My Mum – one of the most influential and wonderful people in my life. This article was written in 2009 two years before Mum passed away. 30 questions for my Mum may seem a little unusual to write about but it became obvious to me that there were lots of interesting things about her life that I never knew. And she lived for an amazing 99 years! All the new, startling and incredible things she saw in her lifetime! Here is an updated version of the original article. Perhaps it will inspire you to ask your own family members questions, and write the answers down for your children and grandchildren.
Memories of My Mum
Notes:
- Question relevancy often relates directly to the age, and health, of your parent
- Not all these questions will bring back happy memories, so some we skipped
- Obviously these questions would be for either parent or even an older sibling
- Old family photos from 100 years ago, especially childhood photos, are very rare and precious
- Some photos courtesy of P. Ellis
- The first photo in the gallery was a Wattle n’Daub home constructed by our Great Grandmother around circa 1890’s. The home and property were sold for development in the 1990’s. Truly defines “home-made from scratch”.
These questions to Mum, and her answers, provided many happy moments, laughter (and speculation!) for us over the last few years of her life, and in later conversations with my own siblings and children. Be ready for unpredictable answers and unusual stories. This time has given me special memories to cherish all my life!
Happy Mother’s Day to all our special Mum’s.
30 Questions for My Mum
- Did you have a favourite place as a child
- What was your happiest time growing up
- Do you remember the home you first lived in
- What can you remember about it
- Did it have electricity – kerosene lamps
- Where did the water come from – a rain water tank
- How many rooms in your home
- Was there a vegetable garden
- Do you love gardening and did you garden as a child
- Did you help with the chores, like milking the family cow, feeding the “chooks” (aka chickens) and pigs
- What was school like
- How did you get to school. By horse or walk
- Do you remember any teachers, stories, books that were special and why
- Did you own a car or travel by horse and buggy
- What games did you play with your brothers and sisters besides cricket
- Did you have to work and help your parents with chores
- Did you have pets besides your horse, such as a dog, cat or cockie
- Did you have chickens, cows, etc. which had to be looked after
- How old were you when you moved to the City (Melbourne)
- What was Uncle Charles and Auntie Lou’s house like (where Mum lived in Melbourne)
- Where did you go shopping. At the Victoria Market
- Did you have a favourite place. To go fishing, walking, etc?
- What about cooking. Did you help your mum.
- What is your favourite recipe perhaps Pavlova or lamingtons
- What is your favourite food (beside lamb)
- Where did you meet Dad and how old were you
- Do you remember your first “date”
- Where did you live when you were first married
- Where was the first home you bought. Tell me all about it!
- Where was I born?
Links & References:
- The sinking of the Titanic
- She rode in one of Henry Fords Tin Lizzie cars
- WWI 1914 – 1918
- Lindberg’s first Atlantic flight 1927
- The Roaring 20’s & The Great Depression 1929 – 1932
- WWII 1939 – 1945
- The discovery of the polio vaccine in 1955 by Jonas Salk
- Watched the summer Olympics on the debut of TV to Australia in 1956
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