Let your long distance grandchild know they are a part of your life using photos in these unique ways!
As a grandparent, ensuring your grandchildren know they hold a special place in your heart is so important. But how can you convey this sentiment, especially during those treasured in-person visits?
The answer lies in the small gestures that speak volumes.
Recently, during a visit to my mother-in-law’s house, I witnessed firsthand the impact of such gestures on my own children.
My MIL has such lovely photos of her kids, nieces, nephews and of course her grandchildren throughout her home.
And while it was fun for my kids to see photos of their dad as a child, it was photos of themselves at different ages and of visits with their grandparents that they kept coming back to over and over again.
My MIL has at least 50 photo postcards sent to her over the years displayed prominently in her kitchen (see photo above).
These photos hold a treasure trove of memories from the last 10 years of our family time together and prompted many a conversation during our visit.
As the parent, I was reminded about how much these postcards mean to my MIL. I’ve not been sending them lately and am going to start again.
But I also realized what a sense of belonging my kids must have felt looking at those photos, after not being at Oma’s for such a long time.
I mean, how could they walk into that house and not feel like they are thought of on a rather regular basis when the house has so many photos of them?!
I’m not saying you need to wallpaper your walls with photos of your grandchildren but before they visit, make sure the photos are out and displayed in prominent places.
Not in photo albums but actually taped to walls and stuck to your fridge.
It really is about the small things – don’t worry about the trips to Disneyland or expensive and large toys.
Stick with the small but meaningful things.
Here are a few more ideas for how to use and display photos of your grandchildren.
Most of these work for in-person visits, but if you don’t have an upcoming visit, create a wall of photos and during your next video chat, make sure they can see that wall behind you in the screen.
1. Display photos of your grandchildren in high traffic areas in your home
This could be the kitchen or perhaps a room where you have space set out for them when they come to visit. Ensure you include photos from previous visits of you together and also of your grandchildren at different ages and stages.
The conversations and reminiscing will follow!
2. Keep a photo of your grandchild in your wallet or your handbag.
Although some schools still do wallet size type photos, many parents are opting out of spending money on photos that look posed and weird. Especially when they have 40,000 photos of their kids already on their phones.
Look through your photos and print out a photo of your grandchild. Fold it into a tiny square and tuck it into your wallet or handbag.
Next time you are together, show them the photo you carry around of them.
3. Make your fridge into a grand homage using their photos or artwork
This can include artwork, cards they’ve sent or photos of them.
Growing up our fridge was a mess of lists, photos and magnets with funny sayings.
My fridge looks the same today.
If you like a neat and tidy looking outer fridge, then put up a cork board or bulletin board instead. But be sure to put it somewhere they will see all the grand things you are keeping there.
4. Tape a photo of them to the outside or inside of your planner
Do you keep track of appointments in a planner or have a calendar hanging somewhere in your home? Tape a photo of your grandchild there and they will truly be so delighted when they notice it.
5. Put photos of them in unexpected places for them to find during a visit
For instance, frame a photo of the two of you and put it on their pillow with a special note welcoming them to your home. Or use painter’s tape or washi tape to create frames around photos of your grandchildren in the room they will stay or play in while visiting.
6. Make yourself a mug with a photo of them on it
This one is self-explanatory! Just drink out of it nonchalantly and see if they notice. You could also get a t-shirt made and wear it one day to see if they notice.
No matter their age, they are going to feel happiness when they do notice.
If they are teens and easily embarrassed, don’t wear it to their soccer practice or around their friends. But at home, lounging with the family or as a pajama top is fair game.
I even know a grandpa who has socks with his grandchildren’s faces on them!
7. Choose some photos of you together and write mini stories on the backs of the photos.
Share what you were doing together or what the occasion was that you are gathered for in the photo. You can frame these photos and stick the story to the back. Or send them a frame with the story stuck to the back of the photo.
In years to come they will love to turn over the photos or the frame and read these mini captions.
And therein lies the beauty of these small gestures – they are long lasting and do not require hours on Pinterest!
I’m not saying you have to wallpaper your home with photos of your grandchild, but take a moment and look around before your grandchild’s next visit or your next video chat.
What do they see?
Will they see themselves reflected in the walls, in the photographs and trinkets in your space?
Are there photos at their eye level? Or in areas they will be hanging out?
Would they feel your love through seeing cherished moments and shared laughter captured?
If not, it’s never too late to start. Take that card they sent you and put it on display, or pin up that photograph of the two of you on the bottom part of the fridge.
In a world where grand gestures and gift giving can hog the focus, it’s the small everyday actions that truly nurture relationships. And it’s these small gestures that will quietly let your grandchild know, in the simplest of ways, they are loved, missed and always have a place and space in your home.
