50 Questions to Ask Your Dad Before it’s Too Late

When was the last time you had a conversation with your dad that wasn’t centered around getting help with something around the house, fixing a car issue or asking him for a favor? 

In my family, everyone calls my dad for advice on how to fix things around the house. He is like MacGyver when it comes to home or car repairs. I really don’t know what my mom would do without him. But more than being an all-around handyman, my dad always gives the best advice. He’s even-keeled and logical and is able to look at a situation as an outsider and give an unbiased opinion that’s really helpful in emotionally charged situations.

Since Father’s Day is today, I wanted to ask my dad a few questions to get to know him better. I never want to have any regrets or wish that I had asked my parents something before it’s too late. So, I interviewed him on our porch last night after we had our ice cream dessert and he was in a relaxed mood. I gathered these 50 questions through various internet searches and I also sprinkled in a few of my own. 

Hopefully these questions can serve as a starting point to getting to know your dad (or mom) better. The interview took about an hour and I learned some things about my dad that I never even knew before! You’ll be surprised at what comes out when you take the time to ask meaningful questions to your loved ones. Don’t wait before you don’t have that chance anymore. 

Childhood Years

1. Did you know your grandparents? What were they like?  What were their hobbies, jobs, etc.? 
2. How did your parents meet?
3. What traits did you most admire about your dad? What do you remember most about him? 
4. What traits did you most admire about your mom? What do you remember most about her?
5. What did you love to do as a kid, before high school? 
6. What was the hardest thing you went through as a child? How did you overcome it?
7. What are your best memories of holidays or family gatherings as a child?
8. What three adjectives would your parents use to describe you?
9. If you could go back to one day in your childhood, which day would that be? Why?
10. How are you most different from your parents and grandparents? How are you the same?
11. What did your parents do with you that you loved? What did they do that you didn’t enjoy so much?
12. As a kid, what did you think you wanted to do for a living?
13. What’s one thing your mom or dad always used to tell you growing up that turned out to be true?

High School Years

14. Did you ever win an award in elementary or high school?
15. What was your first job and how did it go?
16. Did you have a mentor growing up? Who did you go to for advice as a teenager? How did they coach you? What made them good at it? 
17. What did a typical Friday night look like for you at age 17?
18. How would people who knew you in high school describe you?
19. What did you love to do in high school?

Adult Years

20. Is there anything that you wish you had asked your parents but didn’t?
21. Who was the first person you said “I love you” to in a romantic context? Did she say it back?
22. How did you meet Mom?
23. What was the moment you realized you wanted to marry Mom?
24. Why did you choose your college and your degree?
25. How did you choose your career and what was your favorite part about it?
26. What are 3 takeaways you learned from your career?
27. What are your favorite memories of our family when all the kids were at home?

Senior Years (65+) Hindsight and General Questions

28. How has your idea of what it means to be a man changed over the span of your life?
29. Are there things you wish you had done differently as a father?
30. When do you feel the happiest?
31. What are the three happiest moments in your life so far?
32. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
33. Is there something you’ve always wanted to do, but never got the chance?
34. What do you enjoy most about being a father? The least?
35. Do you think today’s fathers have things harder or easier than you had them?
36. What traditions did your father pass on to you that you passed on to your children?
37. What was one of the hardest moments you had being a father and why was it hard?
38. If you could impart one piece of parenting advice to me as your child, what would it be?
39. In what ways are we alike and in what ways are we different? 
40. When you think about [sibling] how would you describe him/her? What message do you have for [sibling]  that you want them to always keep in mind? 
41. When you think about mom, how would you describe her? What message do you have for Mom that you want her to always keep in mind? 
42. Is there anything you ever wanted to tell us (me) but have not? What message would you like to share with your family?
43. What is the secret to raising good kids?
44. What are you most proud of in life? 
45. What do you think the world needs more of right now?
46. What are you most thankful for?
47. Are you where you thought you’d be at this point in your life?
48. What mistakes taught you the most about life?
49. As my father, what advice do you have for my future husband?
50. How do you want to be remembered? What do you want to make sure that my children and grandchildren will remember about you?

The biggest surprise I learned from this interview is that apparently my mom was the first and only woman he ever said “I love you” to. Also, his answer to the question, “When do you feel the happiest?” perfectly sums up my dad and his selfless nature. His answer, “When everyone else is happy that’s around me at the time.” That’s my dad…he’s always been his happiest just enjoying quality time with family. We’ve always been his priority. I love him so much and am so proud to be his daughter.

xoxo,