My calls back home are different now after having a baby. Staying connected with family from afar has reached new levels of significance for me. Especially during the first year of my child’s life, when they quickly reach new milestones and grow up so fast. It helps me feel connected to my family and foster the relationship between my mom and her grandchild.

But this does not always come easy! Nurturing relationships between grandparents and grandchildren, while living far apart, takes consistency and creativity. However, we know from living abroad that, fostering long-distance relationships (of any kind) can take a lot of time and energy. It is not always easy to keep up with social life both back home and in your new home abroad.

Here is how I have been able to keep those connections strong in a way that is not too time-consuming:

Frequent Video Calls

I have a set time when I video call my family back home that is convenient for both of us (given the time difference) and take into consideration my daughter’s nap and feeding schedule so as to not interfere with our daily routine. Having consistent time slots allocated for video calls, allows us all to make a conscious effort to be available during these times. In turn, we are then more present for meaningful and thoughtful conversations at the same time. Of course, things happen and schedules can become unpredictable – especially with a little one. However, setting a designated time for a video call helps maintain that consistency and helps us feel connected.

Picture Book

This creative project can be as big or small as you like! For this, all you need is a small photo album, pen/marker, and printed photos. I would include photos of close relatives and loved ones you want your child to remember and stay connected to. The pen/marker is to write out their names under the photos so you can look through it with your child and point out who each person is. This is a great visual presentation for your little one to help identify who is whom. Plus, its a fun creative project you can involve your little one in creating once they are older.

Plan Child-Friendly Activities to Make Meaningful Memories

When family visits (or you visit them), there is a lot of excitement around what activities you want to do together. Planning and coordinating meet-ups and gatherings can also be stressful and requires thoughtful planning ahead of time. Now that I have a child, I am more conscious about the types of activities I plan. For example, I try to include more children-friendly activities that my child can do with her grandmother. Activities that help create meaningful memories and allow maximum time for my daughter and my mom to bond. Some examples can be, visiting playgrounds, reading time, building or cooking/baking together. Any activity that allows time for my child and family to talk, engage, and stay present in the moment. Building memories and creating that bond is important for children in learning trust as well.

While I never imagined that I would be raising my child far away from my family, I have learned to find ways to maintain those strong connections even from afar. There are many ways to create thoughtful memories with children and grandparents that do not take too much time. Being away from loved ones can be difficult, especially once you have a family of your own. However, there are many creative ways to stay connected. I recommend picking two to three ideas that work for you and your family and try them out (then adapt your ideas when needed!)

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