There are so many times that I see adults talking to their parents like they are a nuisance or a grandchild talking to their grandmother like they are dumb. Your elders are not nuisances and they are definitely not dumb. They have more experiences than you can even imagine. They were raised working for what they had and instilled with the fear of knowing if they spoke to their parents the way you talk to yours, they would have to pick a switch.

When was this gap created ... and why? It's like someone flipped a switch after the Baby Boomers grew up and we no longer have to treat our elders with respect. The problem isn't the lack of "thank you" and "you're welcome" or even "yes sir" and "no ma'am"... the biggest problem, in my opinion, is our tone of voice. I've always been told it's not what you say but how you say it.

The amount of excuses people have for being rude to their parent or grandparent is long enough to be a Harry Potter book but there is no substance to their claims.

"I had a bad day at work." That's funny I didn't know your mom/dad/grandparent was your boss.

"They repeat themselves too much." You would too if you had 80 years worth of stories, memories, and information in your brain.

"They talk too much." If you were a widow who sits at home most of the day you'd be happy to talk to someone too.

"They don't get it." Maybe the real problem is that you don't get them. They weren't raised like we were, with everything at our finger tips. Don't scold them, teach them. That's the only way they can learn.

This article is a friendly reminder to everyone who has an elderly family member they take for granted... you don't know what you've got until it's gone. Instead of being selfish, the root of annoyance, take time to enjoy being in their presence. Ask them what their favorite childhood memory is. You'll be surprised at the crazy stuff they did as a child and what they did to stay cool without AC. Learn about their siblings that you never had the pleasure of meeting. I'm sure they'd be happy to talk about them. Learn about their hobbies and if you're brave enough, learn how to do them too. All of my grandparents were and are some of the most talented people I know. Having the same hobby is the best way to bond.

There are so many things you can learn from their past experiences. Once they are gone so are their stories if left untold.