What now?

Oh that’s so sad for you GranJan. Tbh 2 hours is not all that far and perhaps it was always on the cards that they would move one day. I know. It’s not the same but you can FaceTime meanwhile and then, if you drive, you can visit fairly often. Mine live in another suburb but it takes me 1.5 hours to drive and it never feels that long.

I’m so sorry because you have had them for such a long time. Presumably they have moved for a change of work so their life will improve. You just plan to visit and look forward to their visits to you.

I’m sorry you feel so down but I can understand it. Meanwhile plan your visits and I’m sure soon things won’t seem as bad as they feel now.

GranJan60 I sympathise. It’s must be like the empty nest feeling when your children leave home.
We had DGC from babies to teens. They arrived 7am before I left for work and were there when I got home, but DH had them all day until each in turn started school. Now they are both at high school he is bereft.
I suppose you will really miss them more because it’s the holiday. Will you be able to fit in visits? I know 2 hours is quite a drive, but once they’ve settled in would you be able to stay a couple of days every now and then or invite them up to stay with you.
I hope you can find something to help you fill the time you spent with them, but I know it’s easier said than done, and not the same anyway.

I can well understand how you miss seeing your grandchildren and taking care of them, it is a big change for you. Two hours away is too far for you to see them as regularly as you are used to. However it is close enough for you to see them fairly often. They must have moved for job reasons and hard as it is I hope you are able to recognize it was the correct decision for the family. Feeling bereft is a natural response but I do hope you will soon begin to feel better about what has happened.
I feel sure your enthusiasm will return as you come to terms with this situation. Please remember how important your happiness is and take good care of yourself. This sadness
' will pass ' and you will recover from this and enjoy your life . Contact friends , go out and take in the beauty of where you live
Good luck !

You can get through this, two hours away is not too far.
When we were in our 30s DH had the opportunity to work in Canada, I mentioned the possibility to my mother and she threw a wobbly of massive proportions. We were the parents of her only GC and she couldn't have them living the side of the world, my sister moved abroad as soon as she married and she wasn't prepared to lose another. In the end DH turned it down as we were getting so much grief.
Granjan

It must be so hard because it is a big lifestyle change for you. We are the opposite because our children used to go many years between visits with grandparents.The longest was actually 10 years. They were in the UK, we were in Australia. We see some of our grandchildren about once a week but since Covid we haven’t seen the others for many months. You get used to it and find other things. Truly. Two hours is nothing really, though. Can you make a regular date and time to see them?

Granjan, I do feel for you. To have them on your doorstep and being so involved in their lives and to now have it taken away is going to be hard. But I guess, they are leaving for job purposes and 2 hours is not that long. Look at it this way - you can have a few weekends with them and spend some quality time. Up to now you were ‘looking after them’ - now their parents can ‘look after you’ - I looked after my grandchildren all their life, school runs etc. Now they are teenagers they don’t need me and probably don’t want me ? but that’s ok - I see them regularly but my time is my own and don’t have to watch the clock.
Think of yourself now, for a change.

It’s a shock and a big change but two hours is really just up the road Of course you feel upset at first but then you must pull yourself up and be happy for them I am sure you will see them as much as you can You can’t build your life on your children and grandchildren it just isn’t fair to them They have to be free to follow their dreams and you need to show them that you are a complete person without them, even if you don’t feel it at the moment
Good luck with your new future and theirs

Harrigran I think that’s awful parents are very selfish to impinge on their children’s lives in the way your mother did

Hold on to the lovely memories GranJan60,i`m sure your G/chidren will.
And as others ahve said,two hours isn`t` that long.
Maybe you could stop over every now and then ?.
Also,they don`t stay young for long,so they would be seing their new friends and tell you all about it.
Cheer up.

My DD lives sixty miles away not that far I know but too far for me. I can’t drive on the motorways so I rely on my DH I do wish she could be closer. They have to go where the work is and it’s lovely Lancashire countryside is appealing.
I am sure you are upset but you will get used to it in time. You will fill your days with friends and you might enjoy the free time you have. When they settle you will look forward to seeing them and they will love seeing you. That’s all to look forward too until then enjoy “your” time ?

Facetime and send little personal notes they won't forget you when they have been with you for so long. My grandchildren have never lived near me some on the other side of the world others for the first few months of their lives and then a move 7 hours away.
The ones abroad have fun trying to teach me to speak like them and use the current trendy words. In fact, one is better at keeping in touch than their parents. They are so good at technology at a young age these days and facetimes pop up all the time.

GranJan60, I can totally understand how you must be feeling right now, but it will get easier. Just because they've moved away, it doesn't mean you'll never see them again ... it's only 2 hours away, and that really isn't very far when you consider that there are so many grandparents whose grandchildren have moved overseas.

Give yourself a little time to get used to the idea, and then start to think about things that you'd like to do to fill your spare time. I don't know whether you have a partner, or whether you're alone, but there's plenty of things out there to enjoy either way.

Perhaps, once they have settled into their new home you could visit occasionally, and stay for a night or two if they have room, or book into a local B&B/hotel, and enjoy some time with them.

One thing I've learned, since my children/grandchildren moved away from home, is that we can't live our lives around them forever. I did used to wonder what I'd do with my time if I wasn't working, or looking after children, but now I find that I have plenty to do, and don't have time to worry about not seeing them so regularly. Of course, I miss them, but it's nice to have some 'me time' now, and to be able to do things that I enjoy doing.