Wednesday, November 26, 2008

A Family Affair

Like most of you, I'm taking a few days off this week for Thanksgiving. But I'll still be learning -- about my family members and the stories of their lives.

A few years ago, Real Simple magazine published a "family history worksheet" with questions to ask your loved ones. Here are a few of those questions. If nothing else, they'll make great conversation starters at the dinner table. Who knows what you might learn?
  • What was your childhood home like? Your neighborhood?
  • What was your parents' relationship like? To which parent were you closer?
  • Growing up, what was the biggest disagreement you had with your parents?
  • Outside of your family, who were the most important people in your life?
  • What were the happiest times of your childhood? The biggest disappointments?
  • Who is the first person you ever kissed? Describe your first serious romance.
  • What was your first job, and how did you get it? How did you decide which field to enter?
  • What was the most rewarding thing about raising kids? The toughest?
  • How would you define love? How has your definition changed over time?
  • How are you like your parents? How are you different?
  • What is the best trip you ever took? The most amazing place you've seen?
  • What are five things you couldn't live without?
  • What is the bravest thing you've ever done?
  • What were the best years of your life?
  • What was the hardest decision you've made?
  • If you could do anything over in your life, what would it be and what would you do differently?

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