Heartbreaking to have a ten month granddaughter in Australia

I am in the same position I last saw my two little grandchildren a year last July n doubt I will see then now until this July all being well. It will then be two years. My DS works in Tokyo. I miss them all so much n only see them on FaceTime but at least grateful for that and zoom. It’s not the same snd they are growing up so fast and we miss out. However no good moping I try to keep busy and am grateful to be here as a lot of people sadly are not. Cheer up there’s light at the end of the tunnel

My granddaughter was one on the 28th December and lives in the USA. This is my daughters first child and one we never expected as my daughter was 45 when she was born. Joy and sorrow all rolled into one. Thank goodness for technology to keep us connected in some way. She kisses the screen when she sees us! My daughter had to start work when baby was 5 months old, but at least could work from home. But nevertheless is a full time demanding job to do with a young baby to look after. Covid has been very bad over there and she has not wanted anyone coming into her home. Only recently has she seen her husbands family but always with masks inside or outside. Planned visits for last year disappeared, hoping for a visit this year but that is not going to be for months at the earliest. And after being hood and safe for so long no of us are going to take reckless risks.

Fill your time as much as you can until you all be together. Send little parcels, write letters, make keepsakes for them if you are talented.

It is what it is and there's nothing we can do about it. My D is 60 this month and her 40th Wedding Anniversary is this summer also and I won't be there for either.
It would have been a big celebration since I turned 80 last year----so all hopes have been dashed of a family gathering for that occasion. Along with the adult GC who are there.

I’m in that position too. I haven’t seen my son and his family who live in Adelaide for 14 months now. It isn’t easy. My daughter and other grandchildren are 5 hours away but they are in this country so that feels different as I know that I will see them this year. I’m the daughter of a merchant sailor so I was brought up on long absences but it isn’t any easier now than it was then. I do tell myself that they are safer in Australia at the moment

Yes Lovemabub, I'm in the same situation as you and finding it more and more difficult. My only grandchildren live 'across the pond' and I'm so afraid that the close bond we once had will now be broken forever. Yes, I keep busy but it is hard and cannot be compared to those who have family in the UK. I'm desperate for the vaccine to be rolled out and plan to see them this year if at all possible. Unlikely I know, and all I can do is hope. You are not alone.

I would say that quite a lot of us are in the same position as you.
One member of my family I haven't seen for 14 months and my DD a full year since we were together.
I have seen GC three times, at a distance, in the last year.
I do not fret over circumstances I cannot change.

I too am in that position, with 1 DD in san Diego with my 2 G up DGC. they have been there 21 years, last saw my dd last year with my gson when they came over for my fathers funeral and my other Dd with 2 young Gd's live in OZ. luckily I went over for a month last Christmas, so it hasn't been as long for me, this time.
But yes the not knowing when I will see them again with covid dictating everything atm, it is hard
But we do have ways to keep in touch, so it does help.

I’m sure I sound hard but everyone has a sob story and all we can do is get a grip and carry on.
I think dwelling on situations one cannot change is not a good idea.

I’m not in your position as my GC live in the UK. I agree that we must soldier on bravely and be grateful for everything we have. In my view however you are perfectly entitled to feel heartbroken. I wish you well at such a very difficult time for you.

3 of my grandchildren live near Brighton and I haven’t seen them for over a year because of my age and their parents jobs which make seeing them too much of a risk. They don’t have to be in another country to still miss them.

luluaugust

I have GC only as far as Scotland and haven't seen them apart from online for 14 months now. At least I feel we are in the same position as so many others including Prince Charles!!
I remember now how upset my mum was when we moved 30 miles away and took her first GC with us. Lets hope for a better 2021.

With respect .....once this gets sorted it won’t take long to get there to see them !

I have GC only as far as Scotland and haven't seen them apart from online for 14 months now. At least I feel we are in the same position as so many others including Prince Charles!!
I remember now how upset my mum was when we moved 30 miles away and took her first GC with us. Lets hope for a better 2021.

We too have grandchildren in Sydney and our daughter is studying for a Masters degree also. I am very proud of her as she manages everything marvelously without outside help. Saying that she has a very supportitive husband.
We have not seen our grandchildren for 2 years due to the pandemic but we see them on zoom and what's app and carry 5hem in our hearts.
Is your daughter putting pressure on you to be there to help her or are these your own thoughts. I am sure that she is finding a way round it. Tell her how you are feeling and she may be able to reassure your anxieties.
I hope that we may all be able to be free to travel in the near future.
Until such a time give them as much support as you can from the UK.

Yes, I also have 3 Grandchildren living in Perth. My husband and I were supposed to be visiting last October, but C-19 put pay to that. I feel content in the fact that my daughter informs me that Perth is one of the safest places in Australia, so that makes me feel better. Looking forward to the day I can visit.

My DGDs might as well be on the other side of the world, due to Covid. They live 15 minutes walk away and I have seen them through the front door glass or window perhaps half a dozen times since March. They used to come to me two afternoons a week after school for their tea, and often used to stay over so mum and dad could have a night out. It has been deemed safer for me, as their DF is a key worker in London and commutes almost daily.

Then again, we had to live abroad with DH's job when the DCs were young, so we were away for long blocks of time, so can imagine now how it felt for our parents. I can remember now what DH's mum said when we told them we would be away for three years - "you've just given me a grandson and now you're taking him away from me."

Hopefully we'll soon conquer this virus and then be able to meet up again.

It is bad for all us Grandparents but we have to just hope that things get better very soon vaccinations and the continued hard work of our scientists must be applauded ! Come on deep breath let’s all stay safe so we can see them soon !

my grandchildren live only 6 miles from me, but due to tiers etc.. lockup,,, I can`t get to see them...

trying very hard to adjust to this new way of living.

so many people are so much worse off than I am,,

It makes me sad but it’s not heartbreaking as they are all having a good life. 3 in Singapore not seen for a year and 2 in USA not seen for 18 months. I have been through lots of emotions but after 15 years of one emigration and 5 of the second I’ve adapted my life and expectations.
Having said that I have a completely different relationship with my 4 local little ones.
Thank goodness I can actually see them on a screen though

My grandson is also 10 months, living in Canada. I have never seen him either in person. I was due to fly in the summer, but obviously that was cancelled.
We make the most of Skype and I have seen him grow up.

You need to accept it is what is it at the moment. The world is in the same situation. Hopefully before the end of this year we shall be able to meet in person, but for now I am grateful we are all well and carry on looking forward to our Skype calls.

On a positive note you have skype, hangouts, zoom etc; on the internet to be able to see your grandchildren, email contact. Before the internet all we had was snail mail which took a good 3 weeks to send/recieve a letter.
Yes its hard not being able to see grandchildren in the flesh and hug them, but its better than nothing. Its a damn sight harder when your estranged from your grandchildren through no fault of your own!

Yes Bluebell, these threads have made me wonder if maybe my grandparents did miss having the chance to meet me and know me. I never really thought about them having much care about it. I guess, for me, it was always just how it was with them being far away so I didn't know any different. For them, being much more aware of family connections and that their child wasn't with them, I'm sure it wasn't so simple. Apparently my grandmother always did ask about my own children and enjoyed hearing how they were doing and what they were up to. I only learned about this in recent years though. These thoughts make me feel quite sad to not have known family.

Yes notspaghetti I too left the country at 20 and my parents didn’t see their first grandchild till she was nearly 3 I don’t think I realised how hard that must have been for them
in those days we didn’t even have a phone so it was airletters or blueies(2 week delivery) and photos that took weeks to be developed and sent

Yes, it's hard. Been there, done that.

Hello,
I think you should try not to worry. I don't know if your daughter has a partner or maybe she's a single mum? Either way if she's struggling she could ask to put her MA on hold or ask for an extension. I'm sure there will be thousands in her position this year in particular. Hopefully she knows about her options and would act if she needed to.

I do hope your feelings settle down soon. Some of us were the young mums who left the UK to make a life elsewhere and now know how our own mothers felt! Luckily, these days communicating is so much easier - so be pleased she is safe and well, and as others have said, look forward to a happy reunion in future.

It gets easier as time goes by lovemabub I haven’t seen my son and family for five years they were due to arrive from NZ for a holiday in June but had to put it off till 2022 I haven’t seen my other three grandkids since last Christmas Two are living here but all seven were born overseas you have to bite the bullet as long as they are fit, well and happy that’s all that matters