My two younger children's grandparent live in California. (We live in Ohio) I always feel really bad about them not being able to see their grand babies grow up. My husband flew out with my now 2 1/2 year old in January, and my FIL just recently came for a short visit.
My MIL's birthday is at the end of this month and I wanted to make her a scrapbook of the babies. I went to Michaels and bought a medium size scrapbook and some other things, and then had another idea. They had refill pages for the scrapbook that you can add in. My plan is to make the first scrapbook of the babies and send it to her. Then every month or so I can make additional pages, and send those to her. She can then add those to the scrapbook I gave her and watch her grand babies grow up.
I would love to hear anyone else's idea's on how to bring grandparents closer to their grand children.
I think your scrapbook is a wonderful idea. I started something like that when my oldest was born, even though both grandmothers live nearby. Unfortunately, though, I haven't kept up with making more pages-- they've had to fill in their own!
Another idea... video or tape recorded "letters" sent to the grandparents periodically. The kids would probably love it if Grandma/Grandpa sent a video or taped letter back in return.
I'm about to be a long-distance grandparent and am really worried that I won't be a big part of this baby's life. We do have a webcam, so I think that will help, and with a digital camera I can get pictures frequently. I'm just looking for some reassurance that this can work. Anyone else out there in the same boat?
We bought a domain name and server space and set up a website. We gave the address to her grandparents, aunts and uncle (who are all long distance) and we update it with new photos frequently. A couple of times a week. All the silly little things you do during the week we take photos of. Currently there are 800 "pages" to the site and thousands upon thousands of photos. We also back up all photos onto CD and DVD and make it very redundant about once a month. But it really doesn't take much time at all and the family can watch what she is doing almost daily. I love it too. I can take a trip down memory lane anytime and look at what she was doing this day last year and the like.
I want to thank everyone for their ideas. I am going through a terrible time emotionally because my daughter is moving across the country with my 18-month-old grandson. I have been a very hands-on grandmother, and the grief I feel is overwhelming at times. Any suggestions? They will leave in 2 months and I feel likeI'm living on borrowed time! I don't want to be selfish in terms of standing in my daughter's way, but I will miss my grandson so much and wonder how the separation from me will affect him. I see him almost every day.
I love the scrapbook idea too. Digital photos have worked great for us. I never could manage to have the film developed, reprints made, envelopes addressed and stuffed.... But I can hit that send photo as email button!
I just posted a blog on a fun way grandparents can stay in touch with school age children here.
We live so far away that we are always looking for good ideas.
Long Distant Grandparents
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