We experienced grandmas know we cannot expect mail from our summer campers, but they expect much mail from us. The grandchildren at sleep away camp are required to send grandparents at least one letter. I always tell the grandchildren I absolutely want only one letter, not more. I tell them that I know they love me so much they think of me often and I do not need more than one letter. Why not be a hero with reality! They are so busy and so happy at camp that a grandparent does not need to be needy for letters. Knowing our grandchildren are happy is the only gift we need.
This Grandma plans a letter a day in advance to each grandchild and adds more as things happen and I have time. I have Grandpa buy blank envelopes and run off camp address labels enough for each grandchild for the summer. I already have return labels. This Grandma spends a few hours one afternoon compiling 24 (half summer) or 48 (full summer) mailings, and then, using sticky notes I label mailing dates for Grandpa to calendar or tickle and take the responsibility to mail one each day. You can then supplement with personal notes when something of interest happens.
I usually keep a list as to when to mail them, starting a week before they go to camp so there is at least one piece of mail waiting for them from this Grandma and Grandpa the day they arrive at camp. After all, making them think of us often means sending letters often.
There are other shortcuts I have learned over the years:
This website allows you to buy summer camp cards, personalize them, and schedule mailing dates in advance. They have an enormous selection, including specialty summer camp cards especially for granddaughters and grandsons. Personalization is not only of a closing salutation, but also of content. You can even write a short letter inside. Best of all, they stamp and mail for you. No, best of all are the summer specials when cards including mailing are $1.89 each. Remember to send Fourth of July cards too!
An alternative is shutterfly.com which also allows you to personalize and add photographs to cards.
Card or Letter inserts
It is hard not to send packages to the grandchildren at sleep away camp, but new sleep away camp rules forbid these. [This Grandma is quite sure she is the cause of this rule because I used to send weekly packages that were 2′ x 2′!] So, instead, write short letters and include flat items. Think sports cards. Divide up packages of cards from favorite sports or Pokemon cards that the campers can trade. Think individual pages from Madlibs. Think pages from word search books or from internet sites with free crossword puzzles or word searches. They even have camp ones. Think funny balloons. Mix it up.
Postcards
Being a Grandma from Florida helps with postcards. There are so many postcards from Florida to choose from. Yes, silly ones are good. Ones with alligators might not be ones to send this year.
Photographs
Of course, have Grandpa run off a picture of Grandma and Grandpa, with the grandchildren, if possible, to include in a letter. Yes, more reminders of Grandma and Grandpa the better. If the parents of your grandchildren are as compulsive as ours, they will forward photographs of the grandchildren with their friends at camp they get off the camp website. Copy those and include them in a letter. The grandchildren can hang them in their bunk, and tell their friends who sent the picture.
For the grandchildren at day camp, you can still send cards and letters. Children love getting mail, even if you live in the same neighborhood. You can also send books for summer reading.
The new New York Times Best Seller list for children’s books has two naturals for us to send:
How to Babysit a Grandma by Jean Reagam, a picture book in which the grandchild is told how to organize a sleepover for grandma. Buy at Amazon:
How to Babysit a Grandpa is her previous picture book, still a best seller at Amazon:
Then, plan a sleepover with your grandchild, and give the parents of the grandchild a respite and at least a twenty four hour period away–away from their home and electronics– to renew their intimacy, and give us great spoiling time!
See further posts for more summer reading ideas.
Joy,
Mema
P.S. Be sure to sign Grandpa’s name to all the cards and letters with yours. After all, he is doing some of the heavy lifting.
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