Tell Your Grandchildren That You Love Them!

Regardless of whether we are teaching, parenting or Grand-Parenting, the wise LDS Grandparent should well know by now, to never ever do so - using the principle of assumption…

If the LDS GrandParent has learned anything through their many years as a parent…  to “assume” anything — cannot be depended upon, when correct information is to be well understood by a child.  I raised some pretty smart children.  I learned quickly, that if I did not “say it” - and make whatever I wished for them to know - crystal clear, I would most likely be in trouble.

I cannot begin to tell you how many times, that after one of my own children had made a poor decision - where potential consequences need to be inflicted - made this very difficult… because they used the line, “I didn’t know”!  Guess what?  Many times they were right.  Not that they did not most likely know -  or that they could not have figured it out easily enough.  But, the facts were - since I had not spelled it out - they were not accountable for knowing it.  Drats!  I hate it when that happened.  I came to realize, that what’s fair is fair.  How can you hold someone accountable for that which you have not communicated clearly?  You can’t really.  Think about it?  Heavenly Father does not hold us accountable for law that we do not fully understand.

The first item on our Top Ten things to tell your Grandchildren - and in the number ONE position, is to tell them that you love them!  Not just once, but over and over again…  Never assume, that they know you love them!  You can show love in so many ways, and they will most likely feel your love for them.  But, they need to hear that their grandparent loves them and thinks they are the most important and special person in the whole wide world!  Don’t assume that your grandchildren know that you love them - tell them!  Tell your grandchildren that you love them every chance that you have…

The LDS GrandParent, who understands this principle of verbally telling, as well as showing their grandchild that they love them - also understands the power in this principle.  A grandchild who knows how much they are loved, particularly by a grandparent - is one that you are able to influence throughout their entire lives with greater power.

When our grandchildren know and feel our love for them, they freely return this love to us. This flow of love, is what allows a grandparent to be a very special teacher in the life of a child.  When this love between a grandparent and grandchild is clearly established, the result is trust.

The trust that develops in our relationship with our grandchildren, is the very door that allows us to teach them eternal principles - that will influence and affect them throughout their entire lives.  I recall vividly, knowing just how special I was to my own grandmother.  Because of this over-flowing, unconditional love - I listened intently to her as she would tell me what she knew…  I believed every word she shared with me.  I trusted her completely.  My faith in eternal truths was easily fostered, because of this trusting and loving relationship.

So number ONE on our list of The Top Ten Things That You Should Tell Your Grandchildren - is Tell Them That You Love Them! Then say it again and again..  This sure knowledge, will open that place in their tender hearts, to listen to you testify of those things that you, as an LDS GrandParent - know to be true.

tDMg

LdsNana

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Tagged as: grandchild, Grandchildren, Grandparent, grandparenting, love, teaching, what to tell your grandchildren