There’s a corner of my dining room table where I collect things to send to my two, far away grandkids. Each item is selected with its recipients in mind. On delivery, we have something new to do and talk about. I love each part of the process. It feels like I’m sending a “postal hug,” since the real thing isn’t possible. However on one fateful mailing, all didn’t turn out as planned. Yes, another long-distance grandparenting blooper was in the making.

Here’s the details: I filled and sent one box or envelope every couple of weeks. The contents changed based on the season, and what my grands were learning. Most importantly, the package items were meant to be shared.

This system worked very well.  Until, that is, one particular FaceTime chat with them. I honestly can’t remember exactly what we talked about that day, but what I do remember is feeling that a new, more personal version of my mailing system might be nice to try.

Everyone Wants to Feel Special

Why more personal? Well, if you have siblings, you may recall times when you got a little tired of sharing everything. You wanted to feel special. Logistically, local grandparents have a bit easier time making that special moment happen for each grandchild.

But I wanted to create that same feeling for my long-distance grandkids, too.

The Plan

So, I decided to change my package routine. Instead of sending just one gift/activity box or envelope for both of my grandkids, I would send a separate package to each one.  I thought this was such an awesome idea!

In my mind’s eye, I imagined how excited each grandchild would be to get an envelope with just their name on it.  I could almost see them tearing into their own package, gleefully opening each thing I lovingly wrapped.

With great care I put my plan into action. I chose items each grand would like. Then I wrapped each one separately and arranged them like a puzzle in a mailing envelope. After addressing each envelope individually, my husband took them to the post office to send them on their way. He returned with receipt in hand, and I thought all was well.

Blooper: How to Disappoint Your Far Away Grandkid Without Really Trying

I was proud of my clever plan until I got a phone call from their mom. I could hear my granddaughter crying loudly in the background. Her mom put her on the phone to explain why she was so upset. And then my granddaughter told me something that made all my careful planning and organization seem like such a waste.

“Bubbe,” she said in between sobs, “only ONE envelope came!” And as you can probably now guess, it wasn’t HERS!

After a thorough investigation, we determined that said envelope would be delivered in a few days. But, when you are five, soon was definitely not going to be soon enough! Even with reassurance, my granddaughter was not easily calmed down and she remained pretty skeptical.

My plan had gone totally awry. This was hardly the kind of special that I had hoped she would feel!

From Blooper to Bliss

When the envelope finally did arrive, smiles replaced tears. And in its own wacky way, my granddaughter got her package on her very own special day. The question remained, however, would I ever try sending two packages again?

And the answer is: I’m going with my original one package plan. Frankly, it isn’t worth the risk of disappointing one of my grandkids like that again. For now, I like more predictable happy endings and that’s special enough!