‘They are my heart’
Isolated from their loved ones, grandparents miss their grandchildren
KENNETT SQUARE » From poets to princesses, the love of family transcends all limits.
Princess Diana once famously said, “Family is the most important thing in the world.”
“Family is not an important thing. It is everything,” said “Back to the Future” actor Michael J. Fox.
The notion of both perspectives, though articulated differently, is the same.
Family counts. Family matters. Family is everything.
From a child who exclaims, “Daddy!” and “Mummy!” joyfully to a grandparent meeting his or her first-born grandchild, the love of family inspires people to follow impossible dreams with confidence which builds kindness and strength in character. Thus, family drives society to be better as a whole.
When families are separated, it hurts, either because of death or distance or even petty arguments which, unfortunately, can create lasting scars.
The coronavirus crisis in North America, and worldwide, has propelled governments to mandate stay-athome orders for the old and young alike. Data shows that the elderly are most susceptible to suffer fatalities from COVID-19.
Millions of grandparents across America, as a result, cannot see their grandchildren for traditional family dinners or even special occasions, including milestones.
Yet, there is hope. Families are waving to one another from behind closed windows and thanks to contemporary technology, video conferencing courtesy of Zoom, Skype, FaceTime and Google Duo enables grandparents to say “hi” to their children and grandchildren virtually.
And while grandparents are hurting, today’s contemporary children of American society, their grandchildren, miss them very much, too. Children as young as three and as old as seven are crying while on Zoom with loved ones, because they miss them, they want to hug them, and they want this crisis “to be over.”
“My granddaughter had a baby girl on March 11 in Portland,” said Linda Smith of Downingtown. She is now the great-grandmother of little Lettie who lives in Oregon. “I was supposed to be flying there to see them on March 30. For now I have to be happy with pictures via text and live-time on Google Duo.”
Smith said, “Last week, I was not able to order groceries for curbside pickup so a family friend got our groceries and dropped them off on our porch. This week my daughter donned a mask and gloves and replenished our supplies.”
“I am incredibly sad I can’t see my granddaughter,” said Sue MacDonald, of Downingtown, on behalf of herself and her husband, Bill. “She was born at just one pound, eight ounces at 26 weeks and six days. Not only did she have her 111th day NICU fight, but she has had two additional PICU stays. Today, she is eight months old and still on oxygen. Typically, we celebrate her monthly birthdays with a visit. We have missed some of her milestones, but as long as she stays healthy, that is all that matters.”
MacDonald said, “We can make up for lost time down the road. In the meantime, we can FaceTime and get virtual hugs. The stress is real. Stay home. Stay home for Gracie. She is the future.”
The grandmother added, “We have shed gallons of tears in the last 8 months. It has been a wild ride. At least now she is home quarantined with her Mommy and Daddy. We will do anything to keep her safe … I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for people to stay home.”
“I am a grandparent to 10-day-old Braelyn Patrick Scott,” said Janet Scott of Downingtown. “She was born March 21 at a local hospital. It is extremely hard not being able to hold this newborn cherub.”
Scott said this is the first baby of her daughter, Erin Scott, who lives outside of Blue Bell in Penllyn, a village in Lower Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County.
“We have been FaceTiming and I have visited through their glass patio door,” Scott said. “Not being able to hug her or hold this sweet angel is excruciating. However, you must put aside those feelings in the interest of their health and well-being.”
“I am fortunate enough to live right across the street from my two granddaughters,” said Sue Groff of Downingtown. “While we don’t go into each other’s houses or get within 6 feet of each other, we can sit on our front porches and wave to each other or stand on the sidewalk and talk to them. It hasn’t been too bad — even though I want to give them a big hug — I control myself.”
Virtual interactions
Laurie Cook, of West Caln, has four children and six grandchildren. She normally babysits for two of her grand-kids three days a week. Their mom is a registered nurse. She hasn’t seen them in nearly four weeks, spare FaceTime connections.
In light of the statewide quarantine, “It hurts a lot to not be able to see the grandkids, but I feel guilty even saying that because there are so many people sick and dying, or out of work. It feels trivial to complain about being sad. But sometimes it gets to me and I just get overcome with sadness. I see them on FaceTime, but it’s just not the same.”
Cook said, “I worry that my granddaughter wonders why I don’t come to see her and her brother and stay with them when mommy is at work. Does she think I don’t want to be there? Her brother is too little to know otherwise. How do you explain to a four-yearold that I want, more than anything, to be there with them as usual?”