Grandparents Bring Joy with an Ingenious Bear Hug Solution

These days, many of us miss our grandparents and long for better times together. The Welsh grandparents, Barbara and Cliff Walsh, hadn't hugged their grandkids since March 2020 but came up with a brilliant idea to hug them again. Thanks to their inventive approach, they shared a loving embrace with their grandchildren via inflatable bear costumes.

Barbara and Cliff said that this "bear hug" was the best six minutes of their year. They hugged their three grandchildren for the first time since 3/1/20, doing it all as a complete surprise. Although they occasionally chatted on Zoom during their nine-month isolation, nothing beats a real hug. One day, while shopping, Barbara spotted the bear costume and realized it was a way to safely embrace her grandkids. "It was the best purchase I ever made," she said. "It brought so much joy into our lives."

Surprising their son's family in Leeds, the 70-year-old couple donned 8-foot tall costumes. "The separation was tough on all the kids," Barbara reflected. "We usually spend lots of time together as a family, and we missed them dearly. Normally, we meet at least twice a week, and sometimes the grandkids stay overnight."

Regarding the costume idea, Barbara recalled, "The costumes worked well. It's the best idea I've ever had. Our youngest grandchild was scared initially, but then he realized it was us and was thrilled. So many hugs; it was amazing."

One afternoon, Niel and Hazel Walsh told their kids that "white bears have come to town and are hanging outside." The children rushed out and were surprised to see their grandparents in massive, hopping, and dancing costumes. The youngest, a 4-year-old, was especially delighted. "Everyone was so happy during those six minutes; we laughed and cried. I loved it," Niel recounted. "It was the best hug the boys ever received, a memory they'll cherish forever."