Long distance grandparenting

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

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!

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.

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

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!

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.