The ethos of BGSG is one of hope, and never to give up.
When I talk to grandparents each of their stories are unique to them and they will have found themselves apart from their grandchildren for all sorts of different reasons.
It could be the case that they have never met their grandchild or their grandchild was very young when the became estranged from them.
Of course it is very hard for these grandparents to hang on to hope, the fact that I truly believe that grandchildren never forget their grandparents, is a little different in this situation. They haven’t had the opportunity to build any memories.
So how to we somehow keep that connection , or build them?
The first thing is of course that they may never have met you but you are still very much part of them, your blood is running around them, no-one can take that away.Your DNA is within them.
That is the physical position but maybe more importantly how do you build up the emotional bridges?
Every grandparent has stories to tell, stories that must be recorded for the future generations.
There are many ways that you can begin to bring your personal history to life.
It could be you like writing so start with a journal or a diary,hand written or use technology, just written for your grandchild, as though you were reading to them. All of your lives are precious and every event is valued and contributes to the world around you and your families.
What were you like as a child, what were your parents like, where did you go to school, who were your friends, did you like sport, or did you have a hobby, where did you go to work, what makes you laugh………… the questions are endless.
Don’t make it a potted history, go into depth, allow your grandchild to really get to know you.
Record events that have happened and continue to happen, include photos or poems.
Do you have a special place that you go to, just to think, describe it to them, tell them exactly where your special place is.
Perhaps you could make a video of special places.
Building up a memory box, is really exactly the same thing, it is just a place to keep things that are important to you and your family, a treasure trove to be discovered.
One day these children will be curious, will ask questions, it is up to us to make sure that we have done so homework in a practical sense, positive evidence of how much these children are loved.
You may not be able to have these precious people on your lap today telling them stories but you can make sure they are there for the children in the future. Of course they are not stories they are truth, all about you, and your life, you as an individual who has the ability to make your mark on this world, to be that special person in someones heart.
A grandparent.
Jane