For most, parents like to spend quality time with their grown-up children and grandchildren. They find satisfaction in seeing the children they were gifted with, grow up to be self-sufficient adults. They value their time with you more than just your physical presence and consider it a gift. However, it might ache a child’s heart to see their parents getting older.It might pain for every child to see their parents finding it difficult to bend over and tie their own shoelaces when they were the ones who taught you that in the first place. As children grow and turn into adults, parents begin to feel your need more. But, the busy schedules and personal commitments often make it difficult for children to show their love to the ageing parents. Here are some simple ways you can strengthen your bond with them and make them feel loved:

Be mentally present

It is simple to be physically present yet mentally distant in our hectic life. Our to-do lists are never without items that take up half of our time. How do you maintain mental presence? Put your phone away and concentrate on your parents. Look for things you can do as a group that promote conversation and interaction. Engage in craft work or gaming. Provide them with transportation and an invitation to events. Take out books and magazines from the library, or read aloud your child’s favorite newspaper. Joy and comfort can be found in music. Play a favorite film or television program and offer remarks.

Depend on them

As parents age, one of the things that hurts them the most is that their children may not need them anymore. Not feeling important for anything at all makes them lose their self esteem and interest in the daily chores. Children can express their gratitude by asking for assistance and valuing them. Or, to put it another way, acknowledge them whenever you can. Esteeming our parents is a small, yet meaningful, deed that may be done in public or privately and will make them very happy and proud. Say something like, “Thank you, Dad, for teaching me how to change a flat tire,” or “You know, Mom, I really appreciate that you taught me how to make a round chapati,” in private. Don’t forget to talk highly of them when you are in public.

Go down the memory lane

Tell them about your day or reminisce about past family moments. This way you will both value the gift of being mentally present with one other while also reminding them how grateful you are for raising you with so many memories. Pull out old photographs and have a laugh or two about the moments from your childhood. Tell them how special they made you feel. Plan an impromptu trip to your childhood home or a place from your childhood where you grew up. This will help you go down that merry memory lane and bring a feeling of contentment and joy to your parents.

Have patience with them

For most of us, patience is not something that comes easily. We are constantly in a rush, so everything that slows us down irritates us. And let’s not even discuss the impact that interruptions have on us. It can be very hard to find the patience we need when it comes to our elderly parents. Imagine when your father seems to be moving more slowly than a tortoise or stops to talk to every stranger he encounters, how do you usually respond to him? What about the times your mother asks you how to use her phone for the hundredth time? And they are only a few minor annoyances. We will undoubtedly experience some significant life disruptions as our parents age, such as dementia, paralysis, and illness. Therefore, practice being patient with them and hear them out. Do not lose that smile on your face even when you find your patience fleeting.

Make time for them

As parents age, it is a tough pill to swallow but they are living on borrowed time. Every time you speak on the phone or spend time together, tell them you love them. Look for easy household tasks that you may assist them with or do to ease their burdens while you’re at the house. Forward funny memes to them. Never allow them to feel love-starved. Simply spit it out. Perform small acts of kindness. Plan an impromptu visit. Call just to say hi and make them feel important. Make those memories now so you won’t have regrets later.