Quirks, Bumps, and Bruises
Take a trip with the Morning JoyRide®️ as Melody discusses the humorous side of real issues facing families today.
Quirks, Bumps, and Bruises
Before They're Gone: Conversations That Preserve Family History
How many of us have said, “I wish I had asked them about that”? It’s a quiet kind of heartbreak—realizing that the stories, wisdom, and memories we never thought to ask for are now out of reach. In the final days of her father’s life, Melody watched her niece thoughtfully document his memories. That simple but powerful act became the inspiration for this episode.
Every family holds a treasure trove of untold stories—childhood adventures, long-held dreams, quiet regrets, and cherished traditions. In this episode, Melody offers a list of meaningful questions that go beyond small talk to uncover the heart of what makes a family truly special.
Some questions may spark laughter. Others may bring tears. But each one creates space for deeper connection—revealing legacy, healing old wounds, and strengthening bonds across generations.
Melody’s hope is simple: Don’t wait. Ask the questions. Listen with intention. Preserve the stories that one day will mean everything.
Hi, I'm Melody and you're listening to Quirks, bumps and Bruises. On this episode of Quirks, bumps and Bruises, we're talking about questions that we should ask our parents, our grandparents, before they're no longer with us. And for the past few months, I have a niece that was around our family a lot, and especially in the days and weeks leading up to the passing of my dad, and she had bought a book that had all kinds of questions that she was asking my dad from his life, and I think sometimes that we forget to do that, to forget to ask our parents or our grandparents certain questions that you want to carry down for generations to come, to your kids, to your grandkids and their kids. It seems like we'll always find ourselves wishing that we had asked our parent that one thing before it became too late. Today I'd like to share a few questions that, if your parents are still living or your grandparents are still living, that you may want to ask them. The first one is what was your childhood like? Things like mischief that they got into with their siblings, some punishments that they had to take because of bad choices, or the time that grandma burned the kitchen down, that kind of thing. Just some memories, some ideas, some things from their childhood. Another one is how did mom and dad, or grandmother and grandfather, how did you meet each other? That's just a classic question how did you meet? Another what were your biggest dreams? What were your biggest hopes? What were those things that you just always wanted? Maybe they wanted to be an astronaut, or open up a bakery, or it could be as simple as they wanted to be a professional surfer. I don't know what that would be, but what were their hopes and dreams?
Speaker 0:Another what's the real story behind some of the family traditions? You know, the same meal at a certain time, the same kind of jokes, the same kind of weird hat someone just insists on wearing every single day or for a particular holiday. Learn the origin behind the stories and it can make eye rolls from the past, when you kind of rolled your eyes when something happened every year, into a fondness, I guess you would say, into something that feels sacred and special to you and your family. Another thing is what's one thing you wish you'd done differently? You know that regret, that thing that you just wish you had done a different kind of way, and you might be surprised by the honesty or about how much they thought about different things. So that's another good one.
Speaker 0:How about this? What's the funniest thing that ever happened to you? Every family has at least one laugh until you cry story, but you might not know that one that kind of tops your mom or dad's list. Whatever that is, talk about it, laugh about it and pass it down. Here's another one.
Speaker 0:What life lesson do you hope that I will remember most? You know, like if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Those kinds of things. Every parent has a signature life lesson that they repeated to you, and so talk about those things.
Speaker 0:Another question what are you most proud of? Sometimes, behind every perfectly said I'm proud of you is a story of their own pride waiting to be told. So it could be running that first marathon, raising a child that ended up doing something phenomenal. But just give them space to brag a little bit and it could be more revealing than you think. How about this question what's the hardest thing you've ever been through? Resilience towards something doesn't grow in the sunshine, it grows in the storms. So asking your parents about their toughest times may kind of be heavy, a heavy topic, but it's where the real heartbeats of their story live. Sometimes it's a loss that they never spoke about or a challenge that changed them quietly, just piece by piece. So open that door to allowing them to tell you one of the hardest things they've ever been through.
Speaker 0:How about this? What's a family secret? You've never told me. Every family has at least one skeleton that rattles in that closet y'all, and it's probably less scandal and more maybe slightly embarrassing. But secrets can spice up the family stew, so to speak. So asking about it kind of shakes up the family tree and you're going to see what falls out, and sometimes it can be surprising, sometimes it could be eye rolling, I don't know, but sometimes you're going to get an amazing story from that.
Speaker 0:Another question how do you want to be remembered? Legacy is a big word for a simple question. What do you want people to say about you when you're not here anymore? That's a big one. Here's another what's something you've never understood about me? Every parent has that one thing about you that makes them just seem a little confused. Maybe you have an obsession with avocado toast, or you just refuse to do certain things. Asking them what they just don't understand or what they don't get is just kind of a playful, fun way to bridge the generational gap without starting a debate over like technology or something. So that's a fun question.
Speaker 0:Another what's your favorite memory of us together? Ask that question and your parents' face will go soft. It's something that kind of will transport you both back to that camping trip you took, the time you were dancing together in the kitchen, or the time you accidentally dyed the dog a different color. Those memories are the glue that holds all the other stories together. This one could be big.
Speaker 0:What's something you wish you had told your parents? So, no matter how grown up we get, there's always something unsaid between parents and their parents. Maybe it's an apology, maybe it's a thank you or a confession when you so-called borrowed the car. So when you ask your parent what they wish they'd told their own folks, you're inviting that rare time together to talk through some things. And that will always be hard, but yet a moment that you will never forget.
Speaker 0:And then this question what's a piece of advice you got that changed everything? So just that nugget of wisdom that changed the trajectory of your life. What would that be? And then, is there anything that you're still dreaming of? That's always a good question to ask Is there anything that you'd still love to do? And then, what do you wish for me in the future? Ask that question. There's nothing like asking a parent about your future to get the misty eyes going.
Speaker 0:But beyond the obvious of happiness and health, their wishes may surprise you.
Speaker 0:Sometimes it's as simple as hoping you'll always have good friends in your life. Obviously that the Lord would be the center and the focus of everything you do. But that question is your chance to hear the heart behind all those reminders that you had in the past about sunscreen and how to manage your money. And their wishes for you come from a place of hope and love and a desire to see you thrive, even if the delivery sometimes comes wrapped in advice that you kind of really didn't want. But let them dream out loud for you, because hearing their hopes can be comforting, empowering or even a little bit freeing. And after all, knowing someone's rooting for you unconditionally is one of life's best gifts. So take it in, write it down, because everyone needs a little reminder of how fiercely they're loved every now and again, right? So those are just some questions today to ask your parents, to ask your grandparents or loved ones in your life and it opens up just a world of wonderful conversation between you and the ones you love most.
