My grandchild lives in another state. What are some ways we can stay connected?

If your grandchild likes the Internet, you can send your grandchild e-mails, or if he or she is willing, become a buddy on her IM list. "Back in the Day" the only way to stay connected, except on family visits, was to write letters or send cards which many children are loathe to do. The Internet offers many opportunities. Keep in mind that most children do not like to be "pumped" with questions about their lives, so it's best to find out what interests them and pass on news or pictures that might be amusing.

The other caution is, don't try too hard. If you connect with your grandchild when you see him or her, that connection will continue even when you are apart. You will be a safety island to think about when things go wrong. I remember feeling tremendously close to certain relatives I only saw once a year and having an adverse reaction to others who lived in the same town or ones who lived in my own hometown that I saw more frequently."