My grandkids have loved getting postcards from us every month! The Silver Post is just one more way to keep the connection between us strong despite the miles.
[Note: You can only use the postcard service mentioned in this blog if you live in the US. But I’ve shared some tips that will apply to any postcards you send to grandchildren.]
One thing people underestimate about grandparents is how busy they are – considering you become a grandparent, on average at about age 50 – millions of grandparents around the world are still in the workforce.
When you are busy, sometimes the best of intentions to get something in the mail results in cards that sit in drawers or on coffee tables, waiting for a stamp to grace them.
Kudos to those of you who are making it to the post office. I often joke that long distance grandparents are the reason post offices still exist.
I want to share a super easy service I use to make sure mail actually gets to the grands. It is called The Silver Post.
Months ago, members of The Long Distance Grandparent (LDG) Society were given the opportunity to test out this postcard subscription service and they gave it a big seal of approval.
It all happens via text messaging so no need to download yet another app.
It is a subscription postcard service where you text a photo and note to the number provided by the company.
And then they send out an actual paper postcard to your grandchild anywhere in the world.
And here is something lovely: The Founders of The Silver Post are offering long distance grandparents a $5 coupon to try out the service! Just use the code: LDG5.
There is a catch. Postcards can be sent anywhere in the world, but the sender must live in the US.
How to make postcards more interactive
(whether you use The Silver Post or make your own)
My mom makes her own postcards using photos of the kids and she always asks them questions such as Where were you in this picture? Who is with you? What are you dressed up as in this picture?
One of our grandparents who uses The Silver Post to send her postcards suggests using photos that show you interacting with your grandchild doing something that they will remember.
I love this suggestion because when you send a postcard with a photo of you together, it can serve as a starting point for a video chat too.
For instance, if you send a photo of you together at the park, the beach or the zoo, you can write questions such as:
- Call me so we can talk about how many animals we saw that day…
- Call me if you remember what special treat we ate that day…
For older grandchildren, send a photo of you with them at milestone occasions such as their graduation, the day they were born or birthdays. And then share a favourite memory about the day.
There are so many ways you can use postcards to make sure you are touching base with them each month.
Why I extra love The Silver Post
The mission of the company is connecting generations and they call it a mail hug. I love working with companies who are as passionate about I am about relationships between generations.
But also, I love how easy it is to use.
Once you purchase the subscription and set it up, it takes mere minutes to choose a photo and write a caption. And then the company turns it into a paper postcard and sends it to your grandchild.
My Grandpa used to call this real mail – the kind that isn’t a bill, or a flyer advertising something you don’t need.
Instead, you are sending something we all need: connection and the knowledge that our grandparents are thinking about us and love us – no matter the distance between.
You can find out more about it here on their website: The Silver Post.
And don’t forget to use your coupon code, created especially for long distance grandparents: LDG5.
I hope you love this service as much as we do!
Happy Connecting!
Kerry
