"Dear Vonnie" Keeping in Touch

Each Saturday, I will do my best to answer your questions. I don't pretend to be an expert, but I know it's not easy being a wife and mother. It can be frustrating and discouraging, yet very rewarding. I'd be glad to listen to you, pray for you, and share some of my thoughts with you.

So, ask me something... anything...



Dear Vonnie,

What are effective ways to stay in touch with adult step children who live out of state? They are busy with work and relationships yet they want to maintain contact as much as we do. We have 2 younger children who think of them often as well.

signed,
Far Away





Dear Far Away,

I can sympathize with you very much. My children have all grown. I have one in Alaska, one in Texas, one in West Virginia, three in New Hampshire, and two still nearby. I feel like a rubberband, stretched in all directions.

We can be very grateful for living this time of technology. We have cell phones, with which we can talk to them, even when they aren't home. I don't text, but it is the "cool" way to communicate among the newer generation. There are emails and webcams. There's nothing like getting something in the mail.

My children often call home on Sunday afternoons or evenings. It's a nice thing to look forward to each week. It's been hard for them to coordinate their vacations, so it's been awhile since we've all been together. When we do, I treasure every moment.

I don't know the ages your younger children, but I suggest that they write a letter or draw a picture for their older siblings. You could bake cookies or find some fun items at the dollar store to send a "care package" to them.

Maybe you could start a postcard collection and encourage the older ones to send the younger ones some from various places. Bookmarks and stickers are other thin, light things you could collect.

Find an inexpensive digital camera for the younger ones, and let them snap photos of their daily life. Of course, it would be wonderful if the older ones could recipicate the gesture.

There are lots of ideas of ways to connect. I hope this triggered some ideas of your own.