Staying Close to Far Away Grandkids
April 18, 2016|Posted in: Family and Relationships, Happy, Healthy, Smart Kids!
Do you have children that you love, who don’t live close to you? Many of us have grandchildren, or nieces or nephews or children of whom we have shared custody. It’s often difficult to stay close to those far away littles that We love so dearly! For me it is two of my grandchildren, G1 and G3, who don’t live close to me right now.
My parents were entering their 40s when I was born and three of my grandparents had already passed away. My only remaining grandmother died when I was just four. Most of what I learned about being a grandparent I learned secondhand from watching my parents with my nieces and nephews. I have only been a gramma just over five years now, but I absolutely love it! I have four grandkids (and one on her way), two that are close by and two that are far away.
G1 and G3 live about three hours from me. Usually they come to visit about once a month but sometimes I don’t get to see them for two or three months at a time. We don’t usually get to be together for birthdays or holidays either. G2 and G4 live close by so I see them several times every week and almost always on special occasions. Obviously, it’s harder to stay close to the grandkids who live far away than it is with the grandkids who live nearby. So, I’ve come up with some ideas to help us to stay close. If you love a child that lives far away, maybe you can use some of these ideas too!
- Whenever they visit or you are together take lots, and lots, and LOTS of pictures! Then print and frame them as gifts for the kids, make scrap books of them, post them on social media, put them on cards and letters that you send the kids, etc. Display them around your house.
- When you see them focus special attention on them. Do fun activities, play with them, read to them, go shopping and just make as many precious memories with them as you can.
- Send gifts and cards for special occasions, or just send some for no reason at all.
- Write and mail simple letters to them, telling them what you have been up to and asking about their activities. Make sure you include pictures!
- If you know the children will be coming to visit, save gifts until then and you can celebrate a late birthday, or Christmas, etc. when they come.
- Have something that belongs to the child at your home. All four of my grandkids have a “Gramma’s house blanket” that they use when they visit for sleepovers.
- Have the children stay at your home for a sleepover when they visit.
- Send the children a storybook with a recording of your voice reading it.
- Make telephone calls to the children.
- Skype or Face Time with them.
And always, ALWAYS give them lots and LOTS of hugs and kisses every single chance you get!! – XOXO
6 Comments
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Jasmin Saunders
April 20, 2016
That hit’s very close to home. I moved over seas to the US, while my parents continued to live in Germany. We had our first daughter and I know it is killing them inside to not being able to see her more often. What makes it a little easier is our once or twice weekly skype call. My daughter is always excited and asks to call Oma & Opa often. They sent special boxes for her with all sorts of goodies and when we fly over to visit (we try to get to see each in person once a year) they take off work and focus on the little human like there is no one else. She loves them dearly and they are very close. Even though we cannot see them in person nearly as often as we’d like to, they are still an important part of her life and they always will be. Thank you so much for sharing your story and all your great tips on how to deal with such form of “long-distance” relationship.
LoriGraceH
May 2, 2016
Jasmin, your daughter is a very blessed little girl to have a mom and grandparents that work so hard to make sure they have a loving “long-distance” relationship!
Emma {Emma's Little Kitchen}
April 21, 2016
Great tips. I’m from the UK and my husband is from Michigan, but we live in Texas. It’s been tough for the Grandparents on both sides!
LoriGraceH
May 2, 2016
That has got to be tough! I hope some of these tips help!
Heather
April 22, 2016
Great post! My husband’s mom takes 10 minutes to talk to each grandchild alone each time she visits. That means so much to all of them even my sometimes hard to talk to teens.
LoriGraceH
May 2, 2016
That’s so good that she does that. I’m sure it makes them feel very special!