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Sure the technology isn't new to our kids, and it may not be so new to us either, but it's definitely impacting family connections. As we roll into the gateway of a multitude of holiday observances grandparents, and other far-away folks, are on my mind. My own mother just called last night to tell me she won't be hopping the train as planned to head to DC for Thanksgiving. She's got a contageous virus and she even spelled it out for me "Devra, it's not H.i.N.i." so I quipped, "While we'll all be disappointed you won't be able make the trip, I'm relieved it's not because of your hiney." The eye-rolling? I could almost feel it over the cellular phone line. Affecting a British accent my mother rebutted, "We are not amused."
In all actuality what isn't amusing is her inability to join us for Thanksgiving. It happens, plans change, people catch colds, travel costs for families have soared higher than a jetplane, educational opportunities and careers dictate families are no longer living in close proximity as in decades past. Only these days we have technology to help families stay connected despite being many miles apart.
Oh but maybe you are thinking the telephone worked just fine. And it did, and still does, but as a kid who used to get on the phone with both of my grandparents talking on two different phone extensions, to me and often to each other, it definitely got confusing at times. What I wouldn't have given to have been able to use a webcam!
LDSNana sees it this way too:
When my most recent grandchild was born, I gave my daughter’s family a WEBCAM, as a new baby gift.
Recently I interviewed GoonSquadGrandma (aka GoonSquad Sarah's mom) about her use of technology to keep connected to her grandchildren (aka The Goon Squad).
We got the webcam when the Squad was 1 1/2 years old. Now thay they are older and when we are using the webcam the kids can go and get things to show me. I get to see the projects they made at school, or things they are playing with,right now, in the house. I love receiving videos of their performance and pictures taken at ballet class. But you know what I really like? I can "attend" their events without having to worry about parking.
My mother also has positive things to say about videos and digital pictures. She can check them on her own time and schedule her "visit" with the kids around her life at home and at work. Can't make it to a soccer tournament? No problem, my mom knows we'll send her a video or put up FlickR pictures for her to see at her convenience.
If I feel like "visiting" my grandchildren at midnight, I'm going to visit them. I don't have to cramp their style if they have plans for the weekend and I don't have to feel guilty about missing their games if I have a schedule conflict.
Some grandparents keep up with what's going on in the world of grandchildren by reading our blogs. GoonSquadGrandma says she reads every day, always checks. And sometimes even leaves a comment. This is enough for her. GoonSquadGrandma has no plans of ever becoming a blogger. She's far more within her comfort zone to read her daughter's blog daily and comment from time to time.
Not so for Bad Grandma who decided to start her own blog and so what if she's learning along the way. As she puts it:
Most of you who are reading my musings have probably realized that I am technologically challenged. My lack of technical savvy extends to every and any thing that is more complex than an off/on switch.
Sisters may be doing it for themselves, but so are grandparents. They are uilizing email, blogs, Facebook, Flickr, video conferencing to keep connected to those they love. Whether we're sharing a house or living many miles away in a high-rise apartment building, technology -in addition to love- will keep us together.
Does your family use technology to bridge the generation gap? Why or Why not? Share your experience with the Family Connections Group
