Opening Up the Flood Gate of Communications with the Grandkids
You could possibly remember what it was like to raise teenagers. They apparently enter into a funk at the age of 13 and remain that way until they've got kids of their own. So now you are a grandparent and it’s your kids struggling with getting the silent treatment from their kids, do you have to write off those lovely grandkids who used to love to climb on your lap when they came over?
Well you may know an in-depth dark secret that child psychologists know. Teenagers not only are not uncommunicative, they long to communicate what is going on in their life. The teen years are an outburst of change that is unrivaled in life this side of the womb. So if your teenager will find an adult they can speak to, that could help them to get through these challenging teen years.Sometimes Grandma or Grandpa can become that willing ear and someone who a teen can talk to about whatever is eating them up inside. All you have to do is open the flood gates of communications and also the grandkids will pour their hearts out to you. And as a grandparent, there is nothing you'd like more.Modern teenagers are not used to conventional letters. To them communications is email, instant messaging or text messaging over the phone. So they don’t know the thrill they can get by just seeing a card or letter from someone they love come in the good old fashioned U.S. Mail. So to start priming the pump of communications, start sending your grandkids cards. Now don’t make these all nostalgic and sentimental “grandma loves you cards”. Be courageous and look at the hip cards and the really funny ones that will make the kids laugh and make them look forward to that next card they get from you. This can become a hobby and a passion. If you have 5 teenage grandkids, every week find 5 really cute and funny cards to send them. Then think of a clever thing to say on each card and just end it, “I love you - Grandma”, that sends a more powerful message that Grandma wants to communicate but that communicating with her will be fun..Now phase two. Every now and then, write them a letter. Don’t make it a long letter and certainly not a preachy letter. But make it light and fun. Find out what TV shows and movies they like and watch them. Familiarize yourself with who the kids like in popular culture. You have the time so follow the gossip web sites so you can write to your grandkids about things they are talking about. All of a sudden, the light will probably come on and they will realize, “Hey, Grandpas cool”.Now phase three. Since kids love to communicate by computer, you communicate by computer. Take a few classes and learn how to use email, instant messaging and even texting. Then when you are pretty good at it, tease the kids with your IM nickname or your email box. You'll find all sorts of silly digital “toys” you can use to attract those kids to talk with you on the web. The primary thing is that they can open the doors for their email as well as their IM to you. Then, once you have that, you may make contact by computer and become a computer “buddy”. The safety of talking on line plus the knowledge that “grandpa is cool” will allow the kids know that they are able to talk to you. Before long the flood gates will open for the first time. And when they're pouring their hearts out to you via IM or email, you'll have performed a wonderful thing for those kids. And that’s what being a grandparent is all about.Here Are More Sites On:
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