ARE YOU a LONG DISTANT GRANDPARENT?

Grandparents are always ecstatic, adoring and truly in love with their grandchildren. Grandchildren are the joy of grandparents' lives. It's another chance to live through the eyes of a child and to experience and share the joys of growing up again with their grand- child. If you are a long distance grandparent there is no reason to miss out on the fun, the love the sharing and the adventure of your grandchildren. In today's world of advanced technology in communication and transportation they are many ways to enjoy being a wonderful, loving, and staying in touch, long distance grandparent.

Here are some ideas to keep that warm fuzzy feeling with your grandchildren alive.
Keep in contact with baby's mommy throughout the pregnancy and as soon as baby arrives.

Keep up with baby's progress each week and start an album or collection of pictures of baby's growth and changes. Your love for your grandchild will grow in leaps and bounds as you see the pictures of the changes in size, looks, actions and that first smile from cheek to check.

Phone calls will keep you up to date of baby's progress and keep your interest level high. Phone cards are a great way to reduce phone bills if budget is a problem.

Arrange with mommy and daddy to make a trip to visit with them to feast your eyes on your grandchild and establish bonding. Many times mommy and daddy will welcome the visit so they can enjoy some time with you, with each other and enjoy getting help with baby.

Babies don't stay babies for very long, before you know it you will be interacting on the phone and on the web-site with your grandchild. I know of a family who spends time on the phone reading stories to there long distance grandchild at bedtime. It is precious time spent from afar that they enjoy together very much and the memories of which will linger on.

As your grandchild gets older you may receive drawings in the mails or by fax of his artistic abilities. These you can display on the refrigerator or in your den or office. This can bring much joy to both you and your grandchild. Soon you will be able to exchange letters of love in the mails or on the Internet from each other that will give you joy.

Sending gifts to your grandchild is an exciting way to share your love, especially, safe, practical homemade gifts. These can be very special to a child.

When you can arrange a family trip, it is a great time to enjoy playing games together, planning outdoors activities such as, picnics and sight seeing, sharing your hobbies like fishing, woodwork or ball games. There are so many opportunities and things to do to keep long distance grandparents and grandchildren connected and the more you think about things to do the more ideas you will come up with.

Times spent with grandparents are some of the most precious and memorable times of a grandchild's life. Grandparents give a sense of history, family bounding, wisdom and fun.

Grandparents serve as role models for the younger generations in living a full, zestful and interesting life way into ripe old age. Enjoy the ecstasy, the love, the adventure and be the best long distance grandparent you can be.