How do you want your grandchildren to remember you? The legacy you leave behind will depend on the values that are most important to you. There are several things, however, that you can do to ensure that you’re leaving behind the type of legacy that is most important to you. Take a few minutes to consider what matters most to you, then take the time now to focus your efforts on your children and grandchildren. As a Medicaid consulting company that assists seniors with Medicaid-sponsored senior living, Senior Planning Services would like share some words of wisdom on how to leave a legacy for your children and grandchildren to cherish. Here are some ideas to try:
A Legacy of Love
Ultimately, a legacy of love is the most important legacy you can leave behind for your loved ones. You want to let them know that no matter what else happened in life, your children and grandchildren were loved and appreciated. Put love at the forefront. For one grandfather, this meant driving across town every morning to take his grandchildren to school. To another, it meant turning off the television and really listening to his grandchildren while they told him about their days. Pay attention to what love means to you and your family and teach them how to share it. Children who are loved themselves are often much better able to share that legacy with their own children.
A Legacy of Encouragement
Some people are blessed with the gift of encouragement. They’re able to make people feel better about themselves just by being there, offering a smile and a word of encouragement when it’s needed the most. If that’s your gift, give it to your grandchildren with abandon. Help them find their wings and go after their dreams knowing that someone believes in them absolutely.
History and Roots
To some children, it’s important to understand where they come from. As you research your genealogy and discover more about your family’s history, take the time to commit it to writing for future generations. If you don’t know about your family’s history, tell your own stories. Your grandchildren will cherish them throughout their lifetime.
Choose a Charity
Sometimes, the greatest gift you can bestow on your grandchildren is the gift of giving to others. Choose a charity that reflects your values and leave your money to them. Your legacy will live on through the generous acts of that charity and the donation will be a reminder to your family of the things that were the most important to you.
Legacy Letters
What do you want to say to your loved ones when you’re gone? Take the time to really think about what you would like to pass on, and then put it in a letter to share after you’re gone. Those words are a powerful message that will ring in the hearts of your loved ones long after you’ve delivered it.
Ethical Wills
An ethical will is very different from a more traditional will. Rather than bestowing your material belongings on your family members after your death, an ethical will sets out your values, letting your loved ones see the things that mattered most to you spelled out in writing. An ethical will provides your family with a guiding document that they can reference when they most need your advice in the years following your death.
Whatever the legacy you choose to leave behind you, you will be remembered, not only for the last years of your life, but for all those that came before it. Your entire life has been dedicated to shaping your children and grandchildren. When you’re gone, the legacy that you leave in your last days will be important–but even more important is the time you’ve had with them.
