It’s tough being away from home. You miss the birthday cakes and family picnics. You miss the school plays and the visits from the Tooth Fairy. It’s easy to feel like you’re not a part of your family’s life when you away. With a bit of help and creative thinking, you can stay connected with your friends and family no matter where you are on the road.
Phone Calls
This one is a big “duh” of course, but when you can, make your calls at specific times. Maybe the end of your driving day or a break coincides with your children’s bedtime. Call and read a bedtime story over the phone (remember to take a story with you). Maybe your spouse gets to work before you get on the road. Give her a call while she’s driving to let her know you’re thinking about her. A daily phone call to check in is a great way to stay connected, but feel free to make extra calls at other times of the day when you know you’re missing each other most.
Video Chats
FaceTime on your iPhone, Google Hangouts through your Gmail account, or Skype are all great ways to stay connected to everyone and see a smiling face. Go a step further, if the timing works. Start a video call so you can watch the school play or say hi to the family during a big dinner. When you can plan for it, being on video chat can help you feel like you’re part of the big event instead of hearing about it afterwards.
Postcards and Handwritten Letters
It’ll take a little effort, but sending postcards of where you’ve been or handwritten letters letting someone know you’re thinking about them is a great way to stay connected. You’ll give those closest to you something to hold onto when you’re still far from home. You may even find the act of writing your thoughts is a good way to unwind and relax at the end of a long day of driving.
Emails and Text Messages
There’s nothing wrong with sending an email or text message with a simple “I’m thinking of you” message. It’s a way to quickly “touch” the people you love during the day. Just remember – don’t text and drive.
Small Surprises
Like a postcard, sending a small token that you picked up during your travels can be a great way for your loved ones to feel remembered by you and connected to you. There’s nothing more exciting and fun than coming home to a box with a surprise inside. The only thing better would be the surprise of finding you home.
Social Media
It seems like everyone is on Facebook, and your kids or nephews and nieces are probably on Instagram, too. At the end of the day, you can scroll through their posts, see what they’ve been up to, comment, like, and even message back and forth. You couldn’t be there to see your brother catch that big fish, but you can appreciate it later, and promise to out-do him when you get home.
Staying connected is an important part of staying healthy while on the road. Leaving your family is a necessary part of the job, but with all of the tools available to you, it doesn’t have to be unbearable.
