We wrote this book because we recognised first hand the agonies and ambivalence of grandparenting at a distance. We have, between us, been there, done that and got the teeshirts. We wanted to share what we had learned in order to remove the mystery of how you can be a happy, involved, global grandparent. We knew our stories did not tell the whole picture. We wanted to learn about the stories, the successes and failures of others too. In order to gain information from existing global grandparents, we were provided with space in a number of magazines and on websites telling the world about this book. We suggested that, via a questionnaire and an online survey, we could gain personal experiences of how people coped with the problems of bonding with grandchildren on the other side of the world. We have had many replies but one lady, Janet, in particular recounted:

'My daughter moved to New Zealand with her new husband four years ago and I have just received the joyful news that I was going to be a grandmother for the first time, next summer. Elation was soon tinged by sadness and as I sat feeling sorry for myself last night, thinking of the close  relationship I would miss with my grandchild due to the huge distance between us, I picked up  Embrace magazine and it fell open at a page headed 'Grandparenting from a distance’. Although I have, as yet, no experiences to put forward with regard to being a grandparent, I am overjoyed that someone has thought to write about such a subject and as soon as your book is published next year, hopefully in time for my happy event, I will endeavour to obtain a copy. I have a feeling I will need it! '

 

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