We all do dumb things, especially to those who love us most. Grandparents are authority figures with a very special place in their grandchild’s life. When you’ve done something that hurt your grandparent, the obvious solution is to apologize. The situation can be complicated if your grandmother is very old or in poor health. It can sometimes be difficult to know exactly what to say or how to say it. The good news is, apologizing to your grandparent isn’t impossible.
Step 1
Think about the situation before crafting your apology. Try to look at the situation from your grandmother’s point of view as well as your own. Identify what you both did to create the problem. Find actions that you genuinely regret taking.
Step 2
Express your regret. Let Grandma know that you wish that you had done things differently. Don’t offer excuses or explanations.
Step 3
Take responsibility for your actions. Don’t rehash the entire scenario hoping that Grandma will see her part in the problem. That can appear to place blame on her.
Step 4
Be specific. Remember, you are apologizing for what you did, not what you are. Keep your apology focused on behavior, not people.
Step 5
Offer a remedy. Try to make up for the wrongdoing in some way. Ask Grandma what you can do to help heal the situation and your relationship.