Grand-mothering, COVID, Ping-Ping, & Zoom
Robin B. Zeiger, Ph.D.
Sometimes I hate Zoom. Sometimes I am SO TIRED of Zoom. And sometimes, I am eternally grateful for Zoom and its possibilities of connection. Recently, my three-year old granddaughter, Zivi, became sick with COVID. For a couple of days, I was very worried about her due to her high fever and lack of energy. Although I live 2 ½ hours away, I felt helpless to do much of anything. To add to the mix, my daughter and son-in-law were in the midst of moving apartments. In addition, my daughter was sick with bronchitis.
Thankfully, after recovering from a high fever, Zivi began to feel a bit better. Suddenly I could help from a distance. Ping-Ping, Zoom, and the world-wide-web came to the rescue. We began a couple of days of grand-mothering via Zoom, YouTube, and the world of imagination. The story was deeply enriched by Ping-Ping.
Who is Ping-Ping you might ask? I had promised my granddaughter a doll a while ago in a moment when she had to be brave during her bout with the flu. It has been a hard winter and a difficult couple of years for all of us in this world turned topsy-turvy.
I held onto the promise for several weeks. I did not want just any cheap doll. On my way to my psychology clinic, I walk down a street of shops graced with beautiful, but expensive items in the window. I like to do “window-shopping.” It is the right price in this expensive neighborhood. My resolve not to enter the stores was soon to change. One day, I spotted the cutest baby dolls perched in a life-size crib. I dared to walk in and fell further in love. The price was a bit expensive, but still in my range.
I decided to err on the side of caution and ask my daughter what she thought. I sent her some photos. Next thing I know, I receive a FaceTime phone-call from Zivi. She says, “Grandma. I see dolls on my Eema (mommy’s) phone.” I was sure she had forgotten about my promise, but oh was “grandma” stupid. My daughter reassured me she had not forgotten for even one day. Zivi circled the doll she wanted. It was also the one I loved most of all.
This began our journey. Zivi “returned with me” via WhatsApp to pick up the doll. We both learned the doll has the scent of vanilla. I took her home in a beautiful bag. And I reassured Zivi she would be safe in my house until I came to visit. Zivi named the doll Ping-Ping. I instantly loved the name.
I am an only child. I grew up with up with a strong connection to and love of imagination and fantasy play. This all comes in handy as a welcome set of “grandma tools.” This is a piece of my grand-mothering that I love.
Zivi and I made a few play dates over the next couple of days. We ate breakfast with Ping-Ping. She is old enough to hold a cup. We read stories on YouTube. Zivi kept asking her mother if she could call me back. She said, “I like talking to Grandma.” Whatever time I was able to spend with her helped my daughter and son-in-law. They were both very busy juggling work and setting up a new apartment. Thus, it was if I was babysitting from a distance.
Zivi and I even “walked” together to my office. She is old enough and smart enough to understand that we could not talk while I worked. But I called back as soon as I was walking again.
Ping-Ping developed a real personality while at my house. She preferred to sleep in my bedroom. We learned she came from Spain. We went to her website and learned about her extended family. We learned what she liked to eat and drink. Zivi heard how excited Ping-Ping was to finally come visit her. During this bought of COVID, I was so grateful for Zoom and FaceTime.
I finally arrived at my grandchildren’s new house. Zivi has an older brother, Liam, who is equally cute and smart in his own way. (I am certainly not an unbiased judge, am I?) Ping-Ping received a wonderful reception. She slept with Zivi and went to nursery school with her. One day, Zivi called me crying to tell me she had accidentally left Ping-Ping at nursery school. I sent a photo of Ping-Ping via my phone, and it helped. The next day Ping-Ping arrived safely home no worse for the experience.
Perhaps the most amusing and funny moment, was when I slept over. The guest room is not yet ready, so my grandson offered to sleep on a mattress on the floor. I slept in his bed next to Zivi and Ping-Ping. In the middle of the night, somehow Zivi and Ping-Ping ended up on my side of the bed, and Zivi went to sleep on Grandma’s head. Grandma couldn’t quite move this duo. Oh well. Zivi, and I suspect, Ping-Ping too, think this is the funniest story. Grandma isn’t so sure.
Robin B. Zeiger is a practicing Jungian psychoanalyst and a free-lance writer.
She is a member of the:
International Association of Analytical Psychology and the Israel Institute of Jungian Psychology. She can be reached at rbzeiger@yahoo.com.
