"Nothing makes a child withdraw faster than feeling like they're in constant competition for your approval. Kids already face enough comparison at school and on social media. Your home should be their safe space, not another arena where they need to prove themselves. When grandparents make comparisons, even well-intentioned ones, children internalize the message that they're not enough just as they are. They start dreading visits because they know they'll be measured against an invisible scoreboard."
"It reminded me of my own grandmother, who passed away three years ago. I still keep her handwritten letters because she had this magical ability to make every grandchild feel like the most important person in the world. She never made us feel guilty for our choices or compared us to our cousins. She just loved us, exactly as we were."
Certain grandparent behaviors push grandchildren away more than generational differences. Constant comparisons to other grandchildren, criticism, or implied disappointment causes children to withdraw and dread visits. Children already face comparison at school and on social media, so home should be a safe space rather than another arena to prove themselves. Celebrating each grandchild's unique qualities and achievements fosters connection and makes visits enjoyable. Warmth, unconditional acceptance, and avoiding judgment encourage lasting emotional bonds. Small gestures like valuing a child's interests create meaningful memories that grandchildren carry into adulthood.
Read at Silicon Canals
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