What do you think?
Rate this book
Before My Time: 365 Questions of Fun and Faith for Grandchildren to Ask
"A catalyst for sharing family memories."
Before My Time is a collection of questions for multiple generations to enjoy together,
Where did your family shop when you were young?
Do you remember your first day of school?
What is the hardest thing you have ever done?
What was your first home as a newlywed like?
Is there a skill you have that you could teach me?
When you were a child, what did kids do at recess?
What was your first paying job?
What were each of your children like when they were young?
What has been your favorite age to be so far?
When did you first meet/hold me?
... and more 12 Things You Can Do With This
Ask -- This is a collection of questions! Some are just for fun, some will give you a better idea of family history, and some can inspire you in your own life. Ask a question or two at a time, or mark your favorites and sit down for an interview. Be sure to ask your grandparent if they are willing to do an interview!
Include -- Some questions are specific to families, but a lot of them are not. You can include any older family friend in your question asking.
Think -- You may need creative ways to ask questions if your grandparents don’t live nearby. Maybe you could write, call, or video chat.
Look -- The questions cover a lot of topics. Look through them for things you want to know, or that you think your grandparent would have a good story for.
Listen -- When you ask a question, be ready to pay attention and really listen to the answer! Don’t interrupt, and if the story makes you think of other questions, ask them at an appropriate time in the conversation.
Wait -- Sometimes getting an answer to a question will take patience. Grandparents have collected a lot more experiences and memories than you have. It may take some time to sort through memories to find the answer. (Sometimes days!)
Share -- You will have answers to some of these questions, too! Be ready to share your experiences with your grandparents – they are interested to hear about your life as well!
Learn -- For some questions, your grandparents may be passing along tips and advice for life. Take it from someone who has already been there and done that, and remember the advice for when you need it!
Honor -- Respect your grandparent’s life and memories. Some questions are personal. Ask if it’s okay to talk with others about what they have told you. Also remember that some questions may have answers that your grandparent would rather not discuss, or that are not age-appropriate for you right now. Be okay with being told no, and ask a different question.
Draw -- Some questions may have answers you can draw! For example, if your grandfather describes his first truck, try drawing it! What about your grandmother’s wedding dress?
Record -- Maybe you will want to keep a record of your grandparent’s memories. You could write them down and make a memory book, or record them using audio or video.
Grow -- Good stories and interesting facts can be lots of fun, but the point is really to grow your relationship with your grandparents and get to know them better! There may be times to ask questions, but there are even more times to just hang out and enjoy each other!
Before My Time is a collection of questions for multiple generations to enjoy together,
Where did your family shop when you were young?
Do you remember your first day of school?
What is the hardest thing you have ever done?
What was your first home as a newlywed like?
Is there a skill you have that you could teach me?
When you were a child, what did kids do at recess?
What was your first paying job?
What were each of your children like when they were young?
What has been your favorite age to be so far?
When did you first meet/hold me?
... and more 12 Things You Can Do With This
Ask -- This is a collection of questions! Some are just for fun, some will give you a better idea of family history, and some can inspire you in your own life. Ask a question or two at a time, or mark your favorites and sit down for an interview. Be sure to ask your grandparent if they are willing to do an interview!
Include -- Some questions are specific to families, but a lot of them are not. You can include any older family friend in your question asking.
Think -- You may need creative ways to ask questions if your grandparents don’t live nearby. Maybe you could write, call, or video chat.
Look -- The questions cover a lot of topics. Look through them for things you want to know, or that you think your grandparent would have a good story for.
Listen -- When you ask a question, be ready to pay attention and really listen to the answer! Don’t interrupt, and if the story makes you think of other questions, ask them at an appropriate time in the conversation.
Wait -- Sometimes getting an answer to a question will take patience. Grandparents have collected a lot more experiences and memories than you have. It may take some time to sort through memories to find the answer. (Sometimes days!)
Share -- You will have answers to some of these questions, too! Be ready to share your experiences with your grandparents – they are interested to hear about your life as well!
Learn -- For some questions, your grandparents may be passing along tips and advice for life. Take it from someone who has already been there and done that, and remember the advice for when you need it!
Honor -- Respect your grandparent’s life and memories. Some questions are personal. Ask if it’s okay to talk with others about what they have told you. Also remember that some questions may have answers that your grandparent would rather not discuss, or that are not age-appropriate for you right now. Be okay with being told no, and ask a different question.
Draw -- Some questions may have answers you can draw! For example, if your grandfather describes his first truck, try drawing it! What about your grandmother’s wedding dress?
Record -- Maybe you will want to keep a record of your grandparent’s memories. You could write them down and make a memory book, or record them using audio or video.
Grow -- Good stories and interesting facts can be lots of fun, but the point is really to grow your relationship with your grandparents and get to know them better! There may be times to ask questions, but there are even more times to just hang out and enjoy each other!
96 pages, Paperback
Published November 8, 2021
About the author
Lisa Martens
10 books7 followersNew Yorker, writer, just finished my MFA in Creative Writing. Living in Harlem but that may change if you have a comfy couch.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
No one has reviewed this book yet.