Wednesday 2 December 2009

Grandparenting from afar

We have so much fun in the summer. Winter brings its own challenge. With a very wet front lawn, and more snow on the way Friday, sometimes retirement has its benefits. We don't have to venture out in the rain, snow, sleet or hail.
The pansy will likely not bloom.  The daddy-long-legs was scrambling to find a dry spot.


There are things to keep us amused in Central Ontario, as well as photography! Many of us read, blog, write book reviews or poetry, hunkered down in front of the computer.


Muskoka being the retirement location of choice, many families make the trek north from Toronto to visit with their retired parents and grandparents in cottage country.

Many babysit grandkids in the summer, others provide a home while a teenage grandchild works in town.

Canadian Thanksgiving in October is often a tradition,  before docks are pulled in and boats are wrapped for winter.
 How difficult it was to talk to a toddler on the phone last winter. "How are you?" doesn't quite work. Speaker phone helps, and singing songs together.

Regularly sharing videos, we communicate by SKYPE these days! It is so much more satisfying. The family hunkers down in the computer room, with crayons and paper and nearby snacks, once the wee girl becomes bored with old gamma and gampa! Games of 'show me your nose', and 'what does your belly button say?' were so much fun. My YouTube video on that trick has had a few hits!

This time we made a Skype date after dinner, and had a little surprise. She seemed shocked, but amused after we were done! I don't know who laughed the hardest.

11 comments:

Carolyn said...

Jenn what a fun video and glad to see you and the "old man" so young at heart.
I head east next week by ferry, train and bus to visit with my daughter and son-in-law in Ottawa and await the arrival of my first grandchild(son)at the end of February. I can hardly wait to take on the moniker of "grandma".
Have a great week and stay warm.
Smiles

Jenn Jilks said...

Quite the journey, Carolyn! Our kids are in Ottawa, too - coincidentally enough!

Lucy said...

Were those pictures from today? Gosh! We didn't get cold weather at all today and it was sunny and mild here on Lake Erie!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

I was wondering if you were going to stay in Muskoka or not.

Long distance relationships are a bummer. My Father left after spending 10 days to fly back to Idaho. I got used to having the guy around. We had lots of fun.

Jenn Jilks said...

Well, the photos were from the day before, but we did wake to snow Tuesday morning. More snow to come on Friday.

We usually talk by phone weekly, and in summer the kids come for two weeks! It's not bad! But we have been talking about moving back to Ottawa. We miss them baby so much, Yogi.

Gaelyn said...

Amazing how the internet can bring families together over long distances. Couldn't watch the video, but you have to be a very fun grandma.
Time to get the winter clothes out.

Jenn Jilks said...

I knew you couldn't with your dial-up, Gaelyn, I'm sorry! I loe posting these for our girl, though, they regularly watch them with her! It lessens the distance between us! Her favourite is the airplane. I filmed her watching the video on my computer. So silly...

Judy said...

Well, grandparents are allowed to be silly! At least you have a human grandkid - mine is feline. And lives in St. John's, NL! You work with what you've got!

EG CameraGirl said...

It's great to watch grandparents having so much fun!

Jenn Jilks said...

It's true, EG! And it is so funny to see my husband, a former business manager, and he is having so much fun!

SandyCarlson said...

Skype is a miracle. I enjoyed this post very much.