I sold my home and moved my work in order to be in the same town as my only grandchild. It was that important to me.

She has a single aunt, her father's only sister who lives across the States who, from her birth, has forged an admirably solid relationship with her only niece. Despite being a busy doctor, she phones her several times a week, send letters and packages and flies (yes, I heard you) out to the West Coast every 6 weeks or so, checks into a hotel, and brings the girl to stay with her there for 2 or 3 days. One has to have the money as well as the determination, but my granddaughter is 5 and her aunt is one of her favorite people in the world. It is possible. Your grandchild is almost old enough to be put on a plane and fly to visit you.

Yes,even though I'm not far in distance,I have a chronic illness,that leaves me in chronic pain.So,I'm home almost all the time.

I am not able to have the kids here,my husband works out of the house...is on the phone alot,so needs quiet.I cannot drive at this time,for the past yr.

The parents are busy,so,it's rare to see the kids.

I just started emailing my 11yr old grandson and he loves it.My sister is ill also,so I asked him to email her and she was so excited,so was he.She emailed pics of her pets doing goofy things,and he didn't know how to open them,so my daughter helped him.So,he's learning,too.

I've learned to do slideshows,as I'm not real tech savy.So,I put together ones of my grandkids.

He just got a cell phone.So,he calls me.It's helped me feel closer to him,brought us closer.

I'm terrible at writing,sending cards.So,I can send him emails and email cards.

If you have a camera,sit down and make a video...depending on what you've got,what your knowledge is,you can be close.

He's into military history.I talk to him about that,let him know that my dad was in WWII and his great uncle was in Vietnam.

Find out what her interests are...yes I used to visit on Sundays w/my grandparents and spend a week there during the summer.But there were so many of us,I didn't have hardly any one on one time with my grandparents.My grandma,my mom's dad and I had a few special times.

Do you have a camera if you can talk over the internet and see each other.If not,talk on the phone.Do it the old fashioned way,send cassette tapes.Just talk.Talk about your grandparents,your childhood,funny stories.Talk about stuff her mom did as a kid.

Years from now,she'll still have that to listen to...I wish my mom had done it.I keep saying I'm going to do it.

I have an 8yr old grandaughter,I haven't seen much of her these past months.She loves to paint and draw.I ask her to make me pictures.

Put a photo alblum together,either to email or snailmail of your life.Places you go,your friends.Ask her to do the same.

Believe me,you can be special to her.She will remember you.Some families are close in distance,but yet so distant.

I have 2 of my grandchildren closeby and 2 6 hours away from me. One being my only grandson. It is difficult because I am not as close with them as I would be if they were nearby. I am like Marg in that I don't always feel up to traveling because of my health. My husband went to see them in May. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling well at the time, so I missed out on seeing them. They are always in my heart even if I don't see them, I do think of them. The story Isadora told was inspirational. I will have to find a way to let them know I'm around and thinking of them always. They are only 2 yrs old and 4 months right now. Maybe I can send them cards and special gifts or videos like Marg mentioned.

I have 2 grandchildren in town here with me...soon 3. One grandson in Michigan 635 miles from me, I talk to him every week, even though he's not yet 2. I have made 1 trip to michigan and they have been out here twice. I love him as much as the ones I see all the time. The ones in town have sleep overs here...and come to dinner. I love having them around!

Please don't ask me: "Would I like a little cheese with my whine?"

And I don't really mean to point an accusing finger, but I think our 30-something children are just so busy with workaholic careers (I'm glad she's successful) and activities with families their age that visits with grandparents just don't have the priority they did in days gone by when there were no cell phones, internet, and 28 activities that little ones are put into to fill up every minute of their weeks etc. and consume almost all their time.

I talked to my daughter about a month ago and after much schedule checking she came up with one week in the whole summer that would be best for me to come up to visit. It's not that she doesn't want me to come. She's actually begging me to come, but she hopes it can be that one week. I think so many of our kids are just so overbooked with unnecessary activities that they've lost sight of what should get higher priorities.

You know,no parent is perfect.I try not to judge my children.

Yes,alot of them are workalcholics,but having grown up in a totally disfunctional home,I'm proud,and happy my grandchildren are growing up with love.

I get sad,because of my illness,I cannot jump in the car and just go see them.I haven't driven in at least a year.One daughter,it can be a couple of weeks,I won't hear from her,so I don't leave it up to her.I'll email or call

I used to call my mom almost every day.I made it a priority for my kids to have a relationship with my parents.

Believe me,I whine,not to her,but inside.I've let her know,it didn't change anything,she's busy,yes,but she takes time for friends that are important to her.

Can't pretend it doesn't hurt.But I figure,it's her life...I just try to focus on what is positive.

You're right,they spend so much time filling the time with things and activities.

I see it every where I go.Of all ages.Families,couples,older,younger,can't even go and spare 20 min for a simple lunch without cell phones ringing,texting,headphones on,handheld games.In cars,kids watch dvds.

As a kid,when we drove 70miles to my grandparents house,I loved just sitting there and looking out the windows.No one knows how to just be still anymore.

We have all the gadgets for communications,yet the closer we are related to someone,many times,the less we communicate.

I agree. The difference with me is that 5 of our grandchildren live an hours drive away (one of them only 2 miles) and we hardly ever see them. We ask them to come over, but they're always busy or one of them is sick. They hardly ever call. I told my husband we need to stop dwelling on them and think of ourselves, don't just sit here and wait on them. We wouldn't dare call them and ask if we could come over. We've been rejected before. I just want to put away the feeling sorry for us and get on with our life. After all, we need to enjoy the days, months, and hopefully years we have left.