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Keeping in Touch

© Holly Gumpher

As we prepared to move into the year 2000, we spent a lot of time reflecting on the changes of the past 100 years. One change that particularly affects my family is the increasing tendency to move far from your hometown in order to pursue a career. Our moves have left us far from home and family, and have presented the challenge of, among other things, keeping our children in touch with their grandparents and extended family. If, like us, you are interested in helping your children have a close relationship with long distance relatives, here are some suggestions for making it happen.

Computers: If your family members are computer savvy, the internet and email are a great way to communicate. Through your computer you can not only send and receive mail, but also pictures. There are also places where you can set up a family web site without knowing any programming language. Check out Myfamily.com for one example. Your family members can meet here to chat at a designated time, or leave messages and pictures for one another. The site is password protected so no one but authorized family members can view your particular homepage.

Telephone: The telephone is a great way to allow even the smallest children to get to know family members. While it may be several years before they will talk into the phone and carry on a conversation, they can listen from infancy. It will not take long for them to recognize a voice that they hear often over the phone. One grandmother did not see her granddaughter until the child was two years old. The child recognized her voice, however, because the grandmother had sung Jesus Loves Me over the phone to her every time she called.

Mail: Kids love to get stuff in the mail that is especially for them. Whether it is a letter or a little present, they will be delighted and know that someone is thinking of them. Conversely, kids can send letters, pictures, and small gifts to others through the mail as well. They feel good knowing that Grandma will be happy to get something from them in the mail.

Visits: If it is at all possible, it is nice to take your kids to visit their relatives. If you're going to the place you grew up, you can show them all of the places you knew as a kid. They can spend time at their grandparents house and get to know how they live day to day. They may discover things about them they wouldn't have otherwise, such as Grandma taking her teeth out to brush them! It is also nice if the relatives can visit your children at your home. This way they can see the daily activities of the children, such as soccer games or where they go to school.

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