When the neighbor lost her husband, she was lonely but not alone. Michaela Tolman’s young son became her new bestie. The boy has grown a lot since then, but they are still best friends. As a boy mom, Michaela did something right. Her son helps shovel snow for the widowed neighbor between soccer practice, basketball, and other boy and school activities. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michaela Tolman (@kaykaay_xoxo) Michaela has two young boys. She doesn’t disclose a lot about them online. We can guess their ages at around 6 for her youngest and 8 to 10 for her older boy. They are both active in sports. It is awesome for them to spend time with a widowed neighbor willingly. It’s much like having an extra grandparent, so it is probably a reciprocal relationship. Intergenerational relationships between young children and seniors have many benefits. Whether the relationships are with blood connections or just “chosen” friendships, there are benefits for both. Seniors gain companionship, improved mental health, more physical activity, and emotional support. Youngsters receive exposure to positive role models, can learn practical skills, and receive emotional support. Image from Instagram. While these relationships should never be forced, they should be encouraged if they occur spontaneously. Seniors can read to young children, play low-impact yard games with them, play board games, and do other activities. Youngsters can help seniors with small age-appropriate chores around the house, such as gardening, lawn maintenance, snow removal, and more. Michaela’s boys have enjoyed having their “bestie” right next door. She plays in the yard with the boys, relaxes with them, and snuggles with them, creating many smiles. Encourage the relationship if your children make friends with a safe, lonely neighbor. Please share if your child has ever sought out an unusual friend. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post “When Your Child Becomes Best Friends With Your 73-Year-Old Widowed Neighbor” appeared first on InspireMore.