Asgrandparents, you want all of your relatives to feel happy, loved and connected in your company.
Unfortunately, that doesnt always happen.
We asked Lockhart and other experts which common phrases are best avoided and what to say instead.
It undercuts parental authority, which can have long-standing consequences, she said.
Instead, you want to reinforce the importance of being honest with their parents no matter what.
Youre getting so big!
Have you put on weight?
Dorn also told HuffPost that any remarks or comparisons about physical appearance can be problematic.
This includes things like: Have you lost weight?
or Wow, youre so much taller than your brother now!
Instead, she suggested saying something like: Its wonderful to see you again!
Ive missed spending time with you.
How have you been?
Open-ended questions about your grandkids current interests, activities or hobbies are great, too.
Wow, you ate more than I did!
Its reallynot necessary to comment on your grandkids plateor their eating habits.
But if youre going to say something, Dorn recommended focusing on the importance of listening to ones body.
But before you do, consider this kids acting out this time of year isquite common and normal.
So giving them all the blame isnt fair.
Suck it up or talk with the parents, but keep the judgment to yourself.
You better come over here and give me a hug or a kiss!
This can send confusing messages about consent.
But if they say no, accept their answer and move on.
check that not to push further or use guilt with a comment like, just, just one?
A helpful thing to do instead is keep the mood light and say something like, OK!
I love you so much and cant wait to hear all about what youve been up to.
Your parents are wrong about …
Parenting styles and best practices change over time.
