7 Ways to Show Love to Your Parents

Too often, the parents who raised, nurtured, and loved us are left behind as we grow up and pursue our dreams, but if you take a little time to show your love and appreciation, both you and your parents will benefit from a renewed relationship.

As you become an adult, you’ll find that it’s both easier and harder than ever to relate to your parents. On one hand, you probably have less time than ever before, and the demands of work, life, and your social circle can make it difficult to pay your parents a visit.

But taking a little time out of your busy schedule to communicate with your parents is well-worth the effort, because you’re an adult, you have much more of an opportunity to really get to know your parents as equals—they’re people now, rather than authority figures.

Take advantage of this newfound communication by making an effort to show your appreciation for all your parents have done for you. After all, as difficult as the thought may be, they won’t be around forever, so now is the time to start showing them how truly valuable they are.

There are many ways to do this, but a few stand out as the best. Let’s take a look at 7 ways to show love to your parents so that you can begin to help them understand how much they mean to you.

Listen to Them

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Everyone yearns to be listened to, and unfortunately, most of us don’t have the greatest track record when it comes to our parents. As children, teenagers, and even young adults, we don’t tend to pay nearly enough attention to what they have to say.

Now that you’re an adult, it’s time to change that.

The next time you spend a day with your parents, just listen. Let them speak, and actively engage them on whatever it is they have to say.

Active listening means that you’re not allowing yourself to mentally jump ahead in the conversation, nor are you jumping to conclusions and making judgments about what is being said. You’re merely taking in the information and making an effort to deeply understand it.

This kind of listening lays the foundation for great, in-depth conversations that will make your parents feel as important as they are, so be sure to lend an ear the next time you visit.

Spend Time With Them

Time is always in short supply, but that just makes it all the more touching when you give yours to your parents.

Any halfway-decent parent loves his or her children, and enjoys spending time with them. Even if your parents never voice this, they probably feel it, and wish they had more time with you.

So why not indulge the people who raised you? You might tell yourself that you don’t have time, but if you want a painful dose of truth, try “I don’t have time” with “It’s not a priority.” We all have a limited amount of time, and we give it to the things that are important to us. And if you’re not spending at least a little time with your parents, it might be time to reevaluate your values.

Time is precious. Give this gift to your parents, and they’ll know how much you love them.

Ask For Advice

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So, you’ve re-sparked your relationship with your parents as an adult, and are finding that—yes—they actually do have some great things to say. But once you get that conversation going, there’s one thing you can do that will make your parents feel even more special.

Ask them for advice. You know, the wisdom of ages they’ve been trying to get into your head for pretty much your entire life? Yeah, that stuff.

Asking your parents for their thoughts and opinions will make them feel like the important part of your life that they are. In fact, for many parents, this would be a dream come true!

Your parents want the best for you. They love you dearly, and are probably standing at the ready with a whole life’s worth of experience and knowledge that they’d enjoy passing on to you. Give them that chance by asking your parents for advice the next time you’re all together.

Help Them Out

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As your parents age, the balance of power between you and them begins to change. Instead of them taking care of you, you might find that they need your help more and more often. One wonderful way to show your parents how much you love and care for them is to give them that help whenever you can.

Your parents probably aren’t going to ask for your help, so you’ll need to offer it. Remember how we talked about listening? Use those listening skills to look for anything your parents might be having difficulty with, whether that’s yard work, grocery shopping, or navigating our always-changing, high-tech world.

Your parents helped you out for the first years of your life—without them, you wouldn’t be where you are today. Take the time to help them with their needs, and you’ll show them a rare kind of love that will improve their lives.

Remember Special Dates

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Remembering special days isn’t just for couples—make your parents feel special by celebrating their anniversaries, birthdays, and other important dates.

Being remembered makes someone feel special. That goes for all of us, including your parents. As an example, send them a card on their anniversary, and let them know how glad you are that they’ve been together for so long.

Birthdays are also very important. Make sure that you use those foundational listening skills to figure out what your parents really like—you don’t want to throw a huge surprise party for someone who likes small, quiet events, and you don’t want to skimp on a party for someone who likes a big celebration. But if nothing else, at least call and wish your parent a happy birthday. That, alone, will make them feel special.

Pay attention to any other important dates, including those that might have a sadder context, such as the date of death of a loved one. Make sure you’re around to give comfort and joy, your parents’ special occasions, and you’ll show them how much you love them.

Show Respect

Love and respect go hand-in-hand, and so if you want your parents to feel valued, show both.

At the end of the day, you need to remember who your parents are, and what they’ve done for you over the course of your life. Further, remember what they’ve accomplished over the course of their own lives, the dreams they’ve achieved and the challenges they’ve conquered. The stories of your parents’ lives are more complicated than you think.

They’ve more than earned your respect, and telling them that you respect them goes a long way toward making them feel valued and loved. At the most basic level, this can take the form of simply thanking them for all they’ve done for you. Verbally recognize their hard work and sacrifice, and let them know that you realize the magnitude of the things they’ve done for you.

If you do this, you’ll help your parents to realize how much their lives mean to you. That’s no small thing.

Show Your Affection

Finally, the greatest way you can show love to your parents is—that’s right—to just show love!

For some people, this is the hardest thing in the world. It can be far easier to give a gift, mow a lawn, or give respect than it is to give a hug and say “I love you.” Showing real love leaves you open and vulnerable, which many people have a hard time with, even around those they love and trust.

But however hard this may be, you may one day come to regret not telling your parents how much you love them. Avoid that by just doing it. Give a warm hug. Say something loving. Start getting used to openness.

If you’re not usually very open about your feelings, this may come as a surprise to your parents, but it will be one that they welcome wholeheartedly. Not only that, but you’ll get some great practice at being openly loving, a skill that give greater meaning to your life than you could imagine.