Since this is the first Christmas hubby and I have had

Isn't it wonderful we live in a time where these things are possible?

I'm sure it will mean a lot to your grandchildren. Just think of all the great stories they'll have to tell about the "Covid year" when they're grown up. Maybe you can remind them of that when you talk to them.

of the situation. If you are tempted to go down that road, you can make yourself even sadder, and it can definitely be contagious. Have you thought about sitting down and writing a list of as many very specific warm, happy, funny memories from all those family Christmases over the years as you can think of? Also, the qualities and characteristics that you love and cherish most about each one of those precious grandchildren? It may lift your spirits, and you can share that happy list with them, or select some personal remembrances to share individually with each grandchild. You sound like a wonderful, loving grandparent and of course all of you are going to miss your special traditions this time. You can help them cope by reminding them that love transcends time and space and that you will have an even merrier Christmas next year when we are all safely on the other side of this. Please try to stay positive, and help them do the same!
❄☃️🎄🎁🪅🔔🤶🎅🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🛷❄🌠🌟

I do stay pretty good with this. Moments of the blue.
I do get to see them a bit for short things. but with holidays too many in the house unmasked. Many with health stuff risks are to high.
As for writing, I’m kinda not so good at that.
So we’ve always done our memories by decorating the tree ( they always get an ornament to keep) decorating cookies, gingerbread houses and watching Christmas movies. Those you can do wearing a mask at least most the time.
But meals you can’t so we decided not to do big group same as the other holidays.
Next year will be better.

I'm sure you'll be Face Timing or Zooming with them - we had a ball one Thanksgiving after dinner asking everyone to play the one song they'd select if they could only pick one song.
We howled with laughter. Folks used Youtube to find their song.
Happy Holidays

Every year, she gets a poor child assigned to her by one of our good local charities. The only thing she will know about the child is the race, age and gender. She spends about six weeks gathering up a full blown Christmas package of clothes, educational materials and toys for the child. She buys the same kind of quality items that we bought our own children. My wife gets a lot of pleasure out of knowing at least one little poor girl in our county is going to have a sparkle in her eyes on Christmas morning. It is a much more satisfying process than writing a check.

I ideally take the grandkids out shopping and they find a gift for a kid about their age. Hopping to teach them good values and they get to be Santa’s helper.
Donate to toys for tots or something of the like.
This year it was different, masked up I took two of them shopping my granddaughter who is ten got to basically be designated shopper pulled tags from the tree at the store and found gifts from all of them ( the four year old picked his own) She as doing it said “this is so fun”

I am blessed by my situation. I can see my grandkids some, technology allows for more
I’m from a big family. My own family with one or two guest we sit down to a
Table of 12-15 on the holidays.
So that is just not doable in Covid.
So we don’t that’s when it’s hard.
We did a zoom type the other day when we celebrated birthdays and anniversary or we did a drive by greeting for the grandson who turned 15 the other day.
Covid will be over some Day. The big family gatherings at table will happen again.

I ideally take the grandkids out shopping and they find a gift for a kid about their age. Hopping to teach them good values and they get to be Santa’s helper.
Donate to toys for tots or something of the like.
This year it was different, masked up I took two of them shopping my granddaughter who is ten got to basically be designated shopper pulled tags from the tree at the store and found gifts from all of them ( the four year old picked his own) She as doing it said “this is so fun”

I am blessed by my situation. I can see my grandkids some, technology allows for more
I’m from a big family. My own family with one or two guest we sit down to a
Table of 12-15 on the holidays.
So that is just not doable in Covid.
So we don’t that’s when it’s hard.
We did a zoom type the other day when we celebrated birthdays and anniversary or we did a drive by greeting for the grandson who turned 15 the other day.
Covid will be over some Day. The big family gatherings at table will happen again.