Forging a Connection to Faraway Grandchildren

Kathryn Swegart discovered a creative way to use technology to build relationships with out-of-state grandchildren, based on a shared love of reading.

In case you have not noticed, gone are the days when most grandparents live near their grandchildren. Back in the day when I was a child, my maternal grandmother lived with us. My paternal grandparents lived a short drive away. The Griffin kids would jam into the backseats of our Ford Country Squire station wagon, Dad at the wheel, Mom “resting her eyes” in the passenger seat, as we drove to pay Nana and Grandpa a Sunday afternoon visit.

Contrast that to my current situation. My grandchildren live hundreds of miles away, thus requiring us to actually leave the farm and hop on a plane or drive out of state. That we are happy to do, but it does leave a gap in building relationships. What is a grandparent to do?

In the past we tried Facetime, hoping to keep the little ones interested in seeing dear old Nana and Grandpa. Evidently, we were not the most fascinating couple in the world. Often, they seemed more intrigued with their own images that popped up in the screen. After a short time, they wandered off to play with toys. Who can blame them?

Click to tweet:
Fun family bonding: host an online storytime with faraway grandchildren. #catholicmom

Not too long ago a solution dropped in my lap. It came in the form of a book titled The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction, written by Meghan Cox Gurden. I have long been a fan of reading aloud to children and know of the delightful benefits of this simple act. The Enchanted Hour takes it to another level. I could rave on about Meghan’s book, her real-life experiences (she is the mother of five) and her studies of brain research. I will stick to one story related in her book.

A member of the National Guard was deployed to Afghanistan for an 18-month assignment. Separated from his two-year old son, the military helped him stay connected by video-recording dad reading storybooks to his son. Would it work? You bet. Dad arrived home, nervous about their meeting. His son raced upstairs, grabbed Curious George off the shelf and cozied up next to dad on the couch.

little boy holding book, looking surprised

Inspired by this story, I sprang into action. I checked out a recommended booklist of read-aloud books, ordered them through inter-library loan at our local library, set up a date with the families, and sent out Zoom invitations. Every other Saturday morning at 10 AM, we read picture books to our grandchildren. We chat a little, aim the smartphone at the illustrations, and off we go into the world of magic radios, thrilling adventures, and classic fairytales. At the end, we blow kisses and say good-bye. It all takes thirty minutes.

Now we are part of a little routine with our grandchildren. They get to see their cousins, hear our voices, see our faces, and maybe even think that grandparents are kinda fun to be with after all.