Family Living Far Apart
None of our grandchildren live near us. Therefore we are not always able to spend Easter with them. When we do, we have a traditional Easter egg hunt. Often after the grandchildren have hunted and found all the plastic eggs Grandma and Grandpa have filled, they take turns hiding and finding the eggs with each other. It always makes for a fun time and good memories.
Memories Not Things
Because we often are not with them on Easter we came up with an alternative to the Easter egg hunt. Both cities where our grandchildren live have zoos. We contact each zoo and order a family pass to be sent to them. As the zoo usually opens for the season soon after Easter this makes a good gift for this time of year and one that they can enjoy all summer too. Plus there is the added bonus of a carousel ride which is often included in the family pass.
We find that the zoo passes are especially good for our adopted grandchildren. Why?! Considering their past trauma and moves to multiple homes it is difficult for them to form good relationships and bond with their adoptive family members. We love getting them presents but would rather they make memories and bond with their family. I think most people would agree that they learning to love other people and letting people appropriately love you is a HUGE skill to have in life. Thus, when we get holiday gifts, we try to think about what will make memories over getting the grandkids more stuff.
Ideas for presents that create memories:
- Annual zoo passes
- Movie gift cards
- Restaurant gift cards
- Passes to a children’s museum
- Season passes to trampoline park
- Tickets to an amusement park
- Supplies for the family to have a mega-movie night
A very special benefit with this line of thinking is that when they visit the zoo or make other memories, their parents send pictures on their phones showing Grandma and Grandpa how they are having fun at the zoo and are thinking of us.
