When my mother turned 80, we knew we had to do something meaningful — something that went beyond cake, candles, and cards. After all, she’s not just the matriarch of our family; she’s a walking storybook filled with wisdom, adventure, love, and resilience. We wanted her birthday to reflect that. So we did something a little different…
We made a quiz about her life for all her 27 plus grandchildren to participate in.
The format was easy; the kind with questions and multiple choice answers. We created teams and tried to mix the youngest with the oldest so they could give a helping hand. (It turned out the youngest were far more knowledgeable than we'd imagined.) But instead of testing math or geography, we tested their awareness of their Mimi and the life she'd led.
It turned out to be one of the best things we’ve ever done.
A treasure trove of memories
We gathered the grandchildren and handed them the quiz: 20 fun, thoughtful questions about Mimi’s life. Some were quirky and personal, like:
“What was Mimi’s first job?”
“Aged 18, what did she do when she laughed too much trying on hats with her best friend?” (You don't want to know!)
“Which famous singer did she have a crush on in the 60s?”
Others zoomed out to capture the world she grew up in:
“How did Mimi communicate with Papa when they first met?” (No kids, it wasn't a carrier pigeon, she's not that old!)
“How did Mimi travel to the seaside?” (No Bobby, there were other ways to get about than horse and cart!)
“Why did Mimi not have many bananas as a child?” (Not because she didn't like them; think of what happened just before she was born in 1945, Eddie!)
As the quiz went on, the room was filled with giggles, surprised gasps, and the occasional heartfelt “Wow, Mimi I didn’t know you did that!” The grandchildren weren’t just answering questions — they were discovering the incredible woman behind the “Mimi” title.
And the best part? She loved every second of it.
Why it matters
Often, we see grandparents through the lens of the roles they’ve played for us — gentle hug-givers, storytellers, soup-makers, wisdom-dispensers. But this quiz reminded us (and her) that she’s also a woman with a history: a girl who danced to Elvis, faced challenges, witnessed world events, and built a life that continues to shape ours.
There’s something sacred in celebrating that.
By making her the star of her own story — and letting the family “compete” to learn more — we honored her not just with words, but with curiosity, appreciation, and love.
It’s easy to do
You don’t have to wait for an 80th birthday to try this. A quiz can be a beautiful addition to any family gathering, especially Grandparents’ Day, anniversaries, or holidays. Just sit down with the guest of honor ahead of time, collect some gems from their past, and add a few historical or cultural context questions to frame it.
It doesn’t need to be perfect or polished. The magic is in the memories. And it's also good to have prizes ready -- we opted on giving the kids their grandmother's favorite candy!
The takeaway
Making grandparents feel special doesn’t always mean grand gestures or expensive gifts. Sometimes, all it takes is showing a little extra interest in who they are — not just what they’ve done for us.
That birthday quiz gave our family something far greater than laughs and trivia. It gave us connection, perspective, and a deeper love for the remarkable woman we know as Mum and Mimi.
And really, what could be more special than that?
