Since Grandparents’ Day was last Sunday, I find myself looking back on all the memories I have of my grandparents. I was lucky, though I only had two surviving grandparents (one from each side of my family), they both lived in the same area allowing ample opportunity to create memories I cherish today. While my children have all four grandparents alive and healthy, they have fewer opportunities to make those memories due to distance.
Both my parents and my husband’s parents live in Illinois, which is quite the haul. Prior to getting pregnant with my oldest my husband and I both made the switch to iPhones, which has been beneficial for our family. FaceTime allows our kids the ability to see family whenever they want.
Since I’m a stay-at-home-mom, we FaceTime my parents daily. Charleigh June gets to tell them (and Uncle Chase) about her day at school, and it allows my family to feel like we are close. Now that both of my parents are retired, it’s easier for them to come visit us, but FaceTime pretty much means they don’t miss out on much.
As my own grandmother (Grandma June) aged, it meant the world to me that she got to see her great-grandkids. When she was having a particularly tough day, Daddy would FaceTime me so she could see them. It would brighten her day to see her namesake (Charleigh June) and her red-headed blue-eyed Campbelle and Coleson. FaceTime allowed me one last good conversation with Grandma June before she quickly declined. She passed away two years ago after 95 amazing years, and it makes me smile every time Charleigh June sees a picture of her and tells me it’s Grandma June.
My husband FaceTime’s his parents every weekend, allowing them to catch up with the weekly happenings with the kids as well. They were able to see Coleson’s new big boy haircut and celebrate birthdays with us. Since my husband works outside the home the kids don’t see his parents as often, but it’s still more than they would if this technology didn’t exist.
Technology has benefited our family in so many ways. When my husband travels for work, he still gets the opportunity to talk to the kids and see them every day. It also allowed us to get a professional opinion on an injury from afar, helping to determine whether or not a trip to the emergency room was needed. I’m thankful FaceTime exists for a multitude of reasons, but the very best is the ability to create memories with our loved ones far away.
