I have three offspring, all of whom live abroad. I have previously written about this.
We have just had our oldest granddaughter to stay with us and she is as warm and loving as if we have had contact with her every year.
When our son became divorced it was heartbreaking. His ex wife would have nothing to do with us and made it extremely difficult for us to see the two granddaughters. She refused to speak to us and when we did drop off the girls after we had them to stay, when they were with our son, (in their own country) she would physically go out so that the girls went into an empty house. I know this as we saw her drive away. I should add that the girls were old enough to be left on their own. When they weren't old enough, she used to be invisible and we never went to the door, as the girls asked us not to.
Over the years I have sent cards and presents, but as the Gds got older we put money in a UK bank account for them as nothing was ever acknowledged.
Although the courts had decreed equal time to the parents, it was made so difficult for our son to have his daughters and for the sake of peace, she won.
I am recounting all this to give hope to those of you who have had hard times either losing or barely knowing their grandchildren for one reason or another.
It has been very hard at times to keep in touch but we and our son have managed it in spite of horrible obstacles that have been put in our way.
Take heart grandparents and keep channels open as much as possible,even when tears are flowing.
