Long distance grandparenting

This just proves that what’s horrid for some is quite normal for others. I’ve always felt very blessed that I see my family at least once a week, and feel sorry for those who don’t.

We too went to visit in January, and saw our three beautiful grandchildren in Australia - we were there for when the oldest started school, which was lovely. Our DD who lives in the UK is planning a wedding in December and we so hope it can go ahead - hopefully her sister and the little ones will be able to get here to be attendants at the wedding, if they can't it will be postponed. So fingers crossed! But I do feel that friends are beginning to appreciate what it is like to be a long distance grandparent with the current circumstances!

I am one of the global GPs who have children and GC living in the US and Oz
Although I feel sorry for those who are separated from their DGC whilst in lockdown, my sister is in this position, but her family live in the same town and not faraway, so when this is over, she will beable to have their cuddles
I have no idea when I will see mine again, my eldest DD was coming over from the states in july, with my GD age 24 years, and her husband, but that wont happen now
Luckily I went to see my youngest DD in oz at xmas for a month, I spent a wonderful month with my DGDs age 10 and 6
It was very precious, but with all this I have no idea when I will see them again
So those with families living around the corner, yes it is hard, but when this is over you will get to cuddles those little ones as soon as, but global GParents have no idea when they will get those cuddles

It's me who moved abroad but usually its just a 2 hour flight so just takes a morning or afternoon to get to England and spend a couple of weeks visiting them all. Some of them were teenagers and older when we moved anyway. Now its greatgrandchildren being born and I havent been able to meet the youngest three. Just after my last visit to England in late 2018 I was diagnosed with grade metastatic breast cancer so have not been able to visit England and now with the virus problems still not able to come. But it's lovely to see them all via social media and I am content with that.

It was hard, getting used to 4 of our grandkids being 4,000 miles away but we adjusted. What is harder is not being able to pop round to visit the 3 who live nearby. The older girls used to sleepover regularly at our house and I haven't even held the new baby. It's not easy!

So many in the same boat! It kind of help somehow. Let's hope we'll soon get our bottoms on those planes!

dolphindaisy.. we were also out there in January, February and returned just as the lockdown was happening. We feel very lucky to have had that time together and are very much looking forward to when we can go again.
Thinking of all who have children and grandchildren far away ❤️

My daughter and grandchildren live in Australia so I'm used to seeing them on Facetime. Thankfully we booked a last minute trip to see them in February and returned just before lockdown. I'm so glad we made that trip as I don't know when we'll get out again. I'm afraid I do feel a little annoyed at friends moaning to me they can "only" see their DGC at the end of the garden path.

Thanks and it seems to help when you know others are in the same situation. Both sons there and no more children so none here! We too, were looking forward to new baby cuddles and had booked flights to make that happen, but as you say, as long as they are all healthy and happy.... that’s the main thing . Miss them all though as I’m sure everyone in this situation does.

My daughter and her partner live three and a half hours out of Perth, Australia. I am in the UK. They are expecting their first baby at the end of May. Daughter has to go to Perth two weeks before the expected date as they live out in the wheatbelt and the hospital likes all pregnant women to be closer to hospital nearer to the birth. This avoids a flying doctor or air ambulance trip during labour. We were due to go out in June and again in December when my daughter will be spending lots of time alone, after the birth because of seeding and Christmas time because of harvest. We do speak almost daily using WhatsApp etc but it won’t be the same as being able to help out or give our new grandchild a cuddle. But......as everyone says they are safe and well receiving excellent care so that is what counts. I have three grandchildren in the UK, one I see on the iPad regularly the other two less so as they are very busy with school work and online teaching and lecturing, but again I’m thankful that they are all well.
? to all the grandmas and grandads waiting for those first cuddles and reuniting with family.

Hi jerseygirl, my two sons live in Australia with a first grandchild due this summer. Our flights were booked to go and see them all, but sadly this looks unlikely to happen. Hoping to go as soon as we can though, fingers crossed

My three children have lived in other countries for 10, 20 and 35 years, so I am well used to communicating via Skype, Duo and now Zoom. Strangely, we seem to have become closer as we now have regular times for this as we compare different rules in different countries. They were all due to visit in August as usual, but I feel this may not happen now.

I feel sorry for so many of my friends who are used to seeing family most days who are finding this time really hard. I live a long way from my adult children so see them less often. Using facetime and zoom is a new experience and at the moment I feel more connected than I did before. My first grandchild is on the way but the parents should be moving abroad soon after the birth for my son's job for 2 or 3 years. I'm due to retire soon so should be able to visit when this is over but it will be long-distance grandparenting whatever. I hope when they return to the UK I'll be able to downsize and move nearer but that is a little way off for now. We all need to be grateful for what we have at present, especially good health, and look forward to time together when it is possible, however infrequent that may be.

Nipsmum. It is not really harder because when this is over it will take you about 30minutes to get to see them. More than 24 hours for some.......assuming long haul flights ever get up and running again..

I am used to spending a lot of time with my grandchildren and we are keeping in touch on FaceTime. I now sometimes read a bedtime story to my 3 year old GS (Grandad makes the sound effects!) and he 'gets' the way it is and we can interact. What saddens me is that my 8 month old GD cannot understand at all, doesn't respond much to the screen and when we have walked passed their house and chatted from the garden she looks blankly at me with a 'who are you?' expression. Before lockdown I always got a smile.

Same for me. My grandson, daughter and son in law live in Perth in Australia so we have always spoken to them via skype and facetime. My grandson is 8 and was born there. They were supposed to be coming over for a visit in june but that has been postponed. They are hoping to come next easter so fingers crossed.

I’ve always felt the pain ( if that’s the right word) of GP whose loved ones are far apart.
I am lucky that mine all live within 20 minutes drive. Usually see them all at least once a week and often more. So grateful for FaceTime and Zoom.

I was seeing 5 year old granddaughter every week or fortnight and 3 year old grandson less often as a difficult car trip but I'm seeing both more often on zoom now .

I'm helping with reading and writing a couple of times a week for granddaughter and reading stories and playing with grandson a couple of times as his mum is working from home and dad gets tired and likes to help grandson chat to me.

We had the 5 year old birthday party last Friday on zoom with 10 different connected people and all talking and wishing her happy birthday and we sang it too. She wore the Ladybug outfit I got her and they showed us the birthday cake her 14 year old brother baked for her.

Been doing the virtual stuff more than ever. Think the families have more time so we are having quizzes and music sessions too. Have one GC only 50 miles away who I see more often than the far away ones so do miss the cuddles from her.

I usually look after my 21 month old Granddaughter Monday to Thursday for 2 and a half hours. I've done that since she was 8 months old. We often see them at the weekends too so it has been very hard not being able to have cuddles. They only live 15 minutes away and it's been tempting to flout the rules but I wouldn't even though my husband has suggested arranging to meet up with them 'accidentally' on the canal tow path. Hopefully next week we will be allowed to see them lawfully and what a day that will be!

Our grandchildren live between 3 to 4 hours drive away. They all have busy social lives with birthday parties, swimming lessons etc. Since they all started school we have got used to only seeing them every 6 weeks in school holiday time but Skype/Face time once a week. Thanks to technology we have been able to have 3-way chats and even a virtual birthday chat yesterday. It is great being able to see the grandchildren interact with each other. Of course we miss the hugs but better to stay safe and know we will have many more years to enjoy them.

I never thought about this before. Is it harder for people like me who are used to seeing their grandchildren 3 or 4 times a week and almost every weekend to not be able to see them at all except on a screen.? I miss mine terribly. They live 3 miles away and I can't see and hug them at all. We just have to keep going and hope things improve soon. Keep safe everyone. You are important.

Same for me, except that we had hoped to go over there to see them, next month. It's been two years since we last saw our DS and family; now I think we'll have to wait until 2021. This is hard, but I remind myself that we are all safe & well.

As I’ve posted before, we GP’s with family overseas have had to accept this type of situation for years, and it gets rather tiresome to read about GN’ers over here who are forever bemoaning the fact that they are missing their GC.
It won’t be forever!

My 7 year old granddaughter is in Australia. My daughter decided to keep her off school as she has viral induced asthma. I read her a bedtime story several times a week (using FaceTime) which lets me see that she is safe and well.