[cool09]

For putting up with me and my illness all these years? I have no idea.

[Wild Coyote]

I feel it's important to express our gratitude to our parents, when we feel gratitude.

We can do that with words/speech, with behaviors, with a card or a letter, etc.

Maybe write a card or letter of gratitude?

It's nice you appreciate your parents. I am sure they love you, too.


WC

[IrisBloom]

Loving parents don't expect to be paid back. Your thriving is all they could want in my opinion.

By repaying them the same way they have treated you. After all, they're folks just like you, with needs.

They say that our happiness is of great importance, forgetting about what they need to stay sane in the whole parenting game.

I buy them things, I know from research, what they want. Ask them.

My mother is not as simple to read as my father. He holds in a lot. Bipolar or not, I should try better to be friends, not just a son.

[Deejay14]

Originally Posted by cool09

For putting up with me and my illness all these years? I have no idea.

By paying it back and helping them out when they need it by running errands, helping them at their house etc. without them having to ask

[Medusax]

Originally Posted by cool09

For putting up with me and my illness all these years? I have no idea.

This is off-topic... My favorite Doors song is Not To Touch The Earth.

[Deejay14]

Originally Posted by IrisBloom

Loving parents don't expect to be paid back. Your thriving is all they could want in my opinion.

They may not expect it but it s ure says a lot when you do pay it back.

[emgreen]

Small unmarked bills...No change.

[yagr]

I paid my mother back my going no-contact twenty-six years ago.

I paid my father back by calling him every morning to tell him I love him. To be honest with you, this one might be a little selfish. Every night for my entire childhood, my father would come into my room when he got home from work, would give me a kiss and tell me he loved me. I often woke up and would brush him away because he was disturbing my sleep and I was too young to know better. One night when I was five years old, I woke to find him sobbing as he tried to kiss me good night. I had never seen him cry before and I tried to comfort him as he had comforted me when I cried. He let me. He explained that his father had just died. As young as I was, I remember the torture he put himself through over the next few years wondering if he had been a good enough son and watching as remorse ate at him because he hadn't told his father he loved him often enough. It made an impression. So I've told him every day since then.

At least a few times a month he tells me, "I don't tell you this often enough, but I appreciate every single call." I don't know who gets more out of the calls any more.

[seeker33]

Help them when they need it, be there for them. Call and visit them often. Cook their favourite meal. If you can afford it, pay them for a holiday/trip. Many elderly suffer from various kinds of pain, could you maybe sent them to a massage or a wellness treatment?
You know best what their needs and wishes are. In general, I would definitely express my gratitude by working on our relationship and or treating them with some interesting experiences.

[avlady]

My parents did everything in their power to help me when i first got sick and they went through the whole thing until i was stable enough to be on my own. I was such a mess and treated them badly. i did get the chance to say i was sorry, and told them i loved them. things have been different since. I think they don't have to worry as much about me, i'm married now with a son, and i try to visit them when possible. my mom has Altheimers and my dad has knee and arthritis problems. I am happy to know i had the chance to tell them how much i loved them while my mom is still able to understand it.

pay them back with small things and terms of endearment. Maybe offer to make a dinner or mow their lawn or take them to a movie.

[eskielover]

My parents just got by financially all my life. I put myself through college, got married & were a 2 career family earning a good income. We got a condo in Jackson Hole Wyo for our 2 week winter ski vacation every year. My parents enjoyed having a place to vacatikn to that they didn't have to pay for except getting there. It was always a relaxing family get away with my birthday right in the middle of it. They got to do lots of things they wouldn't have been able to otherwise....& got to have some nice family memories now they arw no longer alive.

At the end of my mom's life, I caught the home care person abusing her. Once I finally got rid if that home care person I stayed 24/7 with my mom until I found her a safe place where the home care person & all involved with her couldn't find my mom. Prorecting her caused me trauma that caused PTSD but it was somwthing I felt I owed my mom because even in her dysfunctional qays she was always there for me.

I am headed up to see my parents tomorrow for a road trip and weekend visit. I will have in hand some art work of mine. Not exactly impressive but something thoughtful and from my heart.

[den88er]

My parents put up with me for many years. The time came when eventually they became sick with cancer but of course that had nothing to do with me but I was there for them 100% of the time taking them to all the appointments encouraging them doing things around the house for them I gave it my all. Just be there for them like they were there for you.

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by emgreen

Small unmarked bills...No change.

Small bills — like Monopoly money?

No change? My saintly father once gave my evil stepmother $500 in pennies. Taped together, end to end. He had his staff do it.

Thereafter, all of our pennies were ‘sticky.’