We Skype Helen, and know they will be interested in us for about 20 seconds. Still, do it. And let your parents say "hi" on the phone, no matter how distracted he is. It will sink in:)

Thanks for the advice! We've been trying to entertain him via Skype.. Grandma sends him little care packages of activities over Skype.. trying everything we can!

Send his artwork so grandma can put it on her refrig. I had all kinds of artwork covering my refrig. 3 of our grandchildren lived in Texas and we lived in Georgia. It was hard to get to know them, but somehow we connected. We made sure that they had the birthday gifts from us and Christmas gifts too. We couldn't compete with the other grand parents on a monetary level so we just sent what we could afford. They loved us just like the other grandparents. I would also write them each a note from time to time. When they visited us we let them do what they wanted from tent houses in a bedroom to roaming through our basement. Fun things for kids who lived in a sterile neat environment. Nothing wrong with that but sometimes kids need to know they don't have to be neat all the time. Mary

I am definitely doing the artwork idea! I think sometimes what they miss the most isn't the actual conversation over FaceTime but just being able to play together!

I keep everything I was sent. I have a box in my closet that I keep these treasures in. I also date them and put their initials on the back. When they would visit me when they lived in Texas and came to Georgia we would measure them on a door frame in our den. Each year when they would come we would remeasure them. It looks horrible but I will not change it till we have to move. I look at it every time we walk through that door on a daily basis. Memories for all of us. They also love to search in our basement for things that belonged to their dad. Trophies, yearbooks. etc. Yes I am a saver of too much stuff. They have even taken things that were their great grandparents.

That's amazing. If you ever move you should just take the door frame and put it in your new house.

You're a wonderful grandmother, I really think you would be the perfect person to try Kinskii!

Oh thank you. you make me tear up. 2 of our grand children are off to college 1 has graduated from college, but we still stay connected via phone and facebook. I've been accused of too many comments. But I do it anyway. They will get over it. lol I miss those little toddler days 4 of my grand children are tall 1 is small but she is the mightiest. Tough young lady and takes nothing from anyone. But also very kind and loving. Good parents who love them though the parents are all divorced from each other. Now I'm on to the great nieces and nephews. Yes I spoil them too.

Oh that's so funny! Grandma comments are the best, they'll be grateful for your constant encouragement when they're older :)

I face time with my grandkids and read them stories. Just put the book down on the coffee table and aim the iPad/iPod at it and read. They love it!! Especially the 2 and 4 year olds. I also take them on a "tour" of our house, looking at pictures of them and their cousins. Then we have to look at the fridge to see the latest "art work".

Face time is a wonderful tool!

I bought Brown Bear Brown Bear What do you see when my now 25 year old was 5 and I have read it to all the little ones in our family. One day after reading a book to my great niece her brother brought Brown Bear over to me and wanted me to read it to him, his mom said he had never done that with anyone. so she took our picture while I read to him. It was so much fun as I pointed to the animal he said the color and the type of color it was. He loved it and so did I and a memory for my niece his mom. We also color together and make play doh shapes and animals. Playing anything with the kids is so much fun for us all even the grandparents.

Helen4458 can you tell me a bit about the activity packages you send your grandkid over Skype? sounds interesting!