GRAND Magazine - Fall 2020 - 15
long distance grandparents
But there are so many ways to make sure you are
part of your grandchild's life, even from a distance.
It takes planning, persistence and acceptance that
even a minute of chaotic virtual connection, keeps
you top of mind and heart across the miles.
Here are a few ideas and inspirations:
Create connection rituals: Make up a unique
way to say I love you or good-bye (e.g., if we grab
our right ear and then touch our thumb to our heart,
this means I love you). These small rituals make
grandchildren feel extra special on a video chat
- and then again, when you do them together inperson. Now picture yourself doing this secretly
across the room at their wedding!
For older grandchildren, do a yearly service project together related to their passions or yours.
Are they animal lovers? Drop off old blankets and
newspapers to an animal shelter in your respective
communities. Do you have a budding environmentalist? Suggest you both head to a local park
and clean up on the same day each year. These
acts of service, carried out together while apart,
create endless opportunities for conversation and
connection.
Use snail mail to prompt another connection:
Send fun quiz questions without the answers or a
few jokes without the punchline. Ask them to call
you for the answers. For older grandchildren, add
in a sticky note to a cash gift and ask them to send
you a selfie with whatever they purchased. The key
is to give your grandchild a reason to get in touch
and something for you to use as a conversation
topic.
Preserve your virtual time together: Take
screenshots of your video chats. The photos might
be blurry, but the smiles will come through. Also,
snap photos of yourself while video chatting with
grandchildren. Ask parents to take photos on their
end too. Use the screenshots/photos to make
a personalized calendar or photo book for your
grandchild. The moments might be virtual, but they
will add up to a lot of cherished memories!
Kerry Byrne, PhD, is an expert in care, connection
and aging. She is the Founder of The Long
Distance Grandparent, a social mission business
helping grandparents build strong bonds with
their grandchildren from a distance. As a mom to 2
boys with grandparents living abroad, she is deeply
committed to fostering meaningful connections
between grandparents and grandchildren.
15 GRAND
FALL 2020
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http://www.thelongdistancegrandparent.com/
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GRAND Magazine - Fall 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - Fall 2020
Contents
GRAND Magazine - Fall 2020 - 1
GRAND Magazine - Fall 2020 - 2
GRAND Magazine - Fall 2020 - 3
GRAND Magazine - Fall 2020 - Contents
GRAND Magazine - Fall 2020 - 5
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