When you become a mom, it can be easy for your view of the world to focus solely on your children. You still love your parents, of course, but your world has shrunk, and you find yourself completely consumed by the lives that you are nurturing and raising-- it’s inevitable, understandable, and incredibly relatable.
Your parents, of course, understand this; they likely went through the same thing themselves when they had you. However, you may occasionally find yourself wanting to do something for your parents; something that helps to show them that, no matter how busy you are, they still mean the world to you.
Taking the time to do something nice for your parents is always going to be appreciated. Below are five different options that are guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of the people who raised you. Anything you can do to make their lives easier, improve their world, and -- ultimately -- bond you closer as a family will always be appreciated. Below are several options that can help improve the life of your parents, from small practical help to big grand gestures; whatever your preference, there will be something that suits your family here…
#1 - Spend a day with them alone
“Alone” in this case means “without your children”.
There’s no doubt that your parents adore your children and will absolutely revel in their role as grandparents. However, when was the last time you spent a little time on them just you and them, without your children?
For most moms, the answer to the above is likely to be “I can’t remember”. If that’s the case for you, then spending some time with just your parents can be a wonderful, unifying experience that you all enjoy. Whether you go out for the day or just prepare a lunch for them at your home, you’ll all find the experience incredibly beneficial and affirming.
#2 - Help them unravel a knot
Figuratively speaking, that is!
When you are busy with your everyday life, your parents will likely avoid asking you for help and advice. They do this because they don’t want to bother you, even if they know you would drop everything to help them if they asked. They don’t want to ask, as they don’t want to stress you… and their knot keeps getting bigger and bigger.
This is why, sometimes, you’ll need to ask if they have any knots in their lives that you could help them with. Here’s a variety of areas you may want to explore:
Health. Are they receiving the appropriate healthcare? Are they happy with their doctor? Have they investigated their insurance options by taking the chance to read more at gomedigap.com about supplemental insurance? Are they happy with the medication they are taking?
Finance. Are they confident about their finances? Do they need any advice? Do they know what their tax responsibilities are?
Household. Are there any household jobs they need doing? When is the last time their central air was serviced? Are there any yard chores they need assistance with? Is their insurance up to date?
Well-being. Are they taking time for themselves? Is there anything they are worried about? Is there anything that is stopping them from socializing as much as they might wish to?
Obviously, you don’t want to demand answers to these questions directly-- they should be used more as a part of general conversation. When a knot reveals itself, spend a little time helping them unravel it; sometimes, fixing the small things is just as wonderful as a grand gesture.
#5 - Host a movie night
A movie night may sound like a fairly standard idea, but here’s how you make it a special treat for your parents: show only their favorite movies. You can find out their favorites in general conversation a few weeks before the big night, then surprise them with a movie night selection specified to their tastes on the night itself. If you want to make the night extra special, then add in a few touches for the perfect movie night from the guide on the guide on lemonlimeadventures.com.
#4 - Help them organize an aspect of their lives
You may find that your parents need a helping hand with organization of their lives from time to time.
Here are a few areas they may require organizational assistance with:
Their home. If the house is not well-organized or is in need of a good declutter, they will appreciate the offer to help them tackle the issue.
Their record-keeping. The older your parents are, the more likely they are to have a huge amount of paperwork clogging up their home. Spend a day helping them to digitize their files so as to keep track of things as efficiently as possible.
Their garden. For older people, constant maintenance of a garden can be extremely testing, especially during the winter months. If you notice there’s weeding that needs doing, then volunteering for the task is a great way of improving their lives in a small, but significant, way.
If you notice any of the above aspects are in need of some attention, then offer to help in any way you can. They may refuse out of preference to manage the issue themselves, but they’ll be delighted you asked.
#5 - Arrange for relaxation
Giving your parents the chance to relax and enjoy themselves, without having to worry about the basic requirements of everyday life for awhile, is the perfect way to show you have been thinking of them.
Gift them a set of homemade “coupons”. These coupons can be redeemable for anything; common examples include “1 hour of vacuuming” or “a day trip to the city of your choice”.
Arrange for a cleaner to visit their home for a week, so they don’t have to worry about household chores.
Arrange for a gardener to improve their outdoor space as a one-off, just-because gift.
Invite them to stay at your house for the weekend, so they don’t have to worry about their own housework and chores for awhile.
All of the above are gifts in a sense, but they also show a huge amount of thought-- which ultimately is what makes for the best gifts. By issuing coupons, you’re showing that you think about their needs and preferences. By arranging for a gardener or cleaner, you’re thoughtfully showing that you think they deserve some time to relax, and you want to help them achieve that.
In conclusion
The five ideas above are all lovely ways to show your love for your parents, ease their lives, and perhaps even make a few extra memories. Whichever you choose, you are guaranteed that your parents will be truly delighted by your efforts.
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