20 Questions To Get To Know Your Relatives In A New Way

Family can be like those go-to worn-in jeans that you find yourself slipping out of your closet over and over again. They don’t require much thought, because you know what to expect when you put them on. Family is called “family” for a reason, right? They’re familiar.

Are you expecting another holiday gathering where grandma tells the same story from fifteen Christmases ago and Uncle Greg falls asleep in his chair? Try shaking up your holiday season gatherings by asking your relatives some of these questions.

Just like those worn-in jeans, your family can still surprise you—when you add something fresh into the mix. Don’t let Great Aunt Gladys intimidate you! Persist with these questions and it’ll pay off with a chance to connect in a new way.

1. Who are the five greatest musicians of all time?
2. What stories did your parents and grandparents tell you about our ancestors?
3. When did you first realize that you loved your partner?
4. What’s your favorite thing about our family member sitting to your left?
5. What’s your greatest achievement?
6. When do you feel happiest?
7. What were you doing when you were my age/what do you hope to do when you turn my age?
8. What’s a bad habit that you want to break?
9. If you could pick a different name for yourself, what name would you choose?
10. What three things can you not live without?
11. If you pray, what was the last thing you prayed about?
12. Do you think technology is doing more harm or good for society?
13. What’s the worst thing you did as a kid?
14. If you could travel back in time to any era of history, which would you choose?
15. What do you do when you’re stressed out?
16. If you could start your dream job tomorrow, where would it be and what would you do?
17. What’s been the greatest invention of your lifetime?
18. Have you ever met anyone famous?
19. What have you always wanted to ask me?
20. What’s one mantra that you live by?

Jasmine Berry, B.A. in Journalism is a graduate of Hampton University and is soon to have her master of public health from Tulane University. She loves all things mental wellness and a good cup of tea.

Family can be like those go-to worn-in jeans that you find yourself slipping out of your closet over and over again. They don’t require much thought, because you know what to expect when you put them on. Family is called “family” for a reason, right? They’re familiar.

Are you expecting another holiday gathering where grandma tells the same story from fifteen Christmases ago and Uncle Greg falls asleep in his chair? Try shaking up your holiday season gatherings by asking your relatives some of these questions.

Just like those worn-in jeans, your family can still surprise you—when you add something fresh into the mix. Don’t let Great Aunt Gladys intimidate you! Persist with these questions and it’ll pay off with a chance to connect in a new way.

1. Who are the five greatest musicians of all time?
2. What stories did your parents and grandparents tell you about our ancestors?
3. When did you first realize that you loved your partner?
4. What’s your favorite thing about our family member sitting to your left?
5. What’s your greatest achievement?
6. When do you feel happiest?
7. What were you doing when you were my age/what do you hope to do when you turn my age?
8. What’s a bad habit that you want to break?
9. If you could pick a different name for yourself, what name would you choose?
10. What three things can you not live without?
11. If you pray, what was the last thing you prayed about?
12. Do you think technology is doing more harm or good for society?
13. What’s the worst thing you did as a kid?
14. If you could travel back in time to any era of history, which would you choose?
15. What do you do when you’re stressed out?
16. If you could start your dream job tomorrow, where would it be and what would you do?
17. What’s been the greatest invention of your lifetime?
18. Have you ever met anyone famous?
19. What have you always wanted to ask me?
20. What’s one mantra that you live by?

Jasmine Berry, B.A. in Journalism is a graduate of Hampton University and is soon to have her master of public health from Tulane University. She loves all things mental wellness and a good cup of tea.