A grandmother has found a unique way to keep her family close, despite them being thousands of miles away.
She wanted a way to stay connected to her grandchildren scattered across the country, so she began hosting a weekly storytime session over Zoom.
The woman’s daughter-in-law, Katie Waldow, has shared the video of one such session on TikTok, showing the delight in a grandchild’s face as the grandmother reads to her family, alongside the caption: “Love our village, even if it’s virtual.”
Other TikTok users shared their methods of keeping in touch with their grandchildren and one called the weekly ritual the “sweetest thing”.
@therealkatiewaldow
Waldow, from North Carolina, told Newsweek that after posting the video she loved hearing about the ways that other grandparents can connect with their families who aren’t nearby.
The video, which has already been viewed over 200,000 times, shows Waldow’s daughter focused on the screen as she listens to her grandmother’s animated storytelling.
The impact of this grandmother’s efforts is evident in the comments section and served as an inspiration for other families who live far apart.
One TikTok user said: “As a mom with military kids, I’ll keep this in mind when I have grandkids.”
Others shared how they use technology to stay connected to their family members in a digital world.
One commented: “I would always watch dancing with the stars with my Mamaw, we continued to watch together over FaceTime when I went to college out of state!”.
One grandmother shared that she started a book club born out of necessity during the pandemic and has made “such good memories” from the cherished tradition.
Another grandparent said their first grandchild lives 4,000 miles away and has created a YouTube channel for them, so they know their face and voice.
Others reported that they aren’t as connected to their in-laws as Waldow.
One said: “Mine is 20 minutes away and can’t be bothered with this wow. The village my kids deserve.”
Another joked: “We can’t even get a text back.”
Meanwhile, another TikTok user said: “Another example of ‘if they wanted to they would’. Distance is no obstacle for those who are willing.”
Waldow’s daughter now looks forward to the storytime session every week and it’s become a staple in their household.
“I’m so grateful that my kids are able to grow in their relationship with their grandparents even though we are long distance,” the mom of two told Newsweek.
“Time with family is such a gift!”
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Source : Newsweek