People who maintain close bonds with adult grandchildren always practiced these 8 habits when they were young - Silicon Canals

"Recently, I was at a family gathering when I noticed something fascinating. My friend's grandmother, in her eighties, was completely surrounded by her adult grandchildren. They weren't just there out of obligation - they were genuinely engaged, laughing at her stories, asking for advice, and making plans for their next visit. Meanwhile, at another table, I watched a different grandmother sit mostly alone while her adult grandchildren stayed glued to their phones, offering only polite nods and forced smiles."

"After years of observing family dynamics and diving deep into relationship psychology, I've discovered that grandparents who maintain strong bonds with their adult grandchildren didn't just get lucky. They laid the groundwork decades earlier through specific habits and mindsets. The beautiful thing is, these habits aren't just about future grandparent relationships. They're practices that enrich your entire life, starting right now."

Grandparents who enjoy close relationships with adult grandchildren intentionally built those bonds through long-term habits and mindsets. They cultivated genuine curiosity about younger perspectives decades earlier, asking questions and challenging assumptions instead of dismissing viewpoints. They practiced intellectual humility, listened actively, and engaged in intergenerational conversations about ideas, politics, and life. Those habits created ongoing engagement rather than opportunistic attention in old age. These practices also enrich professional and personal life now, improving workplace listening and relationships. Beginning to ask questions and listen to younger colleagues fosters the same bridge-building skills immediately.

Read at Silicon Canals