I haven't added to my Notes to Self in well over three years. But I came across this suggestion from Susan Adcox at About.com.Grandparents: "Overlook it. If you can't overlook it, forgive it."
I take it to mean we shouldn't get hung up on our grown children's indiscretions, forgetfulness (in, say, calling us) or outright mistakes (in, say, raising our grandchildren). Life's too short–and our relationships with them too precious–to bear grudges against our grown children or insist on being RIght (see other Note to Self: It's better to be liked than right). This may not hold true for serious issues (addictions, failure to shoulder family responsibilities). There is a time and important place for Tough Love. For all the little stuff that crops up in the inter-generational life of a family however, it pays to give our grown kids a little slack. So I'm adding it to my list of Notes to Self–my little daily reminders of how to get along well with grown children and their families.
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