“Hi, Grandma. I saw your online scrapbook page.” “Hi, Grandpa, I got your Instant Message today.” Sound strange? Have you looked at technology through grandparent glasses lately? Those glasses aren’t so thick anymore.
From the wobbling bobble of a toddler to the growing independence of a teenager, grandparents long to connect with these living extensions of their own heritage. Time and distance have stripped modern families of opportunities to share their lives, but technology is bringing it back to them in new and exciting ways.
Ask Shayne Packer. He knows. With eight grandchildren in four different time zones, “Grandpa Shayne” understands that many special moments are going to be missed. Using his love for the latest technology, he created the website Grandparents TLC and The Grandparent Project. Both sites encourage grandparents to use technology to bridge the distance gap in today’s world for the sake of love and connection. The TLC stands for both the “Tender Loving Care” grandparents have for their grandchildren and the “Technology” available to them to “Love” and “Connect.” His wife, Tanda, assists in writing for the first site. In addition, she is co-authoring a book with Shayne on helping grandparents connect with their grandchildren in today’s culture using modern technology.
Growing up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with thirteen siblings, Shayne learned the value of hard work, industrious pursuit and above all the love of family. Shayne is one of the few members of the Church who can trace all lines of his complete ancestry back to the original Church of the 1830s and 40s. He grew up learning about the Mormon pioneers and the many trials and persecutions they faced as they colonized over 400 towns in the Western territories of the U.S.
Fortunately, for Shayne and many others researching their heritage, the Church owns the largest database of family heritage documentation in the world. The Family History Library is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was founded in 1894 to gather genealogical records and assist members of the Church with their family history and research. According to their familysearch.org website, the collection includes over 2.4 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records; 742,000 microfiche; 310,000 books, serials and other formats; 4,500 periodicals; and 700 electronic resources. Connecting individuals is a trait ingrained in the Mormon pioneer history. You could say that Shayne’s new sites are simply part of the “family business,” in his own way.
“From the wobbling bobble of a toddler to the growing independence of a teenager, grandparents long to connect with these living extensions of their own heritage.”
Shayne bought his first computer when he owned a furniture and waterbed store. Wowed by the capabilities of the Apple II, Shayne created games for his children. With rising taxes on small business owners, he sold the store and returned to college for his computer science degree. From there he took a job as a software engineer, developing Macintosh applications for the next 17 years.
Tired of the politics of big business, Shayne moved into real estate investments and now works full time developing his online sites with the help of his wife, Tanda.
One major part of Shayne’s online focus is to share resources among grandparents in what he calls “grandsourcing” or his version of the common tool “crowdsourcing” where the collection of ideas benefit everyone and new ideas are formed to solve problems or issues. His site is not just about technology but also about connecting with grandkids in general. The online site is a shared resource for grandparents to talk about how they connect with their family in person too. One entry, on promoting the loving connection with grandchildren, shares many interesting sites for ways to enjoy the holidays when they come to visit, from songs to crafts to great online deals for shopping for presents.
When asked about social networking sites, Shayne sees value in what they have to offer and enjoys some of the groups that connect through them. One entry on his website states, “I just came across a request on one of the groups I belong to — the ‘Grandparents not over the hill yet’ group. (I don’t know about you, but this grandpa is still climin’ that proverbial hill.)”
Inspired by years of the commitment of his church and its community, to retaining and sharing knowledge for the whole family, Shayne and Tanda are building an online community from all different faiths and backgrounds that will help generations of grandparents and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and hopefully great-great-grandchildren to use technology to stay connected.
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Learn more about Shayne Packer at www.shaynepacker.com. Shayne is a professional Internet entrepreneur and technology consultant. He is an early adopter when it comes to technology and gadgets such as the Macintosh, the iPhone, and the Internet. His hobbies include woodworking, gardening, photography, hiking and much more.
GrandparentsTLC.com is a website about grandparenting and technology. It's where grandparents can discover technologies that will help them connect with their grandchildren in new ways. The Grandparent Project allows other grandparents to join the fun by collaborating about Internet resources being developed for grandparents and grandchildren!
Thank you Shayne, for sharing your Story with us. ~~~
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© 2009 by Sarah Peppel and Story of My Life®
Read Tanda Packer's Story here!