This is in response to “Loving But Frustrated Daughter,” whose 92-year-old mother lives in a secluded rural home in the Midwest, very distant from the daughter’s home in Southern California. The mother scolds the daughter when she needs to end what’s been a long phone conversation, and the daughter feels guilty trying to please and support her mother while carving out time for herself and her family.

I have always lived a considerable distance from my mother, grandmother and then a mother-in-law, and “back in the day” we corresponded regularly with written letters and cards. A card or letter received in the mail brightens anyone’s day and can be picked up and reread at the receiver’s convenience and saved for as long as the receiver cares to do so. Letters do not need to be long, and if poor vision is a problem, could be written or printed in larger than normal font. This daughter could send a short letter or card once a week or every two weeks, and could even furnish her mother with self-addressed, stamped cards for the mother to jot a note on and send back.

My older relatives have all passed, but I still cherish the cards and letters we shared for so many years. This might be a helpful suggestion to your letter writer.

– Letter Writer

Dear Writer: Another great suggestion; thank you. I recently met someone who writes their grandmother a letter every single week and the tradition warmed my heart.