In a heartwarming twist, a 75-year-old grandpa named Harold recently jumped into the world of Instagram, all to share his artistic creations with his three grandchildren spread across different corners of the globe. Initially resistant to the idea, Harold is now gaining quite the following through his Instagram account, Drawings for My Grandkids.
Originally from South Korea, Harold now resides in Brazil. His daily routine took a turn for the dull when his daughter moved back to South Korea, leaving him feeling lonely and without purpose. To fill his time, like many of us, he turned to television. Concerned for his well-being, his family proposed the idea of him drawing and having his wife post the artwork online. “Dad was really against the idea at first,” shared his son, Alex, with NPR. “He couldn’t grasp why anyone would care about his drawings.”
Harold’s reluctance stemmed from a lack of familiarity with technology. Unlike most people, he had never created an email account, let alone ventured into social media. However, Alex, a designer at Facebook, persisted in teaching his parents the ropes of Instagram over the phone from his home in New York. The plan was for Harold to create art, while his tech-savvy wife would handle the posting. Just as they were about to give up, a family milestone occurred – the birth of Alex’s son, Leo.
During a visit to meet little Leo, Harold had a revelation over lunch. He expressed concern about not being around to see what his newborn grandson would grow up to be. Alex explained that sharing his drawings on Instagram would allow him to connect with his older grandchildren now and create a lasting bond with Leo for the future.
That’s when the magic began. Alex had to be patient while teaching his father the Instagram basics. “I found myself getting frustrated, thinking, ‘How can he not get this after I’ve explained it so many times?’ But I reminded myself to be calm; he genuinely wanted to learn,” said Alex. They dedicated a week to intense Instagram training sessions, tackling the most challenging concept: hashtags. Once Alex explained how hashtags work, Harold’s enthusiasm sparked. “Wow, that’s exciting!” he exclaimed. “There are stunning watercolor drawings!”
Now, not only has Harold become an Instagram whiz, but he has also started exploring Facebook, Google, and even using an iPad gifted by Alex. This art-tech initiative has not only rejuvenated Harold’s life but has also strengthened family bonds with daily conversations revolving around his artwork. Surprisingly, Harold’s grandkids are not his only fans; he has amassed over 142,000 followers on his Instagram account.
“This journey has profoundly impacted my dad and our family,” Alex reflected. “The most fulfilling part has been the numerous messages from people who say our story inspired them to connect with their own parents or grandparents who used to create art or take photos. They want to teach them how to navigate Instagram.”
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In summary, Harold’s journey into the realm of Instagram is a testament to the power of family support and the ability to adapt to new technologies, even later in life. His story serves as an inspiration to many, encouraging connections through art and shared experiences.