A cantankerous 75-year-old grandfather has recently embraced Instagram, aiming to connect with his three grandchildren scattered across the globe by showcasing his artwork. Initially skeptical about the platform, Harold Kim has gained unexpected fame through his Instagram account, Drawings for My Grandkids. Originally hailing from South Korea, Harold now resides in Brazil. His life took a turn for the lonely when his daughter decided to relocate back to South Korea, leaving him without the daily interactions he cherished—taking his grandkids to school, sharing meals, and picking them up afterward.
To fill the void, Harold found himself glued to the television, prompting concern from his family. They proposed that he create drawings and have his wife, who is more technologically inclined, upload them to Instagram. “My dad was not thrilled with the idea of picking up drawing again,” his son, David, explained to NPR. “He could not fathom why anyone would want to see his artwork.”
Harold resisted the notion largely because the digital world was foreign to him—he had never set up a Gmail or Facebook account and didn’t even have an email address. Nevertheless, David, a designer for Facebook, persisted in teaching his parents how to navigate the social media platform over phone calls from New York. The plan was for Harold to sketch while his wife would post the drawings online. Just as they were on the verge of giving up, a new addition to the family changed everything—David’s son, Leo, was born.
During a visit to New York to meet little Leo, Harold had an epiphany. Over lunch, he expressed his concern about not being around to witness the life choices Leo would make as he grew up. David explained that sharing his drawings on Instagram could bridge the gap, allowing Harold to connect with his older grandchildren now while creating a legacy for Leo in the future.
And that’s when the transformation began. David had to start from scratch, teaching his father the fundamentals of the photo-sharing app. “I found myself getting frustrated, thinking, ‘I’ve explained this like twenty times; how can he not understand?’” David recounted. “I had to remind myself that he genuinely wanted to learn; it was just a steep learning curve for him.” They dedicated a week to intensive Instagram training sessions, with David patiently guiding his father through the learning process. The most challenging aspect for Harold was grasping the hashtag feature. It finally clicked when David demonstrated how hashtags could organize photos by searching for #artwork. “Wow, this is fun!” Harold exclaimed. “There are incredible drawings out there!”
Not only has this grumpy grandpa become adept at using Instagram, but he’s also ventured into Facebook, Google, and even an iPad gifted by his son. This artistic endeavor has brought the family closer together, giving them something to discuss daily. Harold’s grandchildren are not his only admirers; he now boasts over 142,000 followers on his account.
“This project has truly transformed my father’s life and our family’s dynamic,” David shared. “The most gratifying part has been receiving countless messages from others who say, ‘Your story has inspired me to connect with my parents, who used to paint or take photographs. I’m going to teach them how to use Instagram too.’”
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In summary, this tale of a reluctant grandfather embracing technology to connect with his family is a heartwarming reminder of the power of creativity and the importance of staying connected across generations.