Still not met granddaughter

I know how you feel, my daughters and families live in the U.S and Australia
I miss them dreadfully, and would love to know when I am going to see them all again
But I know it isn't going to happen this year
But look forward to seeing them next year, when my husband and I have settled in our new house
As this covid time has given us the chance to sit back and realise what it is we want and that is a house move
and not all that travelling to visit them and spending thousands to do so

Feel your pain. We had the benefit of several weeks of our first grandchild because their parents were living with us while they saved.
They have had to move out though, to keep my vulnerable husband safe and we won’t be able to see them again until there is a vaccine or more effective treatments.
Somehow having met our grandchild was making it feel worse in that we now know who we’re missing but having read your post, I can put that into perspective.

Can only empathise and say this really won’t last forever. Have faith in our brilliant and dedicated scientists, there will be a vaccine or effective treatments before too long.

Oh Newatthis you have my heartfelt sympathy. (Our only child & family live 5000 miles away; we haven't seen them since 2018. My hope is now for 2021.) Sadly my advice has to be the same as lots of other GNs - don't book anything yet. What keeps me going is holding on to the knowledge that they're safe and well. And I continue keeping in touch by all means possible. Perhaps you can start a "diary" about your thoughts and feelings - and one day you can share this with your new DGD? Thinking of you.

Feel for you newatthis, it really is the most awful situation and such a waiting game.
I went abroad for 2 years when my youngest was 4 months old and we only had letters or the odd telephone call to go on. My Mum felt like you over missing her grandchildren but got through it somehow and you will too. Hold on to skype and facetime they are a fantastic resource for you.

Dear Newatthis ,
I feel for you, I really do.
Life has changed beyond belief for all of us and it is very, very hard. We have 2 new GC, but have been fortunate to be able to see them a few times, once lockdown relaxed, but it still breaks my heart (they both live many miles away), so can only imagine how you must be feeling. However, we must console ourselves that everyone is in the same situation, the families remain safe and well and they are excellent at keeping in contact. Thank goodness for Skype etc! Be kind to yourself, allow yourself to cry and feel sad, but try not to let that overshadow the times that you do have online contact etc. Look forward to the day that you will meet them, it will come and it will be wonderful and worth waiting for.

I know it so sad for grandparents, but I always think back to when my son was born 30 years ago - I was living in Australia and my parents back here in the UK.
No skype, Facetime etc then - just weekly letters and photos, and a monthly phone call.
My son was 11 months old before my mum got to actually meet him and if I had stayed in Oz, would have been a lot longer before the rest of the family met him!

Three years and counting since we last saw our son (only child), his wife and two little girls. Australia always feels like a long way away when you can't afford the flights and even more so now that we can't go anyway and they certainly can't come here while it is so unsafe.
But we have a cunning plan! A win on the lottery can’t be far away. Hiring a private jet must be easy. Not sure how we get permission to land so we might have to be a bit devious. Land elsewhere and trek/swim!
I could weep every day for fear of never seeing them again but what good would that do?

I have nothing to offer you but sympathy. But take plenty of that. so many people are affected in so many ways by this virus. We have to grit our teeth until it's over.

We are in the same position. My daughter and partner live in Western Australia, they had their first baby at the end of May. We last saw my daughter and her partner in September 2018 and no chance of seeing them or our new granddaughter any time soon. I've not seen my UK grandchildren either since the beginning of March. Sadly this is our life now but we live in hope. Our eighteen month old granddaughter in Surrey doesn't recognise us on face to face calls now, she was just twelve months old the last time we saw her. Her older brother who is seven chats regularly and my granddaughter who is four and just started school (a different family) chats every weekend. I have bad days when I wonder how this will end but try my best to be optimistic and keep busy. ?to all grandparents in the same position.

I feel for you. My first grandchild is due in November I Australia and I would love to be there. I worry about my daughter although I know she has lots of support. Her sister was hoping to be with her as she is in New Zealand but she isn’t allowed to go either. I will be on pins when the time comes.

Morning all, this situation we are all in affects each and everyone of us in a different way. During lockdown, (we are in Wales,) we couldn’t see our two granddaughters who live 25 miles away so we FaceTimed, sang songs, played games, bedtime stories, struggled along with my daughter trying to work from home, son in law was shielding, home schooling etc. Then Welsh gov said you can travel within a 5 Mile radius to meet family and friends- still no good to us- then eventually we were allowed to form household bubbles. We did this, had a fab summer holiday with them- they moved in for 3 weeks so my daughter and her husband could get some work done- both working from home- and I went back to childcare duties 2.5 days a week in school time.
Then on Monday my daughters area went into local lockdown from 6pm last night- I had to leave the little ones crying- broke my heart. BUT...... I take comfort in the fact that at least we got some time with them, had a great summer and made lots of wonderful memories. I truly feel for those of you out there who have yet to meet up and hug and kiss your families. My love and thoughts are with you all. We will get over this- it will go away or at least be manageable. We have to believe that??

I hope it helps to know that you are not alone in this. I haven't seen my grandchildren for over a year. We see them on Skype but it's not the same and miss the close relationship we could have had if they lived nearby. We encouraged our sons to make the most of their opportunities and would not have dreamt of trying to hold them back. I just avoid those who moan at how worn out they are after looking after their grandchildren. They don't know how lucky they are.

I think Lucca sums it up, we don't know now if we will see our son and grandson this year as their visits to us have all been cancelled and we have a hotel booked for a November weekend but dread it not going ahead....we last saw them in December. Who knows and getting increasingly difficult to be positive but IT WILL GET BETTER. Listen to the Bob Marley song 3 Little Birds( or what I thought was called Don't Worry)

I live in Jersey, in the Channel Islands and I have a 16 month old granddaughter in Australia and now a one month old in Dubai. We keep in touch but Oh how I long to give them a cuddle. Cant imagine getting to Australia at my age (64) and although Dubai may be a possibility the prospect of going through 3 Airports in the present situation is scary

Please count your blessings... I have 3 GC who live 4 miles from me and my DIL didnt once get the little ones to video call me during lockdown. My son bought them over twice for 2 minutes whilst he collected letters that came to my house for him. I'm sitting alone and wish you well. I'd love to be able to get photos and videos..... please know how blessed you are.

Newatthis Of course I shall be kind! I don't think any one on GN would feel anything but sadness for your situation! This is such a terribly sad situation. I am so sorry. It is so heartbreaking and I truly feel for you.
Yesterday I was labelled a Conspiracy Theorist by quoting a Professor from the Centre For Evidence Based Medicine: “The only ‘circuit break’ we need now is from among the Govt’s doom-mongering scientific advisors who specialise in causing panic and little else” says Prof Carl Henegan". I also quoted Bill Gates himself. But it does not mean that I have no compassion for your situation. Far from it!
I do believe it is safer for you not to travel - obviously you cannot anyway - but perhaps it might be a very small comfort to feel that by staying away you are helping to protect your dear little granddaughter. I wonder if you could start a memory box for her? little things, post cards, photos of what you baked, something you made, pressed flowers...

By the way, and it might cheer you up, The reason I quoted Prof Heneghan (from From the Centre For Evidence Based Medicine) might give you hope. Despite the scary predictions of the government Scientist, the truth is, the Office for National Statistics figures where all deaths are collated, show that the risk of flu is much greater than Covid and that Covid is keeping level and low. Indeed I understand that flu numbers are not bad compared with other years either. The govt's high prediction, of 50,000 cases apparently was based on calculating the rate in France and Spain, but they multiplied it as doubling every week and the truth is that in those countries it doubled in positive cases every three weeks. This is why we need to follow other scientists, look at the official figures ourselves and even read the press in other countries to get a balanced view. To my surprise, out of all the UK newspapers, it was the Sun which printed the Office for National Statistics figures and graphs!
I wondered if the govt exaggerate or invent these enhanced figures to get through to some very stupid people. But I think it is counter-productive. It frightens the decent people and makes the Professionals with knowledge in the field very angry about the lies. Once lies are detected, one has no faith in what they say. Some distinguished Scientists have called for their arrest and many others have written a letter to Boris Johnson.

So I am hopeful that things will improve soon. Meanwhile if we stick to the advice we shall surely beat this little monster. But please everybody, just do what is sensible but do not allow yourself to worry about this all the time!

And Newatthis, I do so hope and pray that a solution may be found so that you may see this precious child soon. Meanwhile, try to be brave my love, you are doing this to protect your dear granddaughter. xx ??

Thank you so much for all your kind words. It’s very difficult for many of us and we all hope that sometime soon we can get back to some sort of normality. It must be particularly difficult for those of you who have grandchildren nearby and can’t see them

Dear 786wales,
Your pain jumped out and cut through me, you poor lass! It must be agonising to be so near and yet so far.
It will be no comfort to know that you are not alone, but at least you might feel less isolated to know that there are many other Grandparents who are tortured by being refused access to their grandchildren.
There is no easy solution. I will pray for you. I am not so unfortunate because I get occasional phone calls - few and far between - but I cannot imagine seeing my DGC as things are. I cannot travel and they cannot come to me.
I can only tell you what I do. I try to keep my mind on good things. I am lucky to have dogs, but they re getting old. I am house-bound. I try not to dwell on my family situation. I read and do some hobbies like my latest which is making jewellery from semi=precious stones.
I will think of you often now and all people in your position. Try to make your life as happy as you can, for your own sake. I do hope things improve.
With love, Elle. xx ??

My twin granddaughters live in Australia with my daughter. We Facetime regularly and I feel I have a good relationship with them . I'm the sort of person who accepts things the way they are - at the moment none of us can change anything. Make the most of video calls but please always be cheerful and positive. I know it's very hard and I'm hoping we might get to see our families next year.

Newatthis

Thank you so much for all your kind words. It’s very difficult for many of us and we all hope that sometime soon we can get back to some sort of normality. It must be particularly difficult for those of you who have grandchildren nearby and can’t see them

You are kind to say that about those with family nearby but it doesn’t really compare given that as soon as this is over they will be able to see them whenever they like and not have to spend a fortune visiting possibly once a year if they are lucky !!

I really feel for you Newatthis. I am in a similar position as my son and only grandchildren are in New Zealand and it is two years since I saw them. It is heartbreaking and I have never really managed not to be sad. I keep in touch via FaceTime and I write to the children every month and send them small gifts although the postage is sometimes more expensive than the contents of the parcel!
I console myself with the knowledge that, as a young family, they are having a far better life there than they would have in the UK . My son and daughter in law love their jobs, the children go to a wonderful multi cultural school and NZ has done so well in controlling the spread of the virus. As a mum and grandmother I am pleased for them and I never show them how sad I feel.

I haven't seen any of my grandchildren since March. Not the rules, but as a family we have decided a) I and my husband are vulnerable and b) they shouldn't have to restrict their lives just to make sure they don't catch anything they can give to me. We are all agreed, and as much as I miss them, we're getting by with video calls.

Would it be possible for you and your daughter (with your grandchildren) to meet in another country with less restrictions?

Doug1

I live in Jersey, in the Channel Islands and I have a 16 month old granddaughter in Australia and now a one month old in Dubai. We keep in touch but Oh how I long to give them a cuddle. Cant imagine getting to Australia at my age (64) and although Dubai may be a possibility the prospect of going through 3 Airports in the present situation is scary

When we are allowed to travel again, Dougl, book a flight and get to see your Grandchildren in Australia. Until the virus I visited my daughter and grandchildren. Definitely fly Emirates. Dubai is well signposted. I just look at the travel as part of the holiday. Seats are very comfy, food is good and lots of different diet choices and the entertainment system has films, games, tv series, music etc. Just follow the immigration guidelines as to what you can take in and make sure you have an electronic visa from the Australian immigration website. Look on it as an adventure. BTW, I’m 68.

For the OP. It’s just awful not being able to visit close family but as others have said, we have modern technology so at least we can see them. I often wonder how my parents and grandparents managed during WW1 and WW2 with the just not knowing, with bombs falling, food rationing. I just try to make the most of any contact we have and look forward to a more relaxed time.

There's always someone worse off. I though it was awful not seeing my granddaughter, we missed her first birthday and her belated party, together with his dad for his 30th, was cancelled. It's getting close to a year when we law was them. I'm luckier though as I have a grandson who lives closer and we were able to bubble with them, although that was later in lockdown. We had a couple of video calls but he got so upset not to be able to come up so had to stop.

I think we need to be positive that the time will come when fewer people have serious cases of covid19 and it just becomes one of those winter bugs that does the ounds.