Tag Archives: communication

Remote Grandma using social media!

Our  granddaughters are  involved with ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and lyrical dancing. Living out of state it’s difficult to observing them in dance classes and seeing their progress.This is when I wished I lived close to them . It’s fun being involved with my granddaughter’s interest, plus they feel such pride when I come to their performances.

This past fall, Ivie (eldest granddaughter) auditioned for a ballet part in the “Snow Queen” and was  selected as a dancing flower. Every Sunday afternoon Ivie’s mom would drove her to the rehearsals. I give my daughter and son in law  a lot of credit,   driving 45 minutes one way  to rehearsal.

Ivie’s personal time was so limited with school, dance and the  additional dance rehearsals. This was the first time Ivie and I had very little communications with each other.  I wanted to stay in touch, so I begun  posting on Ivie’s wall on Facebook to keep up with how she was doing. She responded to my messages and we were able to keep connected and up to date.

Two weeks ago my husband and I went to see  Ivie performance in  Snow Queen. She played a part as a dancing flower.This performance had professional dancers and amateurs like my granddaughter. They had makeup artists to apply their makeup and beautiful costumes. The performance was at Herbert Hall in downtown Phoenix. A remodeled stage, small but pretty inside. We enjoyed seeing Ivie performance and she was so proud we were there.

I have found when kids get older, you must find what their way of communicating is  to stay connected. So now when I am on Facebook I post a comment on her wall and she always replies. Stay connected it’s worth it!

 

 

 

 

How I stay connected with my granddaughters

I have always enjoyed playing with dolls and as a child the only thing I wanted was a doll for Christmas. My grandmother would make my doll clothes for my new doll  and matching pajamas.

I had a business trip in the late 1990’s and while I was on the plane a  woman sat next to me, she told me about this incredible new store in Chicago called American Girl Store. I could hardly wait to go see this store. So I had 2 hours to spare between meetings and I went to the American Girl store. When I entered the store  I felt like a child myself. When I saw all the dolls to choose from, the clothes and accessories I was hooked. I bought a doll for my granddaughter and a doll for myself. Then a new American Girl store opened Los Angeles. This was a a few years ago. When  my granddaughters came to visit me we made a trip to the American Girls store. I had my mom and my great aunt join us. My great aunt now owns her own American Girl doll! She is 89 years old.

American Girl store

Over the years I have bought American Girl dolls for my granddaughters. When visiting my granddaughters I would bring my doll, Molly. My granddaughters and I would play with our dolls together. We would act out with our dolls, be at fashion models, gymnastic Olympic competitions, having friends sleep over, etc.

before arriving at my  granddaughters, my youngest granddaughter Bailey, would  remind me to bring my doll Molly with me. I never really thought about how we were connected by playing with our dolls, until yesterday. I  dress my doll for seasonal changes ,and my doll has a  Halloween  Cat costume. Bailey emailed me the other day  asking me what I was planning on doing this weekend. I told her I was going to get out my Halloween decorations and I was going to dress Molly in her Halloween costume. Later that day my granddaughter replied to my email, informing me that she had picked out her dolls Halloween costumes explaining in detail what she was going to dress her three dolls in for Halloween, including on her older sister’s American Girl doll.

I thought how fun we have  sharing a common interest. This is how you build a strong communication with children by sharing a common interest. It can be any thing, but try and find something you both will enjoy.

christmas 2010 007This is a picture of last Christmas opening up their American Girl from my husband and I.