Being a Grandparent

What are your grandchildren’s names, ages, and where do they live?

Where were you, what did you do, and how did you feel when you learned you were a grandparent (or were going to be a grandparent)?

How did you envision yourself as a grandparent?

How are you involved in your grandchildren’s lives? How would you like to be involved?

What is satisfying about being a grandparent? Describe some specific things you like to do as a grandparent.

How did your relationship with your child change when you became a grandparent?

How are your attitudes and feelings different as a grandparent than as a parent? What are you doing with your grandchild that you wish you had done with your child? What are your challenges as a grandparent?

What have you learned about your child from seeing them as parents? If asked, what parenting advice would you give?

How would you describe yourself as a grandparent?

Tell something encouraging about each grandchild.

How would you like your grandchildren to remember you?

Later Adult Years

How have you fared with your health? What in the way of a health history would you want younger family members to know: disabilities, allergies, surgeries, accidents, doctors? What formula of living a healthy life would you recommend?

Have you been widowed? What were some of the adjustments you had to make. Describe how you coped with your loneliness.

Did you go back to work? Did you volunteer in some organization? Did you remarry?

What are some of the technological changes that have occurred in your lifetime? Describe some of the progress/changes you have seen regarding science, medicine, education, entertainment, etc.

What is the source of your income? If you are working, tell about your job. If you have retired, tell about the transition from full-time or part-time job to full-time life. What was the hardest part of the adjustment? What are some of the unexpected benefits? What do you enjoy most about not going to your last job? What do you do now that had to put off while you were working?

Tell about special family gatherings and celebrations.

When do you see your extended family? How do you keep in touch?

At this time, how would you describe your spiritual life? What do you need to do to feel you are on your spiritual path?

What changes in priorities have you made for this time of your life?

What matters most to you now and how do you make it part of your daily life?

Which are the values you’ve had that have endured or strengthened as you’ve grown older?

Write about the things that bring you personal satisfaction today.

Okay, you have 5 wishes. They will come true. What are they?

What are you grateful for during this time of your life? Give a sense of why this is important to you now.

Do you fear old age?

Do you have a fear of being a burden, of having to go to a nursing home?

What do you worry about the most now?

What are your views on death and dying?

How do you feel about your life right now?

What are you looking forward to?

The philosopher Will Durant called death the wisest of inventories. "When it comes," he said, "I hope I have the wits and grace to look back gratefully upon life and say to my children and grandchildren, ‘It was good.’"