Stories that complete me

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I firmly believe that I didn't need anyone but me
I sincerely thought I was so complete
Look how wrong you can be.

—Rod Stewart, "Every Picture Tells A Story"

Every picture indeed tells a story. These are some of the stories sent to me from Megan—my daughter and mom to my grandsons—over the past couple weeks.

brothers

These stories fill...

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Last resort for a long-distance grandma

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grandsons

I can usually go about two months without seeing my grandsons before the loneliness takes hold.

I didn't make it two months this time.

I last saw my grandsons...

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When grandchildren move away: 10 things to send with them

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When grandchildren move away: 10 things to send with them

Sometimes, regardless of how much we wish things could be different, grandchildren and their parents move away from Grandma and Grandpa. Perhaps there's a better financial situation for Mom or Dad farther away, or maybe it's a marital split that results in beloved grandbabies being relocated farther from grandparents than ever before.

I have always been a long-distance grandma—my grandsons have never lived near me. So I can only imagine how heartbreaking it must be to learn grandchildren who lived nearby will soon live miles and miles away. Such a transition is surely hurtful not only for the grandparents, but for the grandchildren, too.

when grandchildren move away

As a longtime long-distance grandma, though, I do know there...

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After my grandchildren leave

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After my grandchildren leave

grandparents and grandsons

My three grandsons and daughter surprised me with a visit, filling my nest with the magical mayhem that accompanies young boys.

For seven soul-satisfying days, love and laughter — along with loud toys and joyful noise — mark the days in spectacular, unforgettable ways.

Then, in what seems a blink of the eye, the...

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