4 WAYS TO BOOST RELATIONS WITH YOUR KIDS (AND ENJOY YOUR GRANDKIDS)
4 WAYS TO BOOST RELATIONS WITH YOUR KIDS (AND ENJOY YOUR GRANDKIDS)
The pandemic has changed how grandparents and grandchildren relate. Some grandparents found themselves quarantined with their kids. Others found themselves close by but locked out, so to speak.
What if there’s tension between you and your kids? How do you make the most of your relationships together? In the end, access to our grandchildren often hinges on the relationship with their parents. They’re the gatekeepers.
According to the book When Will My Grown-Up Kid Grow Up?, the great news is that 75 percent of parents said that their current relationship with their adult children is better now than when their kids were 15.
A poll of young adults from researchers at Clark University in Massachusetts found that young adults today stay in frequent contact with their parents, with 37 percent of 25- to 39-year-olds checking in on a daily basis and 85 percent checking in once every week.
Here are some things to keep in mind, courtesy of Grandparents Matter.
Don’t Give Unsolicited Advice
If our youngsters aren’t soliciting advice from us, it probably means they don’t want it or don’t seem to be able to hear it. Put the shoe on the opposite foot. Do you want someone telling you how to live your life? No.
My wife and I have opinions about how our three kids raise our six grandchildren. If we are asked for advice, we provide it.
If you are feeling very strongly about something, ask your son or daughter and their spouse if they’d prefer to hear your thoughts. Accept their reply. Listen more.
The intimacy you once had with an adult child changes once they age and particularly after they marry. Distance is acceptable for this stage of their lives. Don’t take it as a personal affront.
Use Praise and Encouragement
Find positive things to say about your family. It goes a long way toward building positive relationships. Be generous with your affirming words.
Pick Your Battles
Set ground rules for the way to disagree. People are so squeamish nowadays. Choose to not take offense. Or as we say, pick your battles. Sometimes it’s better to let things go than risk being hurt, offended, or angered over the long run.
Consider holding back for the sake of a relationship. This works both ways. Your kids should be expected to try to do the same.
Try Forgiveness
Instead of holding something over a person’s head, let it go. But also recognize that you may be the offender in the situation as well. We all hurt people from time to time and want to heal.
Assume the best, speak a kind word, dispel negative thoughts. That is the key to growing relationships with our children and grandchildren.
What is your relationship with your adult children? What are you prepared to do to protect or improve that relationship? How often do you stop yourself from offering unsolicited advice? Please share your ideas for good relations with your kids.
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Senior Entertainment Network Update – Get on Board
Senior Entertainment Network Gains Momentum
During this pandemic one of the hardest hit groups have been seniors living alone at home or in senior care homes. Loneliness and mental health issues are arising in addition to the medical issues. Isolation has reduced socialization and reduced or eliminated activities.
We are working with students from Northeastern University to create a senior entertainment network that would provide live stream as well as recorded programming to shut-in elders in care homes and at home.
The response so far has been fantastic. Literally hundreds of activity professionals, executive directors, consultants, content providers and more have responded to our call seeking information,
I shared the above video with the Northeastern University Experiential Network team and they were thrilled with it.
Because of the response we have received, this has moved from an academic exercise to an idea that has some legs. This whiteboard video imagines a network that provides a complete solution from bandwidth and tablets to content delivery and intergenerational components.
We believe this is a timely and innovative solution and would love your help in helping us attract sponsors, students and more. Thanks.
Getting Along with Your Adult Children – Charlotte Today – 10/26/20
Getting Along with Your Adult Children – Podcast
The pandemic has changed how grandparents and grandchildren relate. And some grandparents became live-in grandparents because of quarantine. But what if there is tension between you and your kids? How do you make the best of relationships with your adult children so that you can build and enjoy relationships with your grandchildren? Pick your battles is one of the strategies I shared. Find out more. I spoke with Charlotte Today about this topic during the height of the pandemic.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Getting Along with Your Adult Children – Charlotte Today – 10/26/20
Getting Along with Your Adult Children
The pandemic has changed how grandparents and grandchildren relate. And some grandparents became live-in grandparents because of quarantine. But what if there is tension between you and your kids? How do you make the best of relationships with your adult children so that you can build and enjoy relationships with your grandchildren? Pick your battles is one of the strategies I shared. Find out more. I spoke with Charlotte Today about this topic during the height of the pandemic.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS