December – Mom and Dad’s Favorite Childhood Memories
December is often a big month for different reasons to different people
It’s the end of the year.
Religious celebrations – Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa/Qwanza…
The weather is changing – warm in the south, cold in the north.
It’s Different this Time of Year
This time of year, no matter what is happending, tends to be a bit different than the rest of the year. Not only is it the last month of the year a time for some major religious celebrations, it’s a commercial event, and it is also when the weather often changes in most places around the world. Some places get really cold, some see a mild change, and some get warmer.
Do you know much about your mom or dad’s life as a child around this time of year?
Questions to ask your parents in December
When your Mom or Dad was a child or a teen.
1. Did you celebrate Christmas? Hanukkah? Kwanzaa/Qwanza? Other? How did you celebrate? What kind of things did you do?
2. What was your favorite thing to do at this time of year?
3. How long of a break did you get off from school in December, for the end of the year? Or did you?
4. What was your favorite thing to eat this time of year? Did your mom or your family make a special dish? or treats? Did you help make them?
5. Did you see people this time of year that you normally didn’t see any other time of the year – family, friends, neighbors?
Questions to ask your parents in December
6. Did you do anything special at this time of year? Did you do anything different in December, that you didn’t do any other time of the year?
7. Did you play games? What games? With who?
8. Did you do some special family gathering? What? Who was there?
9. Did you travel anywhere at this time of year? If so where? Why?
10. Favorite memory of this time of year?
11. What’s something you wished you had been able to do as a child or teen at this time of year?
What are some other quetions you’d like to ask your mom or dad about this time of year?
Glenna Mageau is the author of Do You Know Your Mom's Story? and Do You Know Your Dad's Story? She is passionate about helping families start meaningful conversations, preserve precious memories, and discover the stories that make each family unique. Through her books, articles, and resources, Glenna encourages people to ask the questions that matter—before it's too late.
Because every story matters. Every life matters. Every memory matters.
Conversation Starter
Ask your mom or dad:
"What did a perfect summer day look like when you were ten years old?"
