Five Life Questions You Should Ask Your Parents Sooner Rather than Later
One of the undeniable realities of life is that it is fleeting and we are not guaranteed tomorrow. With this realization in mind, ask your parents the following five questions sooner rather than later:
- Can you write my child’s name in your handwriting?
- Can you write a letter to my child/children discussing what you love most about them and your future hopes for them?
- Can you share your favorite childhood memory?
- Can you share your favorite memory from when I was a child?
- What do you want to leave to your grandchild/grandchildren and why?
Five Life Questions Go Viral
These five questions received national attention when Courtney Lopez Gervais, a mother in Tennessee, posted a TikTok video revealing what she wished she asked her own mother before her unexpected passing. Gervais explained that she posted the video with the hopes of inspiring others to ask their parents those five questions while they are still alive.
Gervais highlighted the fact that she had a great relationship with her mother and was in frequent contact due to their strong bond. Nevertheless, after her mother died in 2021 due to melanoma, Gervais realized she did not know certain details about her mother’s life and wanted to be able to share more details of her mother’s life with her own children, a 2-year-old daughter, a 9-month-old son and a stepdaughter.
Gervais indicated her biggest regrets were not being inquisitive about her mother’s childhood and formative years. “I wish that I just would have spent more time learning truly about who she was and what made her the way that she [was],” said Gervais in her TikTok video.
What Do You Know About Your Parents?
The five questions to ask your parents are an encapsulation of key moments both in their life and cherished moments experienced in your life. They are an effort to gain a better understanding of how your parents developed and navigated the world, the moments they value most while serving in the role of your parent, and as a tool to capture valuable life lessons that can be passed on to the next generation.
In addition to asking your parents the five questions listed above, consider initiating a legacy plan with the assistance of InSight Law. Our unique legacy planning service features “Priceless Conversations” which affords a structure to share and preserve memories, accomplishments, and the meaning of life that can be passed down to future generations. Learn more about our legacy planning service here.