PopTarts

My grandson, Cedric loves PopTarts! He has ever since he was a toddler. He knew exactly where we kept all the snacks. He'd sneak into the kitchen before we got up, to get his favorite PopTart. We'd find him crouched under the table munching away. Once when we couldn't find him, we noticed the coat closet door ajar. There he was inside amidst the coats, eating probably a second or third PopTart! His favorite, as well as mine, is brown sugar cinnamon. YUM! Guess what's in the box on the way to New York? My grandson's favorite PopTarts!

Coupons

After having my appendix out one Christmas, I received some nice gifts from my colleagues. One of those gifts was a coupon book, full of coupons to give to my grandson. Some of the coupons were more suited for parents to give their children. Others I could give and my grandson could redeem from me. Now that he lives so far away, I thought the coupons would be ineffective. Not so. I could still send him a coupon that says; Redeemable when visiting Gubba, or, I could customize the coupon and send money/items to my daughter to redeem the coupons in my absence. My son's grandma did a very special thing when she visited us from Ohio. She wrote little notes on tiny pieces of blue paper and hid them in my son's room. For months after she had left, he would find these sweet notes in odd places. They made him feel special and loved. She also sent a calendar one year with special notes written on different days of the year; "Today's your birthday! Have Fun!" or "I'm thinking of you" or "I miss you soooo much!" Wonderful ways to show someone they are special to you.

Photo Journal

As time goes on, I feel my relationship with my grandson slipping away. We still talk on the phone, but the conversations feel stilted. I started this blog, hoping people would add to my ideas,which are becoming fewer. I send the boxes that I know the kids enjoy, but I don't want the relationship to be just 'things my Gubba sends me'. I had suggested to my daughter to have my grandson keep a small pocket notebook to jot down things he'd like to tell me on our next phone call. Writing in the middle of having fun probably feels too much like work/school. I'd toyed with this new idea for my class; Let him take pictures to send me, sharing events or those simple beautiful moments when you wish the other person were there to see it. He can download and attach with comments in an email. It will be as if I were there.

I'll Pray for You

During our last phone conversation, I told my grandson about my writing class and finishing a story to send out for publishing. He sweetly responded, "I'll pray for you, Gubba." Just like the little mouse in the movie, "An American Tale" when you are far from each other, it's nice to know you are both gazing at the same stars, at the same time, thinking of each other. Set a time together to stop and think of each other at the same time, connecting thoughts and hearts in love.

Journal

Everyone gets caught up with living. I'm busy with teaching, writing, and my grandson is busy with school, hockey, church, sports, play. Writing has always been important to me. I've always kept a journal. One thing I've tried to do is keep a separate journal just for my grandson. I write funny things he's said or done. I'll save the journal to give on some special future occasion. I also share entries from my journal with him. In doing so I send the message that writing is important, and hopefully inspire him to keep his own journal.