FAMILY HISTORY AND MEMOIR PROMPTS

 

The prompts below come from my eBook and paperback, above, which is available from my Shopify Store HERE.

 

1.     What is your name?

 

2.     When were you born/ and where?

 

3.     Did your birth take place in a hospital, at home?

 

4.     Was there a doctor or midwife present?

 

5.     Did you have siblings?

 

6.     What are their names and when were they born?

 

Conversation starters

 

1.        Is there an interesting story about your birth?

 

2.        Did you get along with your siblings?

 

3.        Did you have any animals or pets growing up?

 

4.        What’s your earliest memory?

 

5.        Was there some special adult in your life?

 

6.        What was your biggest adventure?

 

7.        What was your biggest disappointment?

 

8.        What was your biggest achievement?

 

9.        What special skills did you have?

 

10.     How did you meet your husband/wife/partner?

 

Discovering more about the next generation information

 

1.     What is your mother’s full name/date of birth? Where was she born?

 

2.     What is your father’s full name/date of birth? Where was he born?

 

3.     What did your father do for a living? Did he have more than one profession?

 

4.     What kind of work did your mother do? Was she employed outside the home?

 

5.     Describe your memories of your mother from growing up.

 

6.     Describe your memories of your father from growing up?

 

7.     What important life lessons did your parents teach you?

 

8.     Did your parents have any friends that had a big influence on you?

 

9.     What family activities did you enjoy most?

 

10.  How would you describe the parenting style of your parents? Strict? Loving? Were both parenting styles the same?

 

Basic information about Grandparents and great-grandparents

 

 

1.     What were your maternal grandparents' names and dates of birth? Where were they born?

 

2.     What were your paternal grandparents' names and dates of birth? Where were they born?

 

3.     What kind of work did your grandparents do?

 

4.     Where did your maternal grandparents live?

 

5.     Where did your paternal grandparents live?

 

6.     Do you have special memories of your grandparents?

 

7.     What food did you have when you visited?

 

8.     Did you do any special activities?

 

9.     Are you named after one of them? And if so, why?

 

10.  If they died before you knew them, how are they remembered?

 

Childhood - School and Home

 

1.     Did you go to school or were you home schooled?

 

2.     How did you get to school?

 

3.     Did your school have a uniform?

 

4.     Who was your favourite/most influential teacher? Why?

 

5.     Who was your least favourite teacher? Why?

 

6.     What were your favourite subjects? Your least favourite?

 

7.     Were you good at anything in particular at school or home?

 

8.     What were the most important skills that you learned at home?

 

9.     What kind of clothing did you wear? Was it homemade?

 

10.  Did you have a special occasion dress or outfit?

 

Special occasions

 

1.     What was your favourite holiday or special occasion?

 

2.     How were birthdays celebrated in your family?

 

3.     What’s a special memory from a birthday, Christmas or special occasion?

 

4.     Was your family religious? What place of worship did you attend?

 

5.     How did you celebrate special holidays? Did you give gifts, decorate, dress up, go to church or worship?

 

Your teenage years

 

1.     How many years of school did you attend?

 

2.     Did you do an apprenticeship, go to TAFE, college or university? Where, when? What did you study?

 

3.     What were your goals, hopes, and dreams as a young adult?

 

4.     What was your first job? How old were you?

 

5.     Did you have more than one job? Which was the best? Why? What were the people you worked with like?

 

Older years

 

1.     What was/is your occupation/trade? Have you had multiple professions over the years?

 

2.     What tasks did your work involve? Did you enjoy the work?

 

3.     If you could have chosen another profession, what would it have been?

 

4.     Did you ever get married?

 

5.     When, where, and how did you meet your spouse?

 

6.     How did you get engaged?

 

7.     What was your wedding like? What did you wear, what food was served, where was it held?

 

8.     Who were your bridesmaids/best man?

 

9.     Did you go on a trip or honeymoon after the wedding? Where to?

 

10.  If you chose not to marry, what was the reason?

 

About your partner/spouse

 

1.     What is your spouse’s full name? Their siblings and parents?

 

2.     What is your spouse's occupation? Interests?

 

3.     Can you describe a little about your spouse’s personality?

 

4.     What do you love the most about your spouse?

 

5.     What was your first home together like? Where was it? Did you rent it, buy it?

 

6.     What would you say is the key to a successful marriage?

 

7.     Do you have any children? How many?

 

8.     What are the names and birth dates of your children? The names of their spouses?

 

9.     Do you remember what it was like finding out you would soon be a parent?

 

10.  What were your children’s births like? At the hospital, at home? Who was there?

 

11.  What city or county were each of your children born in?

 

12.  Where did you live when your kids were growing up?

 

13.  Did you move around much? Why did you move and to where?

 

14.  What was your home(s) like when your children were young? Did you own or rent?

 

15.  What special memories do you have of your children’s baby or preschool years?

 

16.  What was your favourite way to spend time with your kids?

 

17.  What was the most difficult part of raising kids? The best part?

 

18.  What hobbies did you have when you weren’t working or caring for children?

 

19.  What kind of music did you like to listen to?

 

20.  What kind of books/magazines did you like to read?

 

Travel and World Events

 

1.     How many nationalities/passports do you have?

 

2.     How many places have you lived? Travelled to?

 

3.     Which was your favourite?

 

4.     Which did you dislike the most? Why?

 

5.     What major world events have happened in your lifetime? Did any have a big effect on you?

 

7.     Which personal events in your life would you say had the greatest impact on you?

 

8.     What’s the best advice you can give your great-grandchildren, your great-great-grandchildren?

9.  What do you want people to remember the most about you?

 

MEMOIR PROMPTS

1. Describe a pivotal moment from your childhood that shaped who you are today.

 

2. Reflect on a significant relationship in your life and the impact it had on you.

 

3. Recount a challenging obstacle or setback you faced and how you overcame it.

 

4. Share a humorous or lighthearted anecdote that brings a smile to your face.

 

5. Explore a period of personal growth or transformation and the lessons you learned.

 

6. Discuss a cherished family tradition or ritual and its significance to you.

 

7. Describe a place that holds deep meaning for you and the memories associated with it.

 

8. Reflect on a major life decision you made and the reasons behind it.

 

9. Recall a memorable trip or adventure that left a lasting impression on you.

 

10. Share a story of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity.

 

11. Discuss a passion or hobby that has shaped your life and brought you joy.

 

12. Reflect on your experiences with self-discovery and personal identity.

 

13. Explore the theme of forgiveness and reconciliation in your life.

 

14. Discuss the role of faith or spirituality in your journey and how it has influenced you.

 

15. Reflect on your relationship with your parents or grandparents and the lessons they taught you.

 

16. Recount a significant event from history that had a profound impact on you personally.

 

17. Discuss your experiences with love, heartbreak, or navigating romantic relationships.

 

18. Reflect on a time when you had to make a difficult ethical or moral choice.

 

19. Share a story of personal triumph or accomplishment that made you proud.

 

20. Discuss your aspirations for the future and the legacy you hope to leave behind.

  

21. What is the earliest memory you have of a family member, and what stands out about it?

 

22. Are there any unique or interesting family traditions that have been passed down through the generations? Can you describe them?

 

23. Can you share any stories or anecdotes about our ancestors that have been told within our family?

 

24. Are there any significant historical events or milestones that our family has witnessed or been a part of?

 

25. What were the occupations or professions of our ancestors, and did any of them have notable achievements in their fields?

 

26. Are there any family recipes or culinary traditions that have been handed down? Could you share one of your favorites?

 

27. Can you recall any family legends, myths, or rumors that have been circulating throughout the generations? What do you know about them?

 

28. Were there any challenges or hardships that our ancestors faced, and how did they overcome them?

 

29. Are there any cultural or ethnic traditions that our family has maintained over time? Can you provide some insight into their significance?

 

30. What are some memorable family gatherings, reunions, or celebrations that you recall? What made them special or unique?