Beautifully expressed! Your description of your grandparents could be mine.
My wife and I have a 2-1/2 year old granddaughter who we adore. She is local - we didn't have to move - but we would have. For Christmas, my wife made her an album with pictures of "her people" with some notes about them., back to great grandparents, We expected she would treasure it later in life. But she loves it now - leafing through it when in her car seat, pointing to pictures and repeating things in the cute way only a two-year-old can.
Most Americans don't think of their lineage as an asset anymore, unless it allows them to claim some disadvantage. Some of them are outraged to discover what their great-great-grandparents did. It seems so unnatural to me. Your informed views are so refreshing! I hope you find a following worthy of your work...
Having been born and raised in Canada, I rarely think about the impact of immigrating to this country from another. Your description of annually needing to find a neighbour or friend to be school contact is poignant and illustrates the angst of being so far from your own parents. What a lovely thing you've done to move to enable hands-on grand-parenting!
Wonderful and true. I had no grandmother close but cherish the memories of my grandfather who was very close to us as children. Eventually we lived continents apart but carried on a written conversation until his death.
Nandini, what a beautiful post. It truly is a blessing to have grandparents local and not have to fill that card with a friend or neighbour's name. I had a cousin locally and my parents only 3 1/2 hours away but I knew what my kids had missed. I am so so incredibly grateful that our first 2 grandchildren live 22 km away and that our third, when born SOON, lives 17 kms away. My daughter has mental health problems and I truly provide a lot to her and the children and am so grateful that I can. Bernie
I resonate deeply with what you have written. My husband and I sold our house in Massachusetts six months ago and entered a period of divided time....late spring, summer and fall with one son and his family in Minnesota, winter and early spring with the other son and grands in California. It's a huge upheaval but one that satisfies our particular needs. A large percentage of families are now complicated by divorce, remarriage and geographical dispersal. We do what we can.
Beautifully expressed! Your description of your grandparents could be mine.
My wife and I have a 2-1/2 year old granddaughter who we adore. She is local - we didn't have to move - but we would have. For Christmas, my wife made her an album with pictures of "her people" with some notes about them., back to great grandparents, We expected she would treasure it later in life. But she loves it now - leafing through it when in her car seat, pointing to pictures and repeating things in the cute way only a two-year-old can.
Most Americans don't think of their lineage as an asset anymore, unless it allows them to claim some disadvantage. Some of them are outraged to discover what their great-great-grandparents did. It seems so unnatural to me. Your informed views are so refreshing! I hope you find a following worthy of your work...
How fortunate your offspring are because of your loving, helpful care!
Thank you for sharing.
Linda Rice
Having been born and raised in Canada, I rarely think about the impact of immigrating to this country from another. Your description of annually needing to find a neighbour or friend to be school contact is poignant and illustrates the angst of being so far from your own parents. What a lovely thing you've done to move to enable hands-on grand-parenting!
Lovely piece and great testimony to the full value of all parts of family.
Wonderful and true. I had no grandmother close but cherish the memories of my grandfather who was very close to us as children. Eventually we lived continents apart but carried on a written conversation until his death.
Nandini, what a beautiful post. It truly is a blessing to have grandparents local and not have to fill that card with a friend or neighbour's name. I had a cousin locally and my parents only 3 1/2 hours away but I knew what my kids had missed. I am so so incredibly grateful that our first 2 grandchildren live 22 km away and that our third, when born SOON, lives 17 kms away. My daughter has mental health problems and I truly provide a lot to her and the children and am so grateful that I can. Bernie
Beautiful sentiments! I am an away grandmother spending time with my granddaughter at this moment. ❤️
I thank everyone for reading and engaging with my post. And a special thanks to Alice for publishing it.
I resonate deeply with what you have written. My husband and I sold our house in Massachusetts six months ago and entered a period of divided time....late spring, summer and fall with one son and his family in Minnesota, winter and early spring with the other son and grands in California. It's a huge upheaval but one that satisfies our particular needs. A large percentage of families are now complicated by divorce, remarriage and geographical dispersal. We do what we can.