Small Non-Awkward Ways to Say Thank You to Your Parents

Not all parent-child relationships are as warm as others. Some kids grew up in households where hugging was the norm and the phrase “I love you” is thrown everywhere. For others, however, expressing emotion is not second nature and this often leads to misunderstandings. Growing up, we’re sure we gave our parents headaches, it’s a normal thing for hormonal teenagers like us, but as we grew older, we realized how impactful they have been in our lives. We are who we are today because of the love and care our Mamas and Papas gave us.

So if you’re an awkward bean and you can’t express gratitude easily, there are still a lot of ways you can thank your parents.

If you can’t say it, show it

They say actions speak louder than words so put that to the test. Help around the house, wash the dishes without being told to, sweep the floor, do your parents’ laundry – there are a billion other chores around the house you can do to make your parent’s lives easier. Have the initiative and we guarantee your parents will surely appreciate it.

Make them something handmade

If you find handmade cards cheesy, find a way to create something from your own hands to offer to your parents. How about cooking them a meal? Aside from getting to provide for and feed them (which is extremely fulfilling), you get to show them how you’ve used your skills they taught you and even get to bond with them.

They taught you the ways of the world growing up, now it’s your turn to repay them

Until we have kids of our own, we’ll never know how much our parents love us and what they went through by taking care of us. They taught us the simple things like how to tie our shoelaces, how to go to the bathroom, and even how to walk. They were our saviors when it came to difficult class lessons and projects. Now that we’re adults, our parents come to us to decode the ever-evolving digital landscape. When they ask questions like how to use a smartphone or what a meme means, be patient with them. Teach them the way they taught us.

Give them meaningful gifts

You don’t have to buy plane tickets, book penthouse suites, or even dine at fine dining restaurants to let your parents know you’re grateful for them. Sometimes even a simple gift of a movie date will do. Or how about buying them their favorite treat when you’re coming home from work? Or treating them to a spa date? You know your parents best. Shower them with the things they love whenever you can.

Spend more time with them

Being young professionals, we drown with all the work we need to do and the socializing we participate in after work. We often come home when our parents are already asleep or, like most yuppies, we live in dorms and we see them only on weekends. Show your Nanay and Tatay that you love spending time with them by prioritizing them. Go home early, engage in conversation, be there for dinner. You’ll never know how much this means for them.

Talk to them often

Our parents love to hear about how our day went no matter how dull events might seem. Talk to them about your day and your job and make them feel that they’re a huge part of your life because they are. Don’t let these moments pass because pretty soon you might find yourself missing all these conversations.

Ask them for advice

Papunta ka palang, pabalik na sila. Our moms and dads have been through a lot and if you’re stuck in a rut, they have always been gifted of the magic of knowing the right words to say. Asking them for advice not only gives you perspective with your problem but it also lets your parents know that you value their opinion.

Simply tell them you’re grateful for them

You can do a lot of things that equal the words “Thank you” but best way to express gratitude has always been saying it outright. If you feel awkward about it, you can sneak it in a conversation with your parents. After everything they’ve done and are still doing for you, they deserve to hear how important they are in your life.

Go ahead and thank your Mama and Papa today!

How else can you express your gratitude to your parents? Share them with us below!