Being a Distance Grandchild - a Book for ALL Generations

About the Author

Helen Ellis is a New Zealand-based researcher, writer, anthropologist, and a seasoned distance grandparent. With three of her four children, and six of her seven grandchildren (aged 2 to 26), living between 16 and 30 flight hours away in the United States, England, and Scotland, she lives the life she writes about. 

Helen is the founder of DistanceFamilies.com, a platform dedicated to supporting and understanding the unique dynamics of families spread across the globe. Her guiding research question – How is Distance Familying for you? – reflects her deep commitment to giving voice to each generation of Distance Families. 

She passionately believes that all members of Distance Families – grandparents, adult children, and grandchildren – deserve to be heard and understood. Through independent research and advocacy, Helen has taken on the mission of bridging the emotional and cultural gaps created by geography.

“With understanding comes empathy,” she says, “and this can only do good as we all gingerly navigate the often-challenging social phenomenon of Distance Families.”

Being a Distance Grandchild is the final book in her three-part series exploring Distance Families from each generational perspective – grandparents, sons and daughters, and now, grandchildren. Helen encourages readers from all generations to explore the full series to gain a richer, more compassionate understanding of the others’ experiences.

To learn more about the full series and stay updated, visit www.DistanceFamilies.com.