For many grandparents, having grandchildren is reliving their experiences from the past, when they raised their children. It is important to foster the relationship between your parents and your children and it is especially important to actively work on it in situations where you are physically apart. Children’s parents play a critical role as a bridge in this relationship and both grandparents and parents need to act as partners in this effort. Above everything else, they need to recognize that nurturing these relationships takes time, which is often a challenge in the lives we lead today.
Key Takeaways:
- Timing is really everything when grandparenting from a distance. Find out good times to call – but also ask about bad times to call.
- Specifically nurturing the connection with the parents from a distance is key too. Even though we aren’t as cute as your grandchildren, we still need you and depend on you to encourage and support us.
- There are so many small ways you can reach out and let your own children know you are there when they need you.
“If kids don’t feel like talking, keep this reminder on a sticky note somewhere: I like listening to you.”