Family aren’t living locally

My children live locally, but visits are usually scheduled as they both work and have busy lives. If you could move nearer to yours they could, at some point, move again, i accept mine could do just that too.
I always knew my children were lent to me and then make their own lives, I’m happy if they’re happy.

I know exactly how you feel. We moved to Ireland nearly 21 years ago, my daughter went back to England to university in 2008 (a year after my first husband/her daddy died), my son went back the following year.
So although I have remarried I desperately miss my 2 children and granddaughter. On average we only meet up 3 or 4 times a year.
I would love to just go shopping/meet up for coffee/have them round for a meal.
It's hard some days to adopt a more positive mindset but then again I read on here about grandparents who are worn out and have very little, if any, free time because they are now caring for grandchildren while AC are working. And when I do meet up with my children it's always great fun and we make every minute count.
We met up in London last month to see Moulin Rouge, then went for a meal at daughter's favourite vegan restaurant.
I guess all you can do is make plans for future meet ups and enjoy the freedom in between

I have 3, one is in a different country and the other two are at least a 3 hour drive away.
I would love to do school pick ups and sleepovers but it’s not to be.
I thank the Lord there is no estrangement and we are all on the same continent.

And nowadays with what’s app, FaceTime, Messenger, e mails, photos on phones etc., it’s so easy to see and talk to them, although not in person, so to speak.

Just think about years ago, just the post, and telephone if you were lucky.

Be grateful for how far things have come. Not always easy, I know (with family in Australia), but it’s life.

I echo the posters above, and understand why you feel like that.
My Mum, my married DD’s and children, and various other relatives all live local to me and we pop in and out of each others homes all the time.It’s what we’re used to and take for granted.
So many sad stories of AC living hundreds of miles away, but in modern life this is now usual,and my own set up is very unusual I think.Maybe one day you could move closer to them and regard it as an adventure?

Hello stillness. My take is be happy your children aren’t abroad , which makes trips even more awkward because of so much advance planning needed.
If someone is poorly or something else comes up you stand to lose the entire flight /airport parking etc cost, it’s happened to us more than once.
My dream Woukd be to be able to travel in the uk by car or train, however long the journey. We could then do things more spontaneously or cancel and replan easily without cost.
I do understand about the popping in thing though. I would like it too.
You will just have to get used to it, as do we all.
Best wishes.

You obviously miss them Stillness and wish you could see them more often, neither of which is unreasonable or selfish so perhaps you should be kinder to yourself, and stop berating yourself for feeling as you do.

Maybe then you'll be able to enjoy the good things that you say your life is full of and your happy marriage .