In addition to a wife, partner, and best friend, my marriage also brought (official) three step-children into my life. With the signatures on a marriage license, Mom acquired three step-grandchildren in addition to the (then) two grandchildren she already had. In her mind they were just as grandchildren-y, even though they were older and not as easy to visit with due to distance.
I became a grandfather and Mom a great-grandmother when my daughters started their families. Initially she gave gifts at Christmas, small nothings – simple toys, cute socks, crayons, books, whatever – sweet and touching but increasingly difficulty as she really didn’t know them. One Christmas she instead gave $50 Amazon gift cards which the great-grandchildren (and their parents) loved because they could choose themselves (usually books, which Mom would approve of).
Over time the number of great-grandchildren grew to eight and the gift cards even more generous, especially since the youngest ones had either never met her or were too young to remember. I suggested that she was under no obligation to continue, but she insisted it was important to her. She’d order the gift cards, deliver them to my house, and we’d distribute them.
My wife thought it important that the great-grandchildren know from whom the gift cards came, so this year a picture of Mom, Papa (me) and Gigi (my wife) was included with the gift cards. My daughters loved the idea and would have each great-grandchild write a thank you note for Mom so they could connect the gift with Mom.
Sadly, Mom died too soon after Christmas for any of the letters to be written or delivered.
