My memories of the times I spent withmy grandmother are amongst my most precious memories.
My gran
She was my first cheerleader, always encouraging my wild ideas and crazy artworks.
She ate ice cream with me for breakfast, taught me to play the piano and as I grew older passed on her parenting wisdom as she helped to rock my fussy teething baby at night.
We were incredibly close and I spent many holidays with her as a child.
As an adult we shared a home for a time and in her last days I was privileged to have her singing to my children, telling them the wild tales of her youth.
When we were apart
During our time, there were times where I travelled or moved away. Times where she lived away from us and where, in the time before technology made it easier to connect, that we would write snail mail letters, send post cards or phone each other almost daily.
This led me to think about how many grandparents are missing their grandchildren right now and how many grandchildren wish they could be with a grandparent making new memories.
How can grandparents connect with their grandchildren when apart?
So, how can grandparents connect with their grandchildren during social distancing or lockdown.
Here are some of my favourite ways …..
1. Phone calls – phone calls allow your grandchild to hear your voice. With technology we can connect worldwide through Skype, facetime and whatsapp video calls, allowing you to see and converse with even the smallest child.
2. Leave messages on social media – most older children, tweens and teens, have their own social media profiles so leaving them quick messages or commenting on their photos allows them to stay connected with you.
3. Leave voice notes – much like the postcards of yesteryear, a voice note is a quick message to say I love you and was thinking of you.
4. Take photos and send them with a memory. For example a picture of a cake you made that you know is your grandchild favourite with a message saying I thought of you. Or send an activity you’ve seen they may enjoy.
5. Bond -Take an online class together or both watch a live stream. Then call after and discuss what you both liked from it.
6. Create a scrapbook to give to your grandchild after lockdown.
This could incude-
- Photos
- Memories of your own childhood
- Memories of your grandchild
- Family tree
- Favourite recipes
- A list of things you want to do with them
Technology has made staying connected a lot easier than it was twenty years ago, so grandparents can now stay in touch and see their grandchildren even if they cant hug them close right now.
