 Ask your mom these 5 meaningful questions this Mother’s Day and preserve her story for generations to come! Mother’s Day is the perfect time to show appreciation for the women who raised us—and also an opportunity to preserve their stories. Whether you’re spending today with your mother, remembering her, or honoring a grandmother, aunt, or other maternal figure, don’t miss the chance to ask (or answer) a few simple but meaningful questions. As a genealogist, I know that the small conversations we have today become the precious records of tomorrow. So this Mother’s Day, try asking these five questions—either directly to your mother or someone who knew her well. 1. What was your mom like growing up? This question opens the door to stories about your grandmother’s childhood—stories that often aren’t written down anywhere. You might discover a surprising detail about her school days, friendships, or personality. 2. What is your favorite family tradition from childhood? Whether it’s Sunday dinners, birthday rituals, or how holidays were celebrated, these traditions help shape our identity and deserve to be remembered—and perhaps even revived. 3. Do you remember your grandmother’s cooking (or recipes)? Food is often tied to memory. Ask about the dishes that brought comfort or joy in childhood. Even better, write down the recipes or prepare one today in her honor. 4. What was your hardest or proudest moment as a mother? This question invites reflection and can uncover powerful, personal stories of resilience, sacrifice, or joy. It’s one of those questions that often yields unexpectedly touching responses. 5. Is there a story you want passed down to future generations?Sometimes mothers just need to be asked. This is a gentle prompt to encourage legacy-sharing in their own words—a gift not just for you, but for your children and grandchildren as well. Whether you ask one question or all five, today is a chance to connect, reflect, and preserve part of your family history. If your mother is no longer here, consider journaling your answers to these questions as you remember her—or asking a relative who knew her well. Let this Mother’s Day be more than flowers and cards. Let it be a celebration of story, memory, and legacy. What would you ask your mother today? Share your favorite questions—or answers—in the comments below.
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 Celebrating Your German Ancestry during German-American Heritage Month! Not only is the month of October National Family History Month, but it is also German-American Heritage Month! To celebrate my German ancestry and honor my German immigrant ancestors, I thought I’d embrace my German heritage and ancestry by sharing a little about it, my ancestors, and ways you can celebrate your own German heritage and family history. 😊 What is German-American Day: German-American Day is a holiday in the United States, that is observed annually on October 6th. It celebrates German-American heritage and commemorates the founding of Germantown, Pennsylvania. It started off as German Day in 1883, to commemorate the 200 year anniversary of the landing of the first German families on October 6, 1683 in Philadelphia, but it died out during WWI. It was then brought back through proclamation in 1983, as German-American Day, by President Reagan. It was put into law by 1987. About German-American Heritage Month: German-American Heritage Month is observed in October. Stemming from German-American Day on October 6th, the month is also related to Germantown’s history and October 1683. It’s a month-long observance of German-American Heritage! German-Americans have contributed greatly to our society, ever since their families began settling in Pennsylvania in 1683. Did you know that 15% percent of Americans are of German descent and that they’re the largest ancestral group in the U.S.?! That’s a lot! German Influences on American Society and Culture: Did you know that kindergarten, graduate school, the social security system, and labor unions are all based on models that sprang from Germany? Did you know that the Christmas Tree, “gift-giving” Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny also came from Germany? German-Americans also introduced P.E. and vocational education in public schools. Recreational facilities can also be attributed to the German-Americans that helped shaped our country, as well as the forming of social clubs and groups. Do you like the “Weekend”? You can thank German-Americans for that too! There are many, many, German contributions to our society, and this list is in no way exhaustive. 😉 My German Immigrant Ancestors: My German immigrant ancestors were Johann Adam Steinman(n), Eva Elisabetha (Marquardt) Steinman(n), Peter Steinman, and Karl “Frank” Caesar “Smith”.
Johann Adam Steinman(n) and Eva Elisabetha (Marquardt) Steinman(n) were my 4th great grandparents, who left Erlenbach and emigrated to the U.S. on July 31, 1831 through the Port of Bremerhaven, arriving through the Port of Baltimore MD sometime between September 16-20, 1831. They emigrated together with their children, including my 3rd great grandfather, Peter Steinman, along with 2 of their nephews. They were part of the Oldenwald Emigration Group that included the Famous Dove shipwreck, which you can read about with the following links below. This group was a group of family, friends, and neighbors that got together to flee high taxes, military conscription of their sons, and expensive land, who were bound for Hancock County, Ohio. Most of them were farmers. My 3rd great grandfather lost his baby sibling during the journey, and he was “buried at sea”. They first settled in Pennsylvania, for the first 6 years or so, before reaching their original destination of Ohio. They had 2 more children here in the U.S. My 4th great grandparents were devout Lutherans and were members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hancock County, Ohio. Johann Adam was very well respected in his community and contributed greatly to it and the church.
Karl “Frank” Caesar “Smith” was my great grandfather who left Wiesbaden and emigrated to the U.S. through Rotterdam, arriving on April 7, 1893, through the Port of New York. The story told of why he immigrated was to flee his tyrant father and that his mother helped him to do so; although, the reason is still unknown. My great grandfather was said to not want to talk about Germany nor his family there. During my research, I'd come to learn that he had changed his name for some unknown reason, and that no one knew of his true name. We knew him as Frank Smith, and we were told that his name came from the German name Schmidt, which was untrue. He enrolled in the military right away, hearing that it would also help him to speed up his naturalization. It seemed that he left many of his German ties behind, and that the only thing left was his thick German accent, his love for Limburger Cheese, and his nostalgia of his homeland landscapes. He even built his home far back in the lot to have plenty of room to plant fruit trees and create a garden oasis in the remaining ¾ or so in the front of the house. Frank contributed to America by joining the military, by which he contracted T.B. and later died, leaving his wife and small children behind. My 3rd and 4th great grandparents are farther down the tree, and I had never met my great grandfather, so I thought I would keep their memories alive in another way, by celebrating them during German-American Heritage month. https://www.lutheranforum.com/blog/2017/8/3/lutherans-in-peril-on-the-sea https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=158918 https://jahcmft.blogspot.com/2017/09/coming-to-america-shipwreck.html https://mahalodonna.com/schiffbruchs-gottesdienst/ How you can observe German-American Heritage Month and Embrace Your German Ancestry: 1) Research your German ancestors! 1) Give voice to one of your German ancestors, through video, with MyHeritage’s DeepStory photo tool 2) Blog about one of your German Ancestors 3) Write a short biography on one of your German ancestors 4) Make a German heritage scrapbook 5) Join a parade, like a Steuben Parade 6) Visit a museum, like the German–American Heritage Museum 7) Visit a German town, such as Alpine Bavarian village in Vail CO, “Little Bavaria” in Frankenmuth MI, Helen GA, Fredericksburg TX, Hermann MO, Leavenworth WA, Castroville TX, Amana Colonies IA 8) Listen to German music (don’t like German music, then listen to some Broadway musicals, influenced from the Germans!) 9) Make some German Food (Don’t like German Food, then eat a hamburger or hot dog to commemorate; they originated from Germany!) 10) Go to a German restaurant 11) Go to a German bakery 12) Read up on the contributions Germans made to American society and culture 13) Join a German-American Heritage Festival 14) Join an Oktoberfest Celebration- Top 15 Oktoberfest Celebrations in the U.S. 15) Read German literature or a book form a German-American author 16) Research famous Americans with German heritage and learn about their accomplishments 17) Learn how to speak German or learn some German words 18) Use the hashtag, #GermanAmericanDay on social media to celebrate your German heritage 19) Trace the U.S. Presidents’, Theodore Roosevelt; Dwight D. Eisenhower; Herbert Hoover; Richard Nixon; George W. Bush; Barack Obama; and Donald Trump, German ancestry back to Germany 20) And this list could go on forever! 😉 Questions: Do you have German ancestors? If so, where did they come from and when did they immigrate? How did your German-American ancestors help shape America? What will you do to celebrate German-American Heritage Month and honor your German ancestry? Do you have something to add to this list? Related Content: The Best German Genealogy Research Resource! Note: All family photos are copyright protected and are owned by me and may not be downloaded, screenshot, or saved in any other way without my explicit permission This post is a participant in the Genealogy Blog Party! 7/17/2022 Family History and Genealogy Research: Have You Uncovered Secrets in Your Family Tree?Read Now Have You Uncovered Secrets in Your Family History and Genealogy Research?Sometimes family secrets or surprises, throughout our family tree, are an inevitable find during our family history and genealogy research. I know I have found many surprises and secrets throughout my own family tree, either through genealogy records or DNA. Some are just fun surprises, some are heartbreaking, and sometimes there are shockers. Even though some surprises or secrets in your family history are not what you may have expected at all, they are nonetheless part of your family history, and EVERTHING in your genealogy research is a step into your ancestor’s lives. The good, the bad, and the ugly is also part of your family history and what makes your genealogy research come alive. Remember, genealogy is nothing without the family history and social history behind it. 😉
Have you uncovered secrets in your family tree? What have you found that surprised or shocked you? I recently asked this question on social media and was surprised with how many responses I had to it and the responses themselves! Some are heartwarming, some are funny, some are quite interesting, some are heartbreaking, and some are shockers! There are quite a lot but well worth the read! 😉 Here are some of the responses I had to this question:
Interactive Questions: What do you think of the surprises and/or secrets on this list? Have you found any of these in your own family tree? Have you uncovered secrets in your family tree? What have you found that surprised or shocked you? I’d love to read your questions or comments! More Social Genealogy and Family History: Come read more of my social genealogy questions and their results under the Social Genealogy and Family History category.  Sayings Handed Down in Social History and Genealogy Your Grandparents Said What?! Sayings Passed Down in Genealogy!Social history is a very important part of our genealogy and leaves us with more than just names and dates; it’s how our family lived and who they were. Our grandparents (or other ancestors) had sayings for anything and everything under the sun! There were sayings for advice, for protection, to show you were in a heap of trouble, for encouragement, just to gossip and many more! In a way, you could consider the old school sayings handed down through the generations of your family as sort of a family heirloom, haha! Do you remember an old school saying from your grandparents that's still stuck in your head? Have you ever thought of this social genealogy question and how old school sayings passed down through the generations help to shape us into who we are, or just give us special memories of our loved ones? Well, I did! That’s why I decided to ask this social genealogy question on social media! I wanted to see how many others remember the sayings their grandparents used so much, that they’re still stuck in their heads, haha! Of course, this is just a very small sample, with only about 150 comments, but still very fun and interesting! Here are some of the responses I had to this question:
There were anywhere from the classic to the unheard of. Some of these were super old school, and many had been passed down through the generations, with some of the responders catching themselves using them with their own children now! What is with Katy’s Barn, haha! There were a couple of sayings using Katy’s Barn; must have been a popular barn, haha! It was a fun question to ask, and it was fun to see all the different old school sayings that people have heard from their grandparents and still use through the generations! Interactive Questions: What do you think of the sayings on this list? Have you heard any of these from your own grandparents or any other ancestors? Do you catch yourself using any of these in this day and age? What is (or was) an old school saying that you heard from your grandparents while growing up or that has been passed down through the generations of your family? Would you like to know some of the meanings behind these responses? I’d love to read your questions or comments! More Social Genealogy and Family History: Come read more of my social genealogy questions and their results under the Social Genealogy and Family History category. This post is a participant in the Genealogy Blog Party: School Days (and September Holidays and Events), for Grandparent's Day!  Family Recipes in Social Genealogy and Family History Family Recipes in Genealogy, the Forgotten Family HeirloomFamily recipes and meals were, and still are, a huge part of our family history and genealogy! It brought families together through the generations and continues doing so with the recipes passed down to us. It brought and continues to bring families together, whether it be through the special moments of cooking with a parent, grandparent or maybe even a great grandparent to the joys of gathering around and enjoying the company of loved ones while preparing or consuming that meal! Handed down family recipes can bring back a nostalgic time from one’s past and is also a great family heirloom to pass down through the generations, while honoring your ancestors! What is (or was) a family recipe that has been passed down through the generations of your family? Have you ever thought of this social genealogy question and how photos and tangible items passed down through the generations are not the only family heirlooms one can inherit, but recipes are as well? Well, I did! That’s why I decided to ask this social genealogy question on social media! I wanted to see how many others are still using family recipes that have been passed down through the generations or have started their only family tradition of passing down a family recipe for future generations! Of course, this is just a very small sample, with only about 120 comments, but still very fun and interesting! Here are some of the responses I had to this question:
There were handed down recipes (and a few new ones) anywhere from the common to some that were quite different! It was a fun question to ask, and it was fun to see all the different recipes that people have received from their ancestors and still use through the generations! Interactive Questions: What do you think of the recipes on this list? Do you use any of these? What is (or was) a family recipe that has been passed down through the generations of your family? I’d love to read your comments! More Social Genealogy and Family History Questions: Come read more of my social genealogy questions and their results under the Social Genealogy and Family History category. (More coming very soon)  Family Names in Social Genealogy and family History: Grandparents Family Names in Social Genealogy and Family History: GrandparentsWhat do you (or did you) call your grandparents?
Have you ever thought of this social genealogy question and how interesting it is that so many people call their grandparents by different names, not to mention how interesting those names can be? Well, I do; that’s why I decided to ask this social genealogy question on social media! I wanted to see just how many variations of grandmother and grandfather were floating around out there! Of course, this is just a small sample, with only about 225 comments, but still very interesting! 😉 Here are the responses I had to grandfather:
Here are the responses I had to grandmother:
So, there were names anywhere from the standard to the unusual! It was a fun question to ask, and it was fun to see all the different names that people use to call their grandparents by! Interactive Questions: What do you think of the names on the list? Do you use any of these? What do you or (did you) call your grandparents? I’d love to read your comments below! *I may try to update this list with the counts for each, later! More Social Genealogy and Family History Questions: Come read more of my social genealogy questions and their results under the Social Genealogy and Family History category. (More coming very shortly 😉) |
Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family: Family History and Genealogy BlogI hope my family history and genealogy blog on genealogy research tips, resources, events, and more, along with my own genealogy journeys, will help you in your research and in building your family tree to learn more about your ancestors and family history to preserve for future generations to come! Categories
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