Cultivating Family Bonds Across Distance
As a growing child I always looked forward to going to my grandparents house. I was allowed to play without restrictions. My grandparents did not mind a scattered house. I got to see my cousins and did we play? So whenever I heard let’s go to grandma’s or grandpa’s house I danced. Those visits were pure magic. No one told me to clean up immediately. No one counted how many biscuits I ate. My grandmother let me help her cook even when I made a mess of the kitchen. My grandfather told stories that made the world feel bigger and more wonderful than I ever imagined. But here is what made those visits truly special. It was not just about the freedom to play or the extra treats. It was about feeling deeply loved by people who had all the time in the world for me. That bond shaped who I became. And I know I am not alone in treasuring those memories. Most of us carry our grandparent’s love like a secret treasure tucked safely in our hearts. But what happens when distance makes those visits impossible? What happens when your children’s grandparents live across oceans instead of across town?
This is exactly why I’ll Go and Come Back by Rajani LaRocca matters so much. This heartwarming picture book celebrates the unbreakable bond between generations and the love that bridges continents. When Jyoti visits her grandmother in India they share moments filled with laughter learning and love. They cook together. They tell stories. They create memories that will last a lifetime. Later when Sita Grandma visits Jyoti in America those same feelings flow back in the sweetest way. The love does not diminish because of distance. It does not fade because they cannot see each other every day. Instead it grows deeper and more precious because they know how to hold it carefully across the miles. The book shows children something powerful. Love knows no distance. It travels. It returns. And it grows stronger every time.
In our increasingly global world many families are separated by oceans and time zones. Grandparents video call grandchildren they can only hold once or twice a year. Children grow up knowing their grandmother’s voice through a screen more than through bedtime stories whispered in person. This distance creates a unique kind of heartache but it does not have to break the bond. I’ll Go and Come Back teaches children that physical distance cannot diminish emotional closeness when love is intentionally nurtured. It shows them that the goodbye is not forever. That home can exist in more than one place. That their grandmother’s love wraps around them whether she is sitting beside them or sitting thousands of miles away. This understanding helps children feel secure even when the people they love are far away. It teaches them that relationships require effort and intention but that effort is always worth it.
Perfect for family reading classroom storytelling or bedtime conversations this book opens up beautiful discussions about how we maintain connections with people we love. Parents can talk with children about the different ways families stay close. Through letters and phone calls. Through photos and videos. Through the stories we tell and the traditions we keep alive. Through the promise that we will go and we will come back. The book reminds every child and honestly every adult that love is not measured by proximity but by presence. And presence can live in a hug that happened six months ago and still warms your heart today. It can live in a voice on the phone. It can live in a recipe taught across continents. It can live in the absolute certainty that no matter how far apart you are someone across the world is thinking of you with fierce tenderness. That is the love that travels. That is the love worth cultivating. That is the love this beautiful book celebrates.
