Sometimes, we think our parents cannot understand us and they get in the way of our happiness. This is why many of us have experienced rebelling against our parents at some point, especially when we were still teenagers.
However, we should not forget that our parents love us, and all they want is the best for us. At times when they seem to be very strict, they just want to protect us from possible harm. That is why they need our understanding and respect.
What is Respect?
Respect is the positive feeling that you give to people because of their abilities. It is expressed as an attitude towards other people who have different opinions than you do.
You don’t need to get something in return for respect.
Please show respect to everyone, regardless of their age and position.
Respect is something you earn through your actions.
In other words, it’s not a favor that can be traded in or given as an act of kindness towards someone else.
If you’re disrespectful and arrogant towards others, you’re not respecting yourself. It’s also important to respect your elders who have earned the right to be respected because they’ve experienced a lot for themselves.
Respect is a response to care. You earn the right to be respected when someone gives you care and support as well.
You also need to respect yourself first and foremost before asking others to respect you.
Why It’s Important To Respect Your Parents
1. They are older and wiser
It’s not just about age but wisdom.
Your parents have a lot of experience that you can count on. They have the wisdom to lead you in making good choices and decisions.
2. They’ve been there for you, so it’s important to be there for them too
Remember when they cared and supported you when you were young? Now that you’re older, it’s your turn to show your appreciation and gratitude towards your parents by giving them respect.
3. They sacrificed for you so much
When you were a baby, they spent all of their time taking care of your basic needs and loving you unconditionally. Then when you grew up, they spent so much hard work, time, and money to prepare you for a better future. When you think about it, that’s really selfless and truly amazing!
Your parents have given everything they had to make sure that you will be successful in the future. It’s about time that you pay them back by treating them with respect and love!
4. They know you better than you know yourself.
They’ve seen you grow up into an individual with your own personality and traits.
Your parents can give you wonderful advice because they know the kind of person that you really are and what may be best for your future.
5. It Will Benefit Your Parents To Be Treated With Respect
As we’ve mentioned before, respect is not something that you can give as a favor. It’s an attitude or feeling that you express towards others because they have done great things for you.
Once your parents feel respected by you, their life will be more meaningful and happy overall.
When you respect your parents, you will get a stronger relationship with them.
Of course, your parents may argue with you now and then, no matter how old you are. Just remember to respect them in the end!
6. Respect Benefits The Entire Family
Respect for one another is the basis of harmony in relationships within a family.
It is not always about yourself, but others can have something to gain from respect. When you show respect, it can influence your siblings or even extended family members positively as well.
You should treat others in the same way that you would like to be treated.
7. You Are Not Better Than Your Parents
Even though you are an adult now, there will still be things that only parents can teach us no matter how old we get.
Gaining wisdom is one of the best things that you can gain from your parents, and with them in your life, they will always try to teach you what is good or bad.
8. Your parents may pass away before you.
You don’t know when your parents will leave this world. Before they pass away, you should cherish them and never forget any of their good deeds.
It’s important to let them know you love them before the time comes.
Ways to Respect Your Parents.
So, how can we show them that we love and value them? Here are 46 ways that can help you show your respect to your parents.
Understanding your parents
1. Create positive thoughts about your parents.
Our emotions are affected by our thoughts. Therefore, if you want to be more understanding to your parents, you should start by thinking positively about them.
2. Understand where they are coming from.
Be open-minded about the generation gap between you and your parents. Know also that they are guided by their own experiences when dealing with you.
3. Remember how much they love you.
When you were a baby or child, your parents loved you and cared for you more than anyone else in the world. Even though they may not be affectionate towards you sometimes, you must always remember how much love they have for you deep inside.
Appreciating Your Parents
4. Appreciate every little thing they do for you.
Along with saying “thank you”, praise them for the things they do to help and make you feel loved. Your appreciation means a lot to them.
5. Give them presents.
Bringing them even just simple presents will make them happy, not because you give them something, but because they feel special and remembered.
6. Serve them as much as you can.
Along with being patient with them, take the opportunity to serve your parents. You can never repay them for their sacrifices for you, but at least you can show your gratitude through this.
Show Them You Care
7. Help with household chores.
If you are still living with your parents, always take time to help around the house no matter how busy you are. You do not want them to carry all the weight of household burdens.
8. Take time to ask how they are doing.
They go through tough situations too, and usually, they just keep it to themselves. Set a time to check on them, and make them feel you care about how they feel.
9. Treat them out to date.
You can do #8 when you do this. Set a schedule to date your parents once in a while, so you can bond as well.
10. Visit them regularly.
If you live away from your parents, make an effort to visit them regularly even if you are busy with work. They surely miss you and feel lonely if you do not seem to remember them.
11. Spend special occasions with them if possible.
Aside from visiting them regularly, make it a tradition to be present during special family occasions like your parents’ birthdays or during Christmas or New Year’s Eve. These occasions will only be meaningful to them when you are around.
12. Be patient with them when they are old.
They were patient with you every time you had tantrums when you were a toddler and when you were a stubborn teenager. Now, it is your turn to widen your understanding of them.
13. Show affection by hugging and kissing them.
Do not be shy about expressing yourself to them. Your hugs and kisses show how grateful you are for having them as your parents.
14. Be the best that you can be.
The best gift that you can give your parents is your life lived to the fullest. Seeing you successful with good values would make them see that they have fulfilled their calling to be the best parents that they can be. Make them proud.
15. Be on time when visiting or calling home, even if it’s just to say hello.
Even if you have a busy schedule, do not over-schedule your time, and always remember to make some free time for family. No matter how long you live away from home, they will still love hearing from you at least once every couple of weeks.
It doesn’t need to be any longer than a phone call because it is more important that your parents know you are making an effort to stay connected instead of writing them off as “too busy”.
If you cannot visit or talk regularly with your parents for a while, then at the very least send them postcards or call them and tell them both verbally and in writing how much they mean to you.
Improving Communication with your Parents
16. Talk to them constantly.
Communication can help you understand the thoughts of your parents. It will also strengthen your relationship as a family.
17. Watch your language when you are with them.
Avoid saying foul words, especially when your parents are around. You should also be courteous when talking to them.
18. Practice saying ‘please’.
In case there is something you need their help with like passing the food across the table, always remember to use the magic word ‘please’.
19. Do not talk back.
I believe it is okay to reason out to your parents if you need them to understand your side. However, do this in a gentle and respectful manner—not arguing with them and imposing your views. If they tell you to shut up, then do not say anything.
20. Keep your tone low.
When talking to your parents, always observe your tone. You should not sound like bossing them around.
21. Be humble and say ‘sorry’.
When you have misunderstandings with your parents, be humble even if you think it is not your fault. Be the first one to reach out and apologize.
22. Do not cross your arms when talking to them.
Crossing your arms in front of them, even if you are discussing something peacefully, is like showing them you are of the same level. Or it may also show defiance towards what they are telling you.
23. Avoid lying to them.
Sometimes, we make lies because we do not want our parents to be disappointed with us. However, the moment you cannot cover those lies anymore, they would be more than disappointed with you.
24. Open up about your problems.
Your parents want to feel needed and trusted. Be open to them about what is happening to your life.
25. Listen to their advice.
Your parents will give only give you the counsel they think are best for you. Accepting and doing their advice means you value their words.
26. Ask their opinions when making a major decision.
When you do this, you do not only get wise and sincere opinions, but you also boost the self-esteem of your parents. You make them feel valued.
27. Do not cut them off.
When they are talking, be polite by not butting in even if you disagree with what they say. Let them finish first.
28. Do not complain.
Avoid grumbling but obey your parents with a submissive heart. If you are assigned to a chore in the house, or you are told to get home before 8 PM, do it without complaining.
29. Tell them you love them as often as possible.
Yes, you can show it with actions, but it is still different when you tell them. It is music to their ears.
Show Them Your Respect
30. Express your gratitude to them.
Thinking back on the things your parents had given you, such as clothes and food when you were young – make sure that now that you are grown up, thanking them is one thing that they will always
Always take time to thank your parents for their sacrifices and everything they do for you. You can never repay them for all they have done for you.
31. Obey their house rules (especially if you still live with them).
You need to respect their authority as the heads of the household. That is why it is your responsibility to obey their house rules unless you want to move out and live on your own.
32. Respect their decisions.
There could be some decisions your parents make that you do not agree with. You can try telling them your thoughts about those, but if they do not accept your ideas, just accept and respect them.
33. Prioritize them over friends and boyfriend/girlfriend.
Always put your family, especially your parents, above other people. Friends and boyfriends/girlfriends may come and go, but your family is forever.
ALSO READ: 9 Reasons Why Family is the Best Thing in Your Life
34. Introduce your friends and special someone to them.
When you introduce the people you usually go out with to your parents, it makes them feel really valued. It will also give them peace of mind since they know whom you are with when out of the house.
35. Focus your full attention on them when they are around.
Every time you are with your parents, avoid texting, checking your Facebook, or playing games on your phone. Make the most of your time with them by chatting with them and listening attentively.
36. Respect their opinions and principles.
You may have different beliefs, views, and principles from your parents, but you have no right to tell them they are wrong. Do not force what you think is right on them.
37. Involve them in family activities.
If you have your own family already, do not forget to invite them to family outings and gatherings.
38. Be proud of them.
Even if your parents are not wealthy businessmen or dignified professionals, they still deserve to be honored. They have given their best to give you your needs and raise you up as a good citizen.
39. Respect their decisions even if you disagree with them.
Your parents know what is best for them most of the time, but that does not mean that you shouldn’t try to help them make good decisions.
Your parents will be pleased if you tell them things that may positively improve their lives. They love to hear your opinions and feelings, but you also need to respect their point of view when it differs from yours.
If you don’t think your parents are doing the right thing or making the best decision, keep it to yourself unless they ask for your opinion.
40. Be grateful for what they have given you – everything!
From the food on the table and clothes on your back to paying for all of your education expenses, do not ever take these things for granted because there are children out there who have no family support at all.
41. Try To Compromise With Them When You Disagree About Something.
It’s okay not to agree with everything they say or are doing. But when it comes down to a point where the two of you don’t understand each other, try and find the middle ground so that both of you can feel happy about the outcome.
42. Treat them fairly and equally-don’t favor one parent over the other
Your parents are both your family, and you love them both the same. It can be difficult not to show favoritism towards one parent or the other, especially if they each have different parenting strategies.
But try to remember that it is important to treat both of them fairly by being kind, respectful, and generous in return for all they have done for you as well as each other.
43. Respect the things that mean a lot to them.
Your parents have their own interests and hobbies that are very important to them because it makes them who they are. You should always respect the things that your parents like and any special keepsakes or collectibles they hold on to.
It is okay to be curious about what keepsakes or things are important to your parents, but you should never touch anything they have told you.
Just DONT do:
44. Do not bring up past issues.
At times when you and your parents get into a misunderstanding, avoid bringing up the past issues that were resolved already. You are not a historian.
45. Do not break their trust.
In connection to #23, keeping their trust is one of the best ways we can show them our respect and love for them. Therefore, avoid doing things that can break it.
46. Do not do things that can upset them.
Even if you are your own, you still have to be sensitive to the feelings of your parents. They care about you and they get worried easily when you do things that are dangerous or unhealthy.
47. Do not laugh at their mistakes.
Your parents are only humans, and they make mistakes too. Do not embarrass them by making fun of their slip-ups.
Ways to Show Love to Your Parents
1. Visit them often.
2. Call them regularly.
3. Send them practical gifts.
4. Clean the house for them.
5. Cook them their favorite food.
6. Do their laundry.
7. Do not raise your tone at them.
8. Respect their point of view.
9. Avoid arguing with them.
10. Listen to them attentively.
11. Do not appear bored when talking to them.
12. Pay attention to them when talking.
13. Take care of them when they are sick and old.
14. Stop holding childhood grudges against them.
15. Take them on a date.
16. Organize a family reunion.
17. Bring them on holiday trips.
18. Hug them as often as possible.
19. Let your kids play with them.
20. Thank them for their hard work.
21. Pray for them.
Please visit ways to show love to your parents for the details.
You are blessed to have them
Your parents are not perfect. There are times they make you feel bad, and you might have even wished you had been born into a different family. However, remember that not all children had the privilege of being born and raised in a home. Some of them did not even have a glimpse of this world, because their parents did not give them a chance to live. Some were abandoned when they were still small because their parents could not take the responsibility of taking care of them.
Be thankful for your parents’ love and sacrifices for you. They deserve to be loved and honored in return.
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