| Sandwiched Baby Boomers have jumped into the | | | | he presented the boys with an edited version of |
| grandparent role in the same way that they | | | | their activities for the year. As they grew, they |
| engaged in other phases of their lives - with | | | | looked forward to getting their new videos and |
| enthusiasm and active commitment. They have | | | | loved to watch them over an over again. Alex |
| redefined what it means to be grandparents. But | | | | took great pleasure in making the videos, as he |
| how can you form and maintain a connection with | | | | could watch his raw footage many times in order |
| your young grandchildren when they live | | | | to pick the best shots and put them together. |
| thousands of miles away and you see them only | | | | Creating the birthday videos was a win-win for |
| sporadically? Allan talked about his six-year old | | | | both Alex and his grandsons. 4. A chemist by |
| grandson, Jake, and the joy he felt whenever | | | | trade, Mort knew how materials combined to |
| they spoke on the phone. "He called me the other | | | | produce new substances. He was intrigued by the |
| day and said, 'Papa, I just saw the moon! It | | | | way foods did the same thing, and he was an |
| looked like a smile turned on its side.' I could | | | | innovative cook. As soon as his young |
| visualize the big smile on his face and that brought | | | | granddaughter was able to hold a spoon, he |
| an even bigger one to mine. When Jake was just | | | | helped her put the fruit into her cereal. When she |
| three and we were visiting him, I had shown him | | | | was old enough, he began to cook with her |
| the full moon early one winter night. I had | | | | whenever he came to visit. He taught her to |
| explained to him that, even though we lived very | | | | measure the ingredients when they made |
| far away, we saw the same moon in our home | | | | chocolate chip cookies and to mix the batter |
| that he saw in his. We decided that the moon | | | | when they made blueberry muffins. The kitchen |
| would be 'our friend,' and ever since then we | | | | became their special playground and they had the |
| have shared this special connection." If you are | | | | added bonus of eating their tasty handiwork. As |
| living far from your grandchildren, you too can | | | | she grew, their creations became more complex |
| bond in a profound way. Use the same sense of | | | | and they both looked forward to sharing new |
| creativity that you have mastered in other areas | | | | recipes as they cooked together on his visits. 5. |
| of your life to build a relationship that grows | | | | Some boomers developed innovative means of |
| through the years. Here are 5 original tips from | | | | connecting with their grandchildren, using talents |
| other grandparents - see what worked for them | | | | they didn't even know they had. On a lark, Sara |
| and let your imagination run free as you decide | | | | wrote a poem for her grandson on his first |
| what works for you. 1. Susan had enjoyed music | | | | birthday. It reviewed the things she had done with |
| all her life and had a soft, gentle voice. When her | | | | him - watching his first smiles, seeing him sit up |
| first grandchild was born, she picked a simple song | | | | and eat in his high chair, having him crawl to her, |
| and sung it sweetly to her whenever they were | | | | holding his hand as he learned to walk. She found |
| together. When they were apart, she sang it over | | | | that she enjoyed the writing as it gave her an |
| the phone. Soon her little granddaughter began to | | | | opportunity, during the process, to savor her |
| recognize it as "Nana's song." The song became a | | | | pleasant memories. She began to write poems |
| way for both of them to keep each other close | | | | regularly, combining them on the page with |
| through the distance. 2. Carol loved books. She | | | | pictures she had taken of them together. Her |
| had worked in a bookstore and was familiar with | | | | grandson looked forward to her new "grandma |
| all of the children's classics. When her grandson | | | | poems" and loved re-reading the old ones every |
| was born, she picked one of her favorites and | | | | time she came for a visit. His parents read the |
| began to read it to him whenever she visited. She | | | | poems to him when Sara was back in her own |
| held him close and repeated the passages in her | | | | home, keeping their attachment strong. The |
| lilting voice. This special cuddle time became one | | | | legacy that you pass on to your grandchildren will |
| of the most rewarding parts of her visits. Every | | | | be much more than money or possessions. It will |
| year, on her grandson's birthday, she gave him | | | | be the priceless gift of yourself. Let them know |
| another classic children's book with her inscription | | | | who you are. You will enjoy the precious time |
| telling him why she had especially chosen it for | | | | you spend together and they will cherish the |
| him. Books grew to represent a deep bond | | | | relationship with you for a lifetime. © 2007, |
| between them. 3. Making movies had been Alex's | | | | Her Mentor Center |
| hobby ever since he was a teenager. He had | | | | Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D. and Phyllis Goldberg, |
| taken pictures of his own children over the years | | | | Ph.D. are founders of a website for midlife |
| but never really compiled them in any meaningful | | | | women and a Blog for the Sandwich Generation. |
| way. It was different when his twin grandsons | | | | They are authors of a forthcoming book about |
| were born. For their first birthday, he edited a | | | | Sandwiched Boomers' relationships. They offer a |
| video of the highlights of their growth that year, | | | | free newsletter Stepping Stones. |
| complete with music and clever titles. Each year, | | | | |