Ten things we should tell our granddaughters

With you on the last one and feet.

If all your friends and relations think you are with the wrong person, they are probably right.

And one thing we should tell ourselves;

remember how important it is to be someone who can be there to listen to them. Sometimes advice does not need to be given, rather a non-judgemental ear and a few questioning looks while they talk and work things out for themselves perhaps.

My gran used to say to me ''Look after your knees and don't use a big floor cloth ,it makes your hands big'' She was a housekeeper and also did cleaning to pay for my mum to go to school.

You'll regret it if you don't wear a proper pair of (boned) corsets my girl!

Or so my gran said

Material things don't matter. Cherish your family and friends.

The World isn't always fair. People with bad attitude and poor judgement often fair better than those with loyalty and integrity.

A narcissist is the only person that believes they have good friends.

Opinions are like Assholes, everybody has one.

That narcissist quote is very negative and depressing.

I do however fully support the "Look after your knees" advice, and would also add 'teeth' as well

I'd not sure I'd want to tell my (non existent ) granddaughter anything !
I'd concentrate on just loving the child unconditionally. That would be a gift beyond jewels.
My friends who are already grandparents tell me that it's easier to love a grandchild unconditionally than it was with your children. . .

So far I have 2 tiny grand-daughters.
Mine will be words of support rather than advise, and the same ones I gave to my own 3 daughters:
Do not think there is anything that could possibly happen to you that you cannot come to me about. Know that as a child of the 60s I saw it all and did it all, so nothing will shock me.
Experience as a mother, however, taught me that sometimes your children will not come to you because they love you and don't want to hurt you, so I will add:
If it's something bad, trust me to not be hurt or upset, because what's done is done, and my only thoughts will be to help you and support you through whatever has happened.

Other than that, we can only enable our grand-children to be confident, self-assured individuals by loving them and showing them through our actions and words that they are cherished and respected as unique individuals.

Hmmm...... I'm not sure we did do it all and see it all in the 60s, NannaAnna.
Some things never change, but many things are different, sexting for example, and the pressure that young people appear to suffer through social media. Or the financial pressure if they go to university, come out in debt and then can't find a job. That was completely unknown to us.
I don't think one generation can completely understand the zeitgeist of another.

I tell my DGDs

The world is theirs and they can do anything they want to if they really want to,

That they should do as they would be done by

If you cannot say anything nice say nothing at all

Do not be greedy

Have lots of fun

Work hard because nothing is free

Value those friends who care about you and don't trust those who just want you for what they can gain from you.

Say no if you feel uncomfortable doing something

You are beautiful

I love you loads

Bit slow, me, so only just twigged that Melissa is Tony Benn's daughter. Have got his book 'Letters to my Grandchildren' which I bought for them and which he signed. I do hope they read and learn from it one day.

Penstemmon - a brilliant list, practically identical to what I would suggest, especially 'do as you would be done by'. I would add just two more - 'to thine own self be true' - if you lie to yourself you can't begin to solve a problem or situation. And the other? 'Look after your neck!' Never to soon to start with the moisturiser! I have five granddaughters from 13 to 21 and, oh, what a joy they are .......