What We Regret Not Asking Our Parents Until It’s Too Late
Most of us carry a quiet, lingering wish.
That we’d asked more questions.
That we’d listened more closely.
That we’d made time before time ran out.
It’s only when we lose someone that we start to realise how many unspoken memories they held. Stories we’ll never hear. Wisdom we’ll never receive. Details about their lives that are now lost forever.
The questions we think of too late
What was your childhood really like?
What scared you when you were younger?
How did you meet Mum or Dad?
What moments shaped you most?
What do you wish you’d done differently?
What gave you the most joy?
What did you learn the hard way?
These aren’t questions we always think to ask. Life is busy. Conversations stay surface level. And we assume there will be more time. Until there isn’t.
The cost of silence
Without asking, we miss the stories that give us context for our own lives. We miss the struggles they overcame. The values they lived by. The heartbreaks they never spoke of. The dreams they carried but never chased.
What we’re left with are fragments. A few photos. Hazy memories. A handful of repeated anecdotes. It’s not enough.
We don’t just lose their stories. We lose part of our own.
But it’s not too late to change that
Whether your parents are still here or you’re the one holding the stories now, the most powerful thing you can do is begin the conversation.
Ask the questions. Hit record. Capture their voice, their laugh, their truth.
And if you’re the one ready to share, understand that your story matters just as much. Don’t wait for someone to ask. Give your voice to the people who will one day wish they had it.
Tiora exists to help you ask, listen, and preserve
We’ve created a simple, guided process to make storytelling feel natural. Whether you’re capturing your own memories or helping a loved one share theirs, we make it easy to start.
Because once the moment is gone, it’s gone. But if you act now, what you capture will last for generations.