Are you a dad who has to parent his children long-distance? You may worry that your connection to your child(ren) will diminish because your in-person visits are few and far between.
It’s a valid concern. Many noncustodial fathers worry that they miss out on many important parenting moments due to the distance between them and their children. If you can’t visit with your kids face-to-face regularly due to the distance between you and them, you need to get creative about the activities that you can share with them. Below are some suggestions you may want to try.
Special deliveries
Show your kids that you acknowledge the special moments in their lives even if you can’t be present for the events themselves. If your daughter has an upcoming dance recital, order her a bouquet of flowers to be delivered on her special day. Ditto for ordering a pizza party to help your son and his teammates celebrate his pitching a no-hitter. Make sure to follow-up with a phone call to congratulate them.
Play online games together
Depending on your kids’ ages and interests, start playing some games on the internet together. Whether it’s Words With Friends, Evony, Minecraft or chess, the two of you can be teammates or opponents playing many fun online games.
Schedule story time
Feeling bummed because you can’t be there for the nightly reading of Goodnight Moon? Arrange a Skype session with your child’s other parent and share a virtual read with your son or daughter. For older kids, you may want to select a longer book of their favorite genre and read a chapter each night.
There are many different ways to stay connected to your children from a distance. But if you still feel that you are getting the short end of the parenting stick, you may want to discuss modifying the custody arrangements with your Nebraska family law attorney.
Source: Dads at a Distance, “20 Long Distance Activities for Dads at a Distance,” accessed May 18, 2018