There is no doubt that you love your grandkids and that they love you. But the reality is that both generational and often geographical distances can get in the way of one’s best intentions to maintain a close relationship. Whether you see your grandchildren daily or during the holidays, please continue reading for four things that grandkids want to tell their grandparents about how to create an even closer bond.
1. I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU.
It has been said that children who know their family history have higher self-esteem and fewer emotional problems. It can be beneficial for your grandchildren to gain a sense of self in relation to other family members and to the past, building confidence. Your good and bad life experiences have made you who you are. These experiences have taught you lessons your children and grandchildren can benefit from. Photos can work well in making your stories more interesting and come to life.
2. GET ONLINE!
Technology can be intimidating. The reality is that your grandchildren use the Internet daily. If you want to be close to your grandchildren, get a computer and log on to the Internet. Conquering the world online can be overwhelming. However, with the help of YouTube and Skype you can become a professional in no time. If you are reading this article you most likely have the skills down to navigate the web. However, if you are struggling to figure the technology out, the best teacher is your grandkids.
3. I WISH YOU WOULD TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH.
Your grandkids want to see you healthy and happy so that you are around for years to come. Schedule an appointment with your doctor to talk about what physical exercise would be best for you. Find ways to lower your risk for cancer and boost the health of your heart and immune system. Look at it as the better your health is, the more quality time that you will have to spend with your grandchildren.
4. I WISH I HEARD FROM YOU MORE.
Sometimes your grandkids don’t reach out to you often and it doesn’t mean that they don’t want to be in touch. The birthday phone call and once-a-year holiday visits are not enough. Try setting time aside for a phone call weekly. Work with your grandchildren’s schedule. They often can be busy with school, sports and other recreational activities. If you make more of an effort to reach out to your grandchildren, you may notice them to be better at reaching out to you. Don’t limit reaching out to them through just phone calls. Send them a card in the mail, clippings of a cartoon you liked in the paper or some jokes to share with them. You can make it a fun experience for them receiving mail and it doesn’t take much effort.