"It's the best, isn't it? I wouldn't know. My mom lives in Haslett, Michigan - 1,891 miles away from our home in Portland, Oregon. She's the only living grandmother to my two daughters, 6 and 8, and their only grandfather is close, but at 85, his mobility is limited. There are no pop-ins, drop-offs, or backups, and they lose out on that daily, in-person bonding with her."
"The distance means Grandma misses all the fun firsts. She's missed first steps, first words, and first days of school. And it's not just big moments. When she's back in town, they suddenly know how to do things like brush their own hair, tie shoelaces, and buckle seatbelts. She missed those little wins, too. It's also harder to pass down family traditions and history, though we've still found a way to give our kids a sense of belonging."
My mom lives in Haslett, Michigan, 1,891 miles from Portland, Oregon, and is the only living grandmother to two daughters, ages 6 and 8. The children's grandfather is nearby but limited by mobility. Distance prevents in-person daily interactions like bedtime stories, school pick-ups, and spontaneous help, and causes missed firsts and small developmental wins. Long distance also complicates passing down family recipes, lullabies, photographs, and a sense of belonging. A Cornell study shows about one in seven children live 500+ miles from grandparents. Families use video calls, scheduled reading times, shared recipes, lullabies, and visits to maintain closeness.
Read at Business Insider
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