The Global Day of Parents, June 1, provides an opportunity to appreciate parents for their selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship.
In 2012, the U.N. General Assembly declared the first-ever Global Day of Parents. Since then, it has been held annually on June 1 to honour parental units around the world. Being a parent is one of the most universal experiences, but it’s definitely not a walk in the park.
The most significant purpose of the day is to provide everyone a day in their busy lives to appreciate their parents and parental figures for the role they have played in making us who we are today.
But how do we appreciate them when sometimes we do not see eye to eye on issues, get very busy due to work and other commitments and are carried away by new tech innovations?
Here are tips on how to treat our parents the right way;
Be communicative:
A nice, simple greeting like “Hello,” “Hi,” or “Good morning,” or acknowledge them the way they like or the culture dictates. This will brighten their day.
Sacrifice for them too:
Remember that if you sacrifice one thing for them, they will sacrifice another million for you. Keep that in mind and you’ll love them even more. If what they are asking for costs a lot, save up for it.
Take care of them, mentally and physically:
If they are feeling sick, make them some chicken soup and give them a box of tissues, and if they’re feeling stressed, give them a massage and chat to them about the good things in their life.
Give them your undivided attention:
First of all, banish the temptation to scroll through your phone while having a conversation with them, whether serious or light. It hurts them, but they might not voice it. If you live in a different community, make the effort to catch up with them either in person or any other form of communication.
Talk with them about the things they’re doing, what they’re interested in and care about, what they’ve been cooking, what they did that day, plans they have for the week, what they’ve been watching on tv, how their job is going and so much more.
Send them respectful gifts as often as possible:
Thoughtful gift-giving is one of those things that slips away from us throughout the year. We all miss holidays and birthdays, and it can be difficult to pre-plan for them when you have so many other things going on.
Show affection:
Let’s be honest, parents would much rather have their love repaid with love than money. So simply showing affection every now and then is a great way to show them you care.
As humans, we crave human contact. Unfortunately, as we age, many of us are less likely to be as open to affection as we once were.
But, showing affection to our parents through hugging and kissing sends an instant emotional spark from our hearts to theirs that translates to feelings of (love), gratitude and respect.
Respect their point of view:
While moms and dads can be strong-willed about their way of life, we should always aim to respect their decisions.
If your parent wants to make a major change in their lives, be in with career or otherwise, instead of discouraging them, help them navigate their new path as much as you are able to. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how much you think you know about something: The best thing you can do for your parents is to support them.
Although the world commemorates Parents Day today, appreciating one’s parents should be a daily affair in all parts of the world.
Do you have any question or comment? Do share with us in the comment section.