How to Make Your Parents Happy (Part 4 of 4: At Any Age)

Part 4 of 4: At Any Age

1. 
   Give them gifts. Receiving a gift always makes someone happy. That gesture of kindness, even when small, is enough to make someone’s day. Do this for your parents and see how happy it makes them.
   

   • Be on the lookout for small tokens if big gifts are out of your price range. Coming home with their favorite candy bar from a trip to the store is still meaningful and will make them feel special.
   • If you are out and see something your parent might like, buy it for them if you can afford it. If your mother likes clothes and you see a blouse that would flatter her, surprise her with the shirt even if there is no occasion.
   • Make them a gift. Hand-crafted presents are always nice. If you can knit, try making your dad a scarf that matches his winter coat or if you are great cook, make them a cake and take it over their house. Put in that extra effort to make sure they know they are loved.
2. 
   Remember their birthdays. Give them a call or visit them on their birthday. Make sure they feel as if their day means as much to you as it does to them. It is important to show that you want your parents to feel as if they matter to you. That will surely make them happy.
   

   • Give them something personal to them. If you dad likes golf, buy him a free day at the course. Get your mother a gift card to a nice restaurant if she likes to eat out. Tailor the gifts to show that you really know your parents and want to make them happy.
   • Make it more than one day of celebrating. An entire birthday weekend of fun activities and attention is a great way to let your parents know you truly care and want to make them feel special.
   • Be creative. Nobody likes to get the same gift every year. Pay attention to your parents current interests. If your mom is starting to drink coffee in the morning, get her a coffee maker one year. Always getting her a sweater would be boring, and the variety would show that you pay attention to her.
3. 
   Treat them on Mother’s or Father’s Day. Do your best to make sure they are honored on this day. Go to church with them, take them out to eat, buy them a gift, or give them a card with special words in it. Let them know you are proud to be their son or daughter, you love them, and they are important to you. Making them feel this way will bring them great happiness.
   

   • If you cannot be with them on that day, send them a gift in the mail. Fruit arrangements or food baskets are a yummy way of showing your love from far away.
   • Make sure your children acknowledge their grandparents. Mother’s and Father’s Day are also for the grandkids. Get them involved so that the whole family is honoring your parents.
4. 
   Be thoughtful of their thoughts and feelings. Your parents are people, too. They want to be treated with thoughtfulness and consideration, same as you do.
   

   • If you are an older child, talk to your parents about some problems they may be experiencing. Offering emotional support should not be a one-way street. If your mother is worried about a health issue or your father has stress at work, hear them out and offer them encouragement and any advice you think is helpful.
   • Be appreciative of them. Chances are, your parents do a lot for you and you should be grateful of that. Let them know that appreciate all that they do. Tell them regularly and show it in how you treat them.
   • Do not take advantage of them. It is easy to have a bad attitude with your parents, but it does not make them feel happy when you do so. Do not take advantage of their kindness, patience, and generosity with you. That will cause tension in your relationship.