Questions to Ask Your Grandma: 70+ Prompts for Real Conversations

Article Snapshot

• Grandmas often hold the emotional memory of families, remembering relationships, traditions, and unspoken histories
• Questions organized by theme: childhood, family, recipes, love, motherhood, wisdom, and legacy
• Practical tips for starting conversations that feel natural, not forced
• Why recording her voice and expressions preserves more than just her words

Grandmas know things. They know why certain relatives don't speak to each other, how to make pie crust that actually flakes, and what your mom was really like as a teenager. They carry decades of family memory in ways that often get taken for granted.

The problem is that most of this knowledge stays unshared. Grandmas assume no one wants to hear old stories. They're busy being grandmas, not family historians. And suddenly, before anyone realizes it, the chance to ask is gone.

These 70+ questions are designed to unlock those stories while there's still time. For more questions organized by relationship and occasion, see our complete questions to ask family members guide.

Questions About Her Childhood

Childhood questions are good conversation starters because they're lighter and often lead to vivid, specific memories.

• Where did you grow up? What do you remember about that place?
• What was your house like as a kid?
• What did you do for fun when you were young?
• Who was your best friend growing up?
• What was school like? Did you have a favorite teacher?
• What did you want to be when you grew up?
• What got you in trouble as a kid?
• What's your earliest memory?
• What was your favorite thing to eat as a child?
• What games did you play? Can you teach me one?
• What holidays do you remember most from childhood?

Questions About Her Parents and Family

Your grandma knew your great-grandparents in ways no one else can describe. These stories are irreplaceable.

• What were your parents like?
• What did your parents do for work?
• How did your parents meet?
• What did your parents teach you that stayed with you?
• What was the hardest thing your family went through?
• Did you have brothers or sisters? What were they like?
• Where did our family originally come from?
• What do you know about our ancestors?
• Is there anyone in our family history whose story we should know?

Questions About Food, Recipes, and Traditions

For many grandmas, the kitchen is where family memories live. These questions can preserve recipes and food traditions.

• What dish are you most known for? How did you learn to make it?
• Are there family recipes that have been passed down? Can you teach me?
• What did your mother cook that you still remember?
• Is there a recipe you've never written down that we should preserve?
• What role does food play in our family traditions?
• What's the story behind our family's holiday dishes?
• What meal reminds you of a specific time in your life?
• What cooking advice would you pass on?

Questions About Love and Marriage

Your grandma's love story is part of your family's foundation. These questions reveal what relationships looked like in her time.

• How did you meet Grandpa?
• What was your first impression of him?
• What was dating like back then?
• How did you know he was the one?
• What was your wedding day like?
• What's the secret to your relationship?
• What was the hardest time in your marriage?
• What still makes you laugh together?
• What do you wish you'd known about relationships when you were young?

Questions About Motherhood

Your grandma raised your mom or dad. Understanding her parenting experience connects you to your own family story.

• What was it like becoming a mother?
• What surprised you most about having kids?
• What was the hardest part of raising children?
• What values did you try to teach your kids?
• What's a favorite memory with my mom/dad when they were young?
• Is there anything you'd do differently as a parent?
• What did your kids teach you?
• What does being a grandma mean to you?

Questions About Life Lessons

Decades of experience teach things that can't be learned any other way. These questions invite her to share what she's learned.

• What's the most important thing life has taught you?
• What advice would you give your younger self?
• What mistake taught you the most?
• How have your priorities changed over the years?
• What brings you joy these days?
• How do you stay hopeful when things are hard?
• What does a good life look like to you?
• What do you wish young people today understood?

Questions About Legacy

These deeper questions show your grandma that her life matters to you.

• How do you want to be remembered?
• What are you most proud of?
• What values do you hope our family carries forward?
• What traditions do you hope we'll continue?
• What stories should our family never forget?
• What do you want future generations to know about you?

Lighter Questions

Not every conversation needs to be serious. Sometimes the best stories come from playful questions.

• What's the most mischievous thing you ever did?
• What fads from your youth seem funny now?
• Did you ever have a celebrity crush?
• What piece of technology amazed you when it first came out?
• What's the funniest thing that ever happened to you?
• What hobby have you kept your whole life?
• What's a book, movie, or show you loved?

Tips for Talking with Your Grandma

Good conversations happen in the right conditions.

Find the right moment. Many grandmas open up best while cooking together, looking at photos, or during quiet afternoon visits. Notice when she seems relaxed and willing to talk.

Start with easier topics. Childhood and lighter questions warm things up. Save deeper legacy questions for later conversations.

Ask about objects. "Where did this come from?" or "Tell me about this photo" are easier to answer than abstract questions.

Follow her lead. When she mentions a name, place, or event, ask more about it. The best stories come from follow-up questions.

Record if she's comfortable. Her voice, her laugh, and her way of telling a story are as precious as the stories themselves.

Why This Matters

Family stories disappear every day. Once a grandma is gone, her memories go too, no matter how much we wish we'd asked more.

You don't need to ask all 70 questions. Pick a few that feel right. See where the conversation goes. Come back later with more.

For additional questions organized by relationship, life theme, holiday, and milestone, explore our complete questions to ask family members guide with 640+ conversation starters.