Internet Grandparenting

I think now is the perfect time to be a grandparent. Thanks to the internet, Skype, social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, Flip cameras - well, we have all sorts of goodies at our disposal for connecting with children and grandchildren or learning from the vast amount of grandparent-wisdom that's alive and well in the world today.

Back in the fall I had two friends who were on grandbaby-watch the same weekend, one in New York and one in Alabama. Since both friends are on Facebook and had the clarity to send up regular status updates, I could follow what was going on in real time - when the daughters got to the hospital, how the labor was going, and when the little angels were born. It was wonderful and exciting to share in these two joyful experiences.

Those of us who live far away from our children really appreciate the connection that technology affords. Lil Sis, who live in California, keeps in touch with her granddaughters in Georgia via Skype. I think the grandkids even call the computer "Nana." I'm looking forward to hooking up a webcam and jumping on the Skype bandwagon, too, since I'm in New York City and the grandbaby's in Atlanta.

Another friend led me to Grandparents.com, a treasure trove of information, advice, and stories. Why reinvent the wheel, eh? We no longer live in a world where grannies sit around with each other knitting and baking cakes (though many of us do knit and bake). Websites like Grandparents.com serve as a good source of trusted advice when you don't live close to your circle of friends.

And the little Flip Camera is just fabulous. I got Daughter and her Hubby one for Christmas (thanks to a great deal on an HD model at Amazon), and we've enjoyed practicing with it during showers and family visits in anticipation of when its little memory card will be filled with GrandBoy video. The video can go right to the computer or TV.

If you know of more great grandparenting websites, blogs, or tekkie-toys, let me know. I'd love to build a good resource list here.