Conversation starters: How well do you know each other?

Dad’s,

Many of us have trouble starting conversations with people we love.
This got me thinking about what resources www.BetterDad.com would have on the subject and reminded me that conversation between husbands and wives, parents and kids, grandkids and grandparents can be hard I have been married 32 years; do we really have anything left to talk about? I sure hope so, but many nights I am at a loss to what to talk about. Same with my kids, particularly when they hit the age when the clam up and do not give anything but one word answers.

So in the spirit of providing resources here are some ideas for starting conversations:

How well do you know each other (Taken from John M. Gottman’s book “The Seven Principles For Making Marriage Work”)?
i. Name my two closest friends? (2)

ii. What is my favorite musical group, composer, or instrument? (2)

iii. What was I wearing when we first met? (2)

iv. Name one of my hobbies? (3)

v. Where was I born? (1)

vi. What stresses am I facing now? (4)

vii. Describe in detail what I did today, or yesterday? (4)

viii. When is my birthday? (1)

ix. What is the date of our anniversary? (1)

x. Who is my favorite relative? (2)

xi. What is my fondest unrealized dream? (5)

xii. What is my favorite flower? (2)

xiii. What is one of my greatest fears or disaster scenarios? (3)

xiv. What is my favorite time of day for lovemaking? (3)

xv. What makes me feel most competent? (4)

xvi. What turns me on sexually? (3)

xvii. What is my favorite meal? (2)

xviii. What is my favorite way to spend an evening? (2)

xix. What is my favorite color? (1)

xx. What personal improvements do I want to make in my life? (4)

xxi. What kind of present would I like best? (2)

xxii. What was one of my best childhood experiences? (2)

xxiii. What was my favorite vacation? (2)

xxiv. What is one of my favorite ways to be soothed? (4)

xxv. Who is my greatest source of support (other than you)? (3)

xxvi. What is my favorite sport? (2)

xxvii. What do I most like to do with my time off? (2)

xxviii. What is one of my favorite weekend activities? (2)

xxix. What is my favorite getaway place? (3)

xxx. What is my favorite movie? (2)

xxxi. What are some of the important events in my life? How do I
feel about them? (4)

xxxii. What are some of my favorite ways to work out? (2)

xxxiii. Who was my best friend in childhood? (3)

xxxiv. What is one of my favorite magazines? (2)

xxxv. Name one of my major rivals or “enemies”? (3)

xxxvi. What would I consider my ideal job? (4)

xxxvii. What do I fear most? (4)

xxxviii.Who is my least favorite relative? (3)

xxxix. What is my favorite holiday? (2)

xl. What kind of books do I most like to read? (3)

xli. What is my favorite TV show? (2)

xlii. Which side of the bed do I prefer? (2)

xliii. What am I most sad about? (4)

xliv. Name one of my concerns or worries? (4)

xlv. What medical problems do I worry about? (2)

xlvi. What was one of my most embarrassing moments? (3)

xlvii. What was my worst childhood experience? (3)

xlviii. Name two of the people I most admire? (4)

xlix. Name my major rival or enemy? (3)

l. Of all the people we both know, who do I like the least? (3)

li. What is one of my favorite deserts? (2)

lii. What is my social security number? (2)

liii. Name one of my favorite novels? (2)

liv. What is my favorite restaurant? (2)

lv. What are two of my aspirations, hopes, wishes? (4)

lvi. Do I have a secret ambition? What is it? (4)

lvii. What foods do I hate? (2)

lviii. What is my favorite animal? (2)

lix. What is my favorite song? (2)

lx. Which sports team is my favorite? (2)