Questions to Ask Your Parents Before It’s Too Late

Most families think they know their parents’ stories.

They usually know the highlights.
They rarely know the why.

If you’ve ever said, “I wish I had asked them about that,” this list is for you. When I shoot legacy films with aging family members, I have a list of three questions I ALWAYS hit before the interview is over. I’ll include those at the end.

These aren’t interrogation questions. They’re conversation starters.

Childhood and family

• What was your house like growing up?

• Who were you closest to as a kid?

• What’s something you remember that no one ever asks about?

Early adulthood

• What did you think your life would look like at 30?

• What scared you the most when you were younger?

• What decision changed the course of your life?

Parenting years

• What was the hardest part of raising kids?

• What do you wish you had done differently?

• What moments meant more than you realized at the time?

Questions I always ask in my legacy films

• What are you most proud of?

• What advice would you give your younger self?

• What do you hope your family remembers about you?

A quick note

Don’t treat this like homework. Let stories wander. Let pauses happen.

Some of the best moments come from what isn’t scripted.