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How to Help Kids Really Know Their Grandparents—Regardless of Where They Live
by Beth Sanders
When I was a kid, all we had to do was walk across the street to go visit
grandma and grandpa. In fact, grandpa had a barber shop on our street, Loveland
Avenue, where I got my haircut. Grandma enjoyed gardening and cooking so I could
usually find her in the backyard weeding the flower beds or in the kitchen
baking a cake. Today, things aren’t always so simple.
We live in a very mobile society so it’s not uncommon for grandparents to be
states or countries away from their grandchildren. They may have retired in a
distant place, or, perhaps, college or work caused your family to move away from
your hometown. But even if we aren’t right around the corner from each other,
there are still many ways that our children can connect—at any age—with their
grandparents.
Here are 3 tips for building a strong bond between children/teens and
grandparents:
1) Encourage letter writing. Letters may have been replaced by Email most of the
time, but there is still nothing like getting mail in the mailbox for children!
Encourage the grandparents to be regularly sending mail addressed to each
child—once a month would be great. Ask them to tell a story about themselves
when they were little in each letter—they can even start with something like,
“Once upon a time, grandpa had a bicycle when he was a little boy…” This could
make for a great bedtime story—and be sure to save the series of handwritten
letters which will become a precious keepsake. Grandparents who live far away
will also appreciate a letter containing their grandchild’s school artwork, that
first A of the school year, or a letter in the child’s own handwriting.
2) Take phone conversations to a new level. Instead of the normal everyday small
talk (school, weather, sports, etc.), equip your kids with a special question to
ask their grandparents and a piece of paper or notebook to write down their
answers—or conference call technology could help you record the phone call. Here
are a few to get them started:
a. What was your neighborhood like when you were a
kid?
b. What games did you like to play when you were my age?
Did you play any sports in school?
c. What was a day like for you at school? What did
it look like from the outside and inside? How did you get to school? What was
your favorite subject?
d. Did you ever get in trouble with your mom and dad?
What happened?
e. Do you have a motto that you live by? Maybe it
is something that you think about that helps you get through good times and bad
times.
f. Tell me about your grandparents. (This
question actually helps the grandchild learn something about their great-great
grandparents!)
The point of asking the questions is that pretty soon the grandchildren can
actually see grandma or grandpa in a new way—they once were children too! This
can deepen their relationship because grandchildren will then be able to relate
better. Also, grandparents love to share their stories if they know that the
grandchild would actually like to listen.
3) Plan vacations or long weekends together. This summer, my husband and I
included my parents, who only get to see my two kids every couple of months
because we live four hours apart, in a week-long vacation to Mount Rushmore in
South Dakota. The trip involved over 2,000 miles of driving. My son and grandpa
actually figured out a way to play baseball in the car! Mom enjoyed auto BINGO
and the wax museum as much as the kids did. We had plenty of time for
storytelling and questions about outhouses, farming, and life before TV. We even
learned, for the first time, about a relative named Waldo who had disappeared
years ago (now “Where’s Waldo?” has new meaning for my kids). The trip was
unforgettable for all of us—there’s nothing like a crowded minivan and hours of
driving to bring a family together!
As you consider how your family can connect over long distances, keep in mind
that YOU, as the parent, are a vital link between your parents and your
children. Of course, all of these ideas will involve you. It’s important
to be intentional about making this connection, or they may never know each
other in a deep or lasting way. It’s critical to build relationships to last for
generations—and that involves new conversations, telling stories, and sharing
more than just photo albums.
About the author:
Beth Sanders is a legacy expert, founder of LifeBio.com, and author of the
Memory Journal. In 1993, she interviewed her own grandmother and realized that
she never knew her as well as she could or should until that day. Her passion
for family history and stories has helped thousands to preserve relationships
and create a lasting legacy. LifeBio has appeared in the Wall Street Journal,
Associated Press stories, the Chicago Tribune, and she has appeared on numerous
radio programs including Satellite Sisters, Life Online with Bob Parsons, and
Coping with Caregiving. She is married and the mother of two children, ages 11
and 8. For more information visit
www.lifebio.com or call 1-866-LIFEBIO.
© 2007 by Beth Sanders www.lifebio.com. Permission to reprint if left intact.
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