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  3. What are some questions you wish you asked your parents while you still could?

What are some questions you wish you asked your parents while you still could?

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  • 2 [email protected]

    My parents are getting older and I think about their mortality daily.. it's crushing. I wonder if there are things I'll regret not talking to them about while I had the chance.

    crazi_man@europe.pubC This user is from outside of this forum
    crazi_man@europe.pubC This user is from outside of this forum
    [email protected]
    wrote on last edited by
    #3

    They may be literally the only source of detailed information about your day to day childhood.

    Also their thoughts and feelings and who they are as a person (and how this has changed over time).

    If you want to know these things, then you better start having long conversations with them directly.

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    • 2 [email protected]
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      wrote on last edited by
      #4

      Do you get to spend much time with them?

      I still have my parents, luckily, but I can only imagine when they're gone I'll regret not just being around them more while they're here, rather than regretting not asking them something in particular...

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      4
      • 2 [email protected]
        This post did not contain any content.
        F This user is from outside of this forum
        F This user is from outside of this forum
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        wrote on last edited by [email protected]
        #5

        Why were you such absolute shit parents?

        (I already know the answer)

        Edit: I had no idea my parents were on Lemmy… Obviously, they would downvote… why anyone would agree with being shit parents, I can’t imagine, but your kids will be here to talk all about it, and very soon

        To all the shitty parents out there: fuck you. You will get yours.

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        8
        • 2 [email protected]
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          7 This user is from outside of this forum
          7 This user is from outside of this forum
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          wrote on last edited by
          #6

          What did I do to deserve your hate

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          4
          • 2 [email protected]
            This post did not contain any content.
            damonsterknees@lemmy.worldD This user is from outside of this forum
            damonsterknees@lemmy.worldD This user is from outside of this forum
            [email protected]
            wrote on last edited by
            #7

            What in the blue applesauce fuck were you thinking marrying this deficient human being and then dying young and leaving me with them. Dad, not cool bro.

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              wrote on last edited by
              #8

              What did I do to make you not like me? You liked my sibling.

              Why was everything I did worthy of your contempt?

              Why did you make my transition to adulthood so much harder than it should have been?

              Why did you move me to a car-dependent area, make it so it was impossible for me to get a car, and use the fact I was useless against me?

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              • 2 [email protected]
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                M This user is from outside of this forum
                M This user is from outside of this forum
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                wrote on last edited by
                #9

                I should probably ask my dad more about 9/11 while he's still alive. He was there and escaped.

                But he never seemed like he wanted to talk about it, and I never asked.

                crackhappy@lemmy.worldC 1 Reply Last reply
                7
                • 2 [email protected]
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                  T This user is from outside of this forum
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                  wrote on last edited by
                  #10

                  Why the fuck did you decide to have kids you sorry piece of shit?

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                    wrote on last edited by [email protected]
                    #11

                    They're still alive, but I really hate talking to them. I wanna ask about what China was like when they grew up, like a sort of documentary interview type of thing and I write down the answers so I have first hand account of it. Because I didn't have much memories of it, I was only a kid at the time when we left for the US.

                    But asking questions like that really feels awkward since they'd start saying shit like "Look how much we sacrificed for you" and all that shit, so nah I'm good, I heard enough when they were talking to each other in the living room and through their phone calls with friends and relatives, I get the gist of it, they suffered a lot so therefore they think its okay to get "strict" with kids (aka: neglect and emotional abuse and manipulation), I don't need to ask for specifics I've heard enough.

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                    • 2 [email protected]
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                      wrote on last edited by
                      #12

                      Why wereyou such a vitriolic nasty piece of shit?

                      But there is really no need. I already know the answer to that question.

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                      3
                      • 2 [email protected]

                        My parents are getting older and I think about their mortality daily.. it's crushing. I wonder if there are things I'll regret not talking to them about while I had the chance.

                        P This user is from outside of this forum
                        P This user is from outside of this forum
                        [email protected]
                        wrote on last edited by [email protected]
                        #13

                        Damn these comments are depressing.

                        WELL OP, I was falling asleep to the same existential dread yesterday and was wondering the same thing. I think the best gut instinct is since your parents are still around, whatever you wanna ask them is worth asking cause the best thing is getting to talk to them and connect in any way while they’re still around or have their wits about.

                        I had a coworker who lived far from his mom and lamented that he visits her only on holidays and that if he counted how many visits were left, he was mortified at the idea of seeing his mother only 20 or so more times. So, he made some changes to visit her more often.

                        I used to think I had to ask my parents questions but I realized lately, I’m more interested in making sure I get to make new memories with them, go to new places with them, take photos, don’t argue about the small stuff, and try to live in the now while I’m lucky enough to have it.

                        Quick edit: it may be worth asking them what memory or something they’d like to pass along and have you hold onto? There’s always something lost between generations (I sure know nothing of my great grandparents), but if they’d like to have a story remembered, a recipe, anything.

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                          wrote on last edited by
                          #14

                          Nah, I'm good. Their advice has always been more about how I should live my life to please them. They would never give me advice that would improve MY life, only theirs.

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                          1
                          • 2 [email protected]
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                            J This user is from outside of this forum
                            J This user is from outside of this forum
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                            wrote on last edited by
                            #15

                            Dad,

                            What was your favorite DnD character you played growing up?

                            What was your favorite video game?

                            What was the name of that 90’s hentai vhs you offered that I didn’t take?

                            What were you running from by drinking?

                            crackhappy@lemmy.worldC 1 Reply Last reply
                            3
                            • J [email protected]

                              Dad,

                              What was your favorite DnD character you played growing up?

                              What was your favorite video game?

                              What was the name of that 90’s hentai vhs you offered that I didn’t take?

                              What were you running from by drinking?

                              crackhappy@lemmy.worldC This user is from outside of this forum
                              crackhappy@lemmy.worldC This user is from outside of this forum
                              [email protected]
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #16

                              I'm not your Dad, but I feel like I am,

                              1. I used to play as a level 18 gargoyle. Like, the stone creature. He was awesome.
                              2. All time favorite video game? Hmmm... hmm.... probably flight simulator. I've played it since it first came out version 1.0, and still play it. I'm not sure if that qualifies though.
                              3. Ranma 1/2
                              4. I can't actually answer that effectively. Certainly not from you. Perhaps from myself?
                              1 Reply Last reply
                              1
                              • M [email protected]

                                I should probably ask my dad more about 9/11 while he's still alive. He was there and escaped.

                                But he never seemed like he wanted to talk about it, and I never asked.

                                crackhappy@lemmy.worldC This user is from outside of this forum
                                crackhappy@lemmy.worldC This user is from outside of this forum
                                [email protected]
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #17

                                It's been 24 years, I think that if you're going to ask, now is an appropriate time.

                                M 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • 2 [email protected]
                                  This post did not contain any content.
                                  crackhappy@lemmy.worldC This user is from outside of this forum
                                  crackhappy@lemmy.worldC This user is from outside of this forum
                                  [email protected]
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #18

                                  I want to inject some positivity into this thread. My dad, who is turning 79 in a week, will be visiting soon. We're going to present him with the most bedazzled outrageous and frankly disgusting hat I've ever heard of or seen or thought of. It's shockingly pink, covered in rhinestones and spells out his name in another language that he'll immediately recognize.

                                  I also got him a cool ass travel mug for his coffee.

                                  I won't have any questions for him. We have a great relationship. I'll miss him when he's gone.

                                  2 1 Reply Last reply
                                  2
                                  • crackhappy@lemmy.worldC [email protected]

                                    It's been 24 years, I think that if you're going to ask, now is an appropriate time.

                                    M This user is from outside of this forum
                                    M This user is from outside of this forum
                                    [email protected]
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #19

                                    I also don't know what I'd ask. It just seems so personal.

                                    2 1 Reply Last reply
                                    1
                                    • 2 [email protected]
                                      This post did not contain any content.
                                      D This user is from outside of this forum
                                      D This user is from outside of this forum
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                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #20

                                      Who are all these people in the photographs you inherited from your own parents, then I did from you? How were they related to me?

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      1
                                      • P [email protected]

                                        Damn these comments are depressing.

                                        WELL OP, I was falling asleep to the same existential dread yesterday and was wondering the same thing. I think the best gut instinct is since your parents are still around, whatever you wanna ask them is worth asking cause the best thing is getting to talk to them and connect in any way while they’re still around or have their wits about.

                                        I had a coworker who lived far from his mom and lamented that he visits her only on holidays and that if he counted how many visits were left, he was mortified at the idea of seeing his mother only 20 or so more times. So, he made some changes to visit her more often.

                                        I used to think I had to ask my parents questions but I realized lately, I’m more interested in making sure I get to make new memories with them, go to new places with them, take photos, don’t argue about the small stuff, and try to live in the now while I’m lucky enough to have it.

                                        Quick edit: it may be worth asking them what memory or something they’d like to pass along and have you hold onto? There’s always something lost between generations (I sure know nothing of my great grandparents), but if they’d like to have a story remembered, a recipe, anything.

                                        2 This user is from outside of this forum
                                        2 This user is from outside of this forum
                                        [email protected]
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #21

                                        This was beautiful. Thank you ❤️

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • M [email protected]

                                          I also don't know what I'd ask. It just seems so personal.

                                          2 This user is from outside of this forum
                                          2 This user is from outside of this forum
                                          [email protected]
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #22

                                          "Do you ever think about your experience on 9/11?"

                                          If you're comfortable asking that, his reply might indicate whether he'd be willing to talk more about it.

                                          Good luck ❤️

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