotional support?

What was a typical date in your hometown?
Were you a good dancer?

What activities did you participate in at high school?
Were you a good student?
How many students were you in your grade?

Who were your closest friends in high school and college?

Why did you choose to the college you attended?

What did you study?
Were you a good student?

What are some of your favorite memories from college?

Why did you move to the city you moved to after college? How old were you?

Where did you live? Did you have roommates?
What did you like to do?
How did you meet Dad? 

What did you do on dates?

How did Dad propose to you?

How long were you engaged?

Do you have any favorite memories from dating Dad? What are they?

What do you remember about your wedding and reception?

What do you remember about your Honeymoon?

Where did you live after you were married?

What was it like to be newlywed?  How did you divide chores?

Did you ever discuss how many kids you wanted to have?

How did you and Dad figure out how to celebrate Christmas?
What was your biggest adjustment when you had kids?
When did you and Dad talk to the most with dealing with a house full of kids?
What do you remember the most about being pregnant with any of the kids?

Do you like being a Mom?  If so, what do you like about being a Mom?

What was difficult for you about being a Mom?

What was your favorite activity with the family?

What was your favorite trip with the family?  Why?

What was your least favorite trip with the family? Why?

What do/did you like about living our hometown?

What memories stick with you the most as your getting older?

What are you most proudest of in your life?

Explain your feelings about God.

What advice would you give to your descendants?

When have you been most afraid? Why?

How do you enjoy spending your time?
What makes you happy?

Did you have any pet peeves? What are they?

How would you describe yourself?

When do you feel the most appreciated and loved?

If you could travel/explore anywhere, where would you go?

If you could live one day over again, what day would it be and why?

If you could give advice to your 20 year old self, what would you say?

If you could have gone into another profession, what would it have been?

What are tv shows you've enjoyed throughout your life?

What musicians have you've enjoyed throughout your life?
What actors did/do you have crushes on?

What are your favorite books?

What is your favorite hymn?
What is your favorite popular song now? When you were younger?