Feast or famine: The plight of the long-distance grandma
Thursday, August 9, 2012 
My grandsons and I had a week-long visit the end of June, at my place. When they left for home, there were no plans in place for visiting again. No plans to visit before Halloween, nor for Thanksgiving, nor for Christmas. Even my annual week of care giving each January when Megan and Preston head off to one of Preston's conferences was off the books.
That is one long stretch—the longest yet in my four years of grandparenting—of having no contact with Bubby, no contact with Mac. Which broke my heart.
Well, my heart is now repaired. And full. And looking forward to not just one trip to see Bubby and Mac in the next couple months, but three. That's right, three!
You see, after being pretty darn bummed about having no plans in place for visiting and the famine we faced, Jim and I decided to just go for it. We booked tickets to visit the desert the first part of October.
Then, lo and behold, just days later I was offered an awesome opportunity with a popular maker of electronic toys, games, and learning gadgets for kiddos. I'd be given great products to share with my grandsons and their friends. I, of course, jumped at the chance. Thing is, my grandsons and their friends live more than 800 miles away. And the introduction of the products had to be done by the end of August.
So guess what? I booked another trip to see my grandsons. For the end of August. (And I'll share details of the affair soon after.)
And trip No. 3?
Well, as many of you know, Megan has gone back to work, back to teaching. Full time. Which can be a challenge at times. Turns out that works to my benefit. Her most pressing challenge is that near the end of October, Megan has school conferences. Which means Bubby, who attends the school at which Megan teaches, has no school that week. Which also means he'd have to join Mac at the daycare center each and every day of that conference week. Which, as you may have guessed, would cost a heck of a lot of money. More money, in fact, than flying Gramma—that'd be me, a freelancer who can take my work with me wherever I go!—down to the desert to care for the boys during conference week.
Megan asked if I'd be up to it. I answered yes. Preston booked tickets—for my third visit to see my grandsons in a two-month period.
A far different scenerio than what I'd imagined as Bubby and Mac and their parents flew away from the mountains and back to the desert at the end of June.
A feast or famine affair, for sure, when it comes to seeing my beloved boys.
Thing is, any time I'm with my grandsons, it's not only a feast of hugs, kisses, silliness, and fun, it's a feast of photos. I stock up on as many photos as I can, to get me through until the next visit. Photos to look at myself, photos to share with friends and family, photos to share here.
Now, as I anticipate another visit—another week-long photo shoot, as Megan says—in mere weeks, I realize I have literally thousands of photos left from our time together in June that I've not yet shared. So today I'm sharing some of my favorites. Okay, I'm sharing lots of my favorites, served up collage-style.
Enjoy this feast of photos! Leave room for seconds, though, as I'll surely be dishing out more soon, to ensure all leftovers are gone before the next round is ready.
Today's question:
What's the longest you've gone without seeing one of your grandchildren or children?
Reader Comments (15)
I'm so happy for you! I'm not a long-distances grandparent, and the longest I've gone without seeing my grandchildren is around six weeks. That would be for my oldest granddaughter, who loves to travel and just spent a month in Asia. Then her return coincided with my being gone on a different trip. Six weeks is too long!
Aww...love the pics and so glad you're famine has turned into a feast, Lisa. I love it when life turns out that way.
As a matter of fact, I'm currently living the longest I've ever gone without seeing my Grandkids. Two long weeks without a hug, a kiss, a sleepover, or an "I love you, Nonnie"...
Yep, I know that I have not one good reason to whine and I'm so lucky they live nearby. However, I've been an extremely crabby Gma since they left. Hurry home, Grandbabies...I miss you!
I feel obliged to warn you--my grand kids being 11 and 5--that there is a finite number of photos they will tolerate. After that magic number is used up, it is run away from the camera screaming, "NO PICTURES!"
On the brighter side, it is not true that grand children will go blond from the constant flash of the indoor camera shots.
I am so happy for your upcoming trips. I cannot fathom saying good-bye to my wigglies. I hope the time before your trips move at warp speed and once you are there it crawls by.
I know how it feels to be a long distance grandmother, it's tough. Both sets of grandbabies live 12 hours from us in two different directions. So that's two trips. But I also am on my way to see the boy grandbabies this weekend! Whooo Hooo!
Just dropping in to let you know that I nominated you for the Liebster award. Please drop on over for all the details:)
PS Have an amazing day!
I loved your feast of pics......I never get full for them!
I'm so happy for your upcoming trips! I am not a long distance grandma but the longest I've been away from my granddaughter was two weeks when she went on vacation with her other grandma.
Susan: With as many grandchildren you have, and such a range of ages, I'm continually impressed by your dedication to staying in touch with each one of them individually. Love that.
NonnieKelly: I am sure that's just killing you! Good luck getting through the rest of their absence!
Olga: Too funny! I had never heard that they'd go blond from the flash. :-D
Diane: Thank you! Your wigglies are surely blessed to have you as the Grandma Wiggly!
Evelyn: Wow! Your distance is even longer than mine...in both directions. Shew! So, yes, you get it! Have a GRAND time with the grandsons this weekend! And thank you for the award. Heading over in a jiffy! ♥
Debbie: You're too nice. I'd be happy to show you all 6,000+ photos when we get together this weekend! :-D
Wow! When God blesses, He does it Big Time, doesn't He? I'm so hahppy for you AND your boys.
With 23 grandchildren who are mostly through college, some wth children of their own--Yay, nine GREAT-gradchildren--I remember sadly the time when Rick & Becky were in Korea on military duty with Nicholas and Caitlin...seemed like a million years. Well, maybe about four but so glad when it was over. That's the longest I've been a Distance-afflicted grandma.
Pictures are wonderful. Trips to see them in person is even better. And, mine are 6 and 11 and get tired of picture taking also. The longest I've gone is two weeks, and that was quite a while ago. Usually the longest is maybe five days when my son-in-law is on vacation and they are out and about doing fun family stuff. You enjoy your time with them.
I am so thrilled for you Lisa, not only seeing you beautiful grandsons but the business opportunity that you have been given - well done so proud of you.
Thank you for sharing the boys with us, for bringing a little part of their lives into ours.
Sorry Lisa on this occasion I don't think I want to answer, the pain and memories of not seeing my once beautiful, lovely and loving daughter is just too much for me to bear.
Well, for me, one week is the longest time. But I spend that period getting ready for the next event! I think that is the advice I'd offer to anyone who goes a long time between visits. Make a list of new games, crafty things, and books to share when you DO see one another again.
And Lisa, I am so happy for you! One of your visits will be right around Halloween. That brings its own share of fun! I am looking forward to seeing your pictures and posts from those happy weeks ahead!
For my boys, 1 week is the longest (the teens, not Duncan!) But as life marches on, they are gone more and more, as it should be. I want them to be independent, to fly away someday, but it breaks my heart. I miss your daughter, I miss my god son, I am sad that two more god children are moving away. It is hard, hard to be so proud of them and watch them leave at the same time. Darn kids ; - ) .
I am thrilled for you!!! This may be the best 2 months ever! SO glad it is happening for you and for the boys. They will love it! I think the longest I've gone without seeing Amara is just a week. That was to long, too!
I have two sweet granddaughters within a half hour of me in Colorado. I know how lucky I am. But I'm in Oregon now for 4 weeks visiting my newest granddaughter and am already not sure how I'll handle leaving. They're these fantastically magical little beings and they change so quickly. I wonder as she grows, will I be more distant from her. Will she know me only vaguely? My grandmothers both lived many, many states away from us when growing up so I knew them only on those once a year visits. Still special - but not close.
Your grandsons are adorable, btw.
Whoo Hoo Happy for You! :) These photos are all so cute...the boys are adorable. I have to say though that the 3rd one over on the top row...priceless! WHAT a capture...look at that smile! Love it