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.

Share Your Passion

From the time he was born, my grandson has been my kindred spirit. I was hoping for a little girl, someone to bake with, cook with, teach to sew... Right up to the last minute, I kept wishing for a girl. I was quite stubborn in my belief that the baby would be a girl. No matter. We couldn't be closer. My grandson loves to cook, bake, and has even sewn with me. I have shared my passions with him. He has a journal and everytime we talk I ask him if he's been writing in it. Of course most of the time he is busy with hockey, but he does manage to write in it once in awhile. I sent him a huge set of colored pencils for Christmas. He's quite an artist. When I visited last summer, I found a free art class in their town that we attended together. My son in law is his biggest fan. He supports his sports interests, sharing his own passion and stories from his LaCrosse days. I just sent him a subscription for Kids Sports Illustrated. When kids see our passion for things, it ignites their own interests. They get inspired and motivated in new directions of interest. Sharing your passions doesn't have to cost money. Hiking or walking has always been our favorite. We live outside of town, with beautiful views of the desert and mountains. We walk our neighbor in the evening, before it gets too dark (when it's cooling down). It is a wonderful way to stay fit and spend some time together. Now when I walk with my friend, I can still see my grandson racing ahead on his bike or scooter, chattering away.

Boxes

I try to send a box every couple of months -- or at least on the holidays. I pick up the Flat Rate boxes, which come in several sizes. No matter how much I cram into it, or how much it weighs, the cost remains the same. Shipping can be costly. I know. The Christmas box cost me a fortune. Now I try to pack it myself. Shipping stores charge 3x's the amount I pay at the Post Office. I have sent packages to my great nieces for years. Two nieces at the beginning turned into three, then into four. When my own grandchildren came along and the economy took a dive, sadly I had to cut back the number of boxes I sent to my nieces. I pick up a small box and leave it sit out for a month or so, as I collect little things to put in it. I love finding cute little things at the dollar stores and in unexpected places. Some may consider it junk, but the child in me always saw "treasure". My nieces and nephew saw it that way too. Their mom told me that once while cleaning out my nephew's room she suggested he throw out a silly pen I'd sent him. He exclaimed, "No! Aunt Laurie sent me that." It had to have been years earlier, but he remembered, and it meant something to him.
The small flat rate boxes are perfect. It doesn't take long to fill it, and the cost is minimum. The pleasure receiving it is great. Kids love getting mail. My niece told me that the kids played for weeks with the little things I sent. A little thoughtfulness goes a long way.