Keeping Up Communication With Your Children After Divorce
Both you and your children can feel out of touch when you no longer see each other every day.
The good news is that communicating with your children after a divorce or separation is easier than ever.
Only a few years ago, when your children were with their other parent your communication options were limited to the telephone.
Long-distance rates, time zones and other challenges felt like a barrier between you.
Today, those barriers have come down and there is a multitude of ways that you and your children can connect every day, even if you're across the country from each other.
Most of you use these services everyday in your work and personal life, but they are often overlooked as tools to keep connected with your children.
To make the most of these services, you'll each need a computer with a broadband connection.
There are companies that allow you and your children to communicate via the internet.
With these services and a headset, you and your children can talk via the computer.
Add a webcam and you can see each other while you talk.
There is usually no charge to create these accounts and download the software.
Once you and your children both have accounts, communicating online is free no matter how far apart you are.
These webcam calls work very well for younger children who like frequent contact even if it's very brief.
You can also use your webcam to record yourself reading or telling a story, and your children can play it whenever they want.
There are also companies that allow you to use any phone to call outside of your local area without connecting through a computer and without incurring long distance charges.
You can try instant messaging (IM).
Instant messaging is like email; except you're connected in real-time, watching new messages appear immediately.
Yahoo, MSN, AOL, and Google all have IM services, or search the Internet for another service that suits you.
IM is a great way to touch base for quick conversations.
Even email has become more powerful than it used to be.
With digital cameras, you and your children can share pictures and videos.
With a scanner, you'll be able to check out their latest art project or the program for their school play, not to mention that homework they need help with.
With all of these options, remember to set up rules and conditions for these new forms of communication, so that they're not invasive or distracting to the other household.
Parents, it's time to be creative.
Explore these new ways to communicate with your children and be part of their lives, even when you're apart.
2008, Mary Wollard, J.
D.
, Family Solutions Center, LLC.
The good news is that communicating with your children after a divorce or separation is easier than ever.
Only a few years ago, when your children were with their other parent your communication options were limited to the telephone.
Long-distance rates, time zones and other challenges felt like a barrier between you.
Today, those barriers have come down and there is a multitude of ways that you and your children can connect every day, even if you're across the country from each other.
Most of you use these services everyday in your work and personal life, but they are often overlooked as tools to keep connected with your children.
To make the most of these services, you'll each need a computer with a broadband connection.
There are companies that allow you and your children to communicate via the internet.
With these services and a headset, you and your children can talk via the computer.
Add a webcam and you can see each other while you talk.
There is usually no charge to create these accounts and download the software.
Once you and your children both have accounts, communicating online is free no matter how far apart you are.
These webcam calls work very well for younger children who like frequent contact even if it's very brief.
You can also use your webcam to record yourself reading or telling a story, and your children can play it whenever they want.
There are also companies that allow you to use any phone to call outside of your local area without connecting through a computer and without incurring long distance charges.
You can try instant messaging (IM).
Instant messaging is like email; except you're connected in real-time, watching new messages appear immediately.
Yahoo, MSN, AOL, and Google all have IM services, or search the Internet for another service that suits you.
IM is a great way to touch base for quick conversations.
Even email has become more powerful than it used to be.
With digital cameras, you and your children can share pictures and videos.
With a scanner, you'll be able to check out their latest art project or the program for their school play, not to mention that homework they need help with.
With all of these options, remember to set up rules and conditions for these new forms of communication, so that they're not invasive or distracting to the other household.
Parents, it's time to be creative.
Explore these new ways to communicate with your children and be part of their lives, even when you're apart.
2008, Mary Wollard, J.
D.
, Family Solutions Center, LLC.