Monthly Grandparenting Column
by Karen Robbins

The silver eyeball on top of the computer stared at me as I waved my hand back and forth slowly and said, “Hi, Kotomi!” The monitor showed a delayed reaction from the living room of Kotomi’s other grandparents in Sapporo, Japan, where she was visiting for a month. Sitting on her mommy’s knee she bounced up and down and waved back. In computer time, the wave is a bit slow and fuzzy but only a second or two delays it. This is the way the Kawaharas keep in touch with their granddaughter most of the year.

The age of technology, or more aptly advanced communication, makes it possible to stay in touch with your grandchildren despite their location in this mobile society. I remember how long it took for us to get pictures developed of our first-born twins, put them in an envelope, and send them off to my mother who was ill and couldn’t travel the 400 miles to see them immediately. What a contrast to the pictures we received of our newest grandchild, born 1,000 miles away. Within a few hours of Caleb’s birth, our son posted pictures on his website and we were able to begin the age old debate, “Who does he look like?”

Cell phone development has advanced by leaps and bounds. This past year, we went to New York for the big Macy’s Parade. As the balloons came down the road toward us, we used the cell phone to take pictures of the favorites and send them to our sons’ phones to be shown to the grandchildren. In return we got pictures and even a little video clip of Danielle wishing us a Happy Thanksgiving in toddler talk.

I am excited about the possibilities for the future. As the grandchildren grow, the new technologies will be a way to stay close as their busy lives begin to interfere with visits—sort of an antidote for the generation gap. Grandparents can be a good sounding board when Mom or Dad are busy or when Mom and Dad need some backup with issues that arise—especially during those teen years. I would rather see the grandkids on the computer communicating with Grandma and Grandpa than taking the advice of strangers which might lead to trouble, wouldn’t you?

Let me challenge you today. If you haven’t learned to video conference, to take, send, and receive digital pictures with a camera and computer, to e-mail, or use the multi-functions on a cell phone, take some action. The technology gets cheaper every year. Get your kids or grandchildren to set it up for you. Have them teach you how to use it or go to some community center classes and learn. It will be one more way to secure those bonds of love with your grandchildren. Even at age two, Kotomi knows that if she kisses the silver eyeball, that kiss gets to Grandma through cyberspace.

Becoming a techno-grandparent will earn you the respect of those teenaged grandkids. At the very least you can learn some of the language. The iPod has nothing to do with growing beans but it has everything to do with those “vines” coming out of a teen’s ears. We don’t have to like the music—just admire the technology.

BTW (By the way), you might want to learn a little of the SMS (Short Messaging Service) language. It’s the new teen lingo for e-mailing and text messaging on a cell phone. Every generation has its unique vocabulary and this is the language of the techno-generation.

Lest this all seems overwhelming, remember to take it in baby steps, enjoy the bonding with the grandkids as you learn and there’ll be ZP (zero perspiration—no sweat!). FTBOMH* I wish you well.

* From the bottom of my heart 

---

About the Author: Karen Robbins is a freelance writer and speaker. She and her husband love to travel and scuba dive. Many of their adventures are posted at her website, www.KarenRobbins.com.