If we're lucky, we'll celebrate dozens of Mother's Days with the wonderful women who brought us into this world. But while we may do a good job of lavishing attention upon them every May, how often do we invite our moms to share their "motherhood experiences" with us?
I've spoken with moms whose "little munchkins" are now senior citizens, but that doesn't mean that these 60+ year-old adults are no longer their "babies." After so many years and a blur of Mother's Days, we often neglect to provide a space of sharing and celebration for this ageless connection between moms and their children. And I can't think of a better way to do this than by opening the door to those beautiful stories and memories … just by asking a simple question or two.
And what better story to begin with than the moment it all began? Most questions in a life-story interview are customized to the individual, but there are a few standard ones that I always like to throw out. "Are there any special stories that you recall hearing about your birth?" is a favorite. Although I'm often met with a blank stare, I keep asking the question … because every now and then, I see a light switch on in those searching eyes, and a really amazing story surfaces --- surprising and delighting both of us!
So with Mother's Day just a month away, I encourage you to take some time to really hone-in on what this special day is all about.
Ask your mom to share with you, for example, her memories around your birth --- finding out that she was expecting, planning for your arrival, going to the hospital (or staying home), and adjusting to life with a newborn. Then move on to other questions about early motherhood ---managing household responsibilities, sending the kids to school, and spending time together as a family.
Here are some sample questions to get you started:
- What were your early surprises about motherhood?
- What were your dreams for your children?
- What was your husband like as a parent?
- Describe a typical day with your kids when they were young.
- How did your relationship with your spouse change after having kids?
- How did you discipline your children?
- How did financial circumstances affect your family life?
- What did you learn from your children?
Or make a point to share some of your own early-parenthood memories with your children. You'll be amazed at the sweet remembrances that will come flooding back … and how much fun the storytelling will be for moms and kids of all ages.
I've spoken with moms whose "little munchkins" are now senior citizens, but that doesn't mean that these 60+ year-old adults are no longer their "babies." After so many years and a blur of Mother's Days, we often neglect to provide a space of sharing and celebration for this ageless connection between moms and their children. And I can't think of a better way to do this than by opening the door to those beautiful stories and memories … just by asking a simple question or two.
And what better story to begin with than the moment it all began? Most questions in a life-story interview are customized to the individual, but there are a few standard ones that I always like to throw out. "Are there any special stories that you recall hearing about your birth?" is a favorite. Although I'm often met with a blank stare, I keep asking the question … because every now and then, I see a light switch on in those searching eyes, and a really amazing story surfaces --- surprising and delighting both of us!
So with Mother's Day just a month away, I encourage you to take some time to really hone-in on what this special day is all about.
Ask your mom to share with you, for example, her memories around your birth --- finding out that she was expecting, planning for your arrival, going to the hospital (or staying home), and adjusting to life with a newborn. Then move on to other questions about early motherhood ---managing household responsibilities, sending the kids to school, and spending time together as a family.
Here are some sample questions to get you started:
- What were your early surprises about motherhood?
- What were your dreams for your children?
- What was your husband like as a parent?
- Describe a typical day with your kids when they were young.
- How did your relationship with your spouse change after having kids?
- How did you discipline your children?
- How did financial circumstances affect your family life?
- What did you learn from your children?
Or make a point to share some of your own early-parenthood memories with your children. You'll be amazed at the sweet remembrances that will come flooding back … and how much fun the storytelling will be for moms and kids of all ages.
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