Learning to adapt to change takes practice. It is not easy when you have a set way of believing or doing things. Adapting means making compromises and perhaps changing the way you react to situations. Make sure you choose your battles wisely and consider what's most important in your grandchild's development.
For example, suppose you always have dinner ready at 5 p.m. Your grandchild has recently decided she wants to join the school band and will not get home till 6 p.m. Do you: a) change dinner time on band nights, or b) tell her she can't join the school band? What if your 15-year-old grandson decides to grow his hair long and you dislike how it looks? Do you: a) tell him while living with you, he is not allowed to have long hair, or b) permit him to have long hair because you realize this is a harmless way of expressing himself?
If you answer a) change dinner time on school nights, and b) permit him to have long hair, you have shown adaptability. By being adaptable, you're well on your way to building strong relationships. Remember, change is inevitable. By adjusting to new situations you can prevent unnecessary conflict.
Source: IFAS Extension Service, The University of Florida
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