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[justine_tajonera]

A thousand miles or more seem insurmountable when your loved one is far from you.  When they’re only 0 to 6 years old, the distance seems heartbreaking.  Here are some ways you can nurture your relationship even from afar.

Children at this stage depend heavily on their caregivers. According to Steven Ashley, author of The Long-Distance Dad: How You Can Be There for Your Child-Whether Divorced, Deployed, or On-the road, this is the stage when children’s neural networks learn who the people around them are and how things are done. At this stage, children learn to communicate verbally and non-verbally, as well as play with others.  As a long-distance parent, you can take advantage of these developmental stages.

1. Set dates

Children feel loved when they have regular contact with their parents.  Set up specific times to spend time with your child.  The regularity and predictability helps them feel secure, knowing that despite the distance, their dad or mom is always there for them.

Read the rest here: http://www.smartparenting.com.ph/parenting/real-parenting/physical-distance-hurts-how-long-distance-parents-can-bridge-the-gap-with-words-of-affirmation

Any other ways to distance parenting tools you know of? We need more resources for this.

[ilovegabe]

I was 5 when my mom went to work abroad.
What worked for us before since hindi pa uso ang cellphone and webcam (nahahalata ang age ko  ), is voice tape. Kahit yun lang, ok na sakin. I will take my player and hide inside the cabinet and listen mo my mom. That way I can still hear her kahit malayo sya. I can rewind it and listen to it anytime I want to feel her presence.
Shes allowed to have 40 days vacay every year naman so I asked her to please be home nalang every Christmas. Sabi ko sa kanya ok lang kahit sa birthday ko wala sya basta sa Christmas nandito sya.
So every Christmas alam ko na na my mom is coming home kaya ang happy happy ko na 

[CIB]

Internet din 

My hubby's working abroad. He left exactly 1 month ng baby namin. She's now 8 mos old. Internet lang talaga saka overseas call mga 2 or 3X a week. And nakakatuwa na ngayon kasi everytime Im gonna open the computer sasabihin niya na "dada! dada!". Alam niya na kasi lagi niya nakikita sa webcam. Tapos minsan tatawag si hubby na sya lang halos kakausapin. For me naman kasi para kilala niya na rin agad yung boses. Although she can already recognize him sa labasan. Alam niya na itsura ng dada niya. From webcam but most of the time sa pictures at videos ko sinasabi na "this your dada". Kaya pag may nakita sya na ka-resemble ni hubby tinititigan niya talaga.

[ilovegabe]

VOIP. This one is the best 
Halos 24/7 kami nag uusap ng mom ko. Even my son knows how to say hello na, naguunahan pa kaming sumagot ng phone 

[yhamslove®]

My Father is an OFW since i was 2 years old and until now, he is still working in Saudi Arabia.  He spent Christmas 2009 and welcomed Year 2010 with us.. but unfortunately, he will be leaving 2 days from today... 2012 na ulit ang balik niya... 

When i was 5 or 6 years old, i remember my mother record voice tapes, she asks us to talk to the "radio" as if my father was listening, then send it to him.

Constant exchange of letters also kept our lines open as we didn't have a telephone then. Mails interval is 10 days.. but it's worth the wait.

And one more thing... my Father never missed sending us greeting cards: Birthdays, Valentine's Day, Christmas, Graduation Day...

But now, eversince we were installed with phonelines and later on, internet connection, communicating with him is a lot easier and more frequent.

We will miss my Father.. and i know he will miss us too, especially his apos (my son and my nephew)..

[giay]

Internet really helps a lot. Hubby is OFW and he makes it a point that he chat with our son at least once a week.  Actually we just arrived from a 7-month vacation dun sa workplace niya and my son had a good time spent with his dad.  I am likewise planning to work again overseas pero syempre hndi ko iiwan si baby kc parang ang hirap if both parents will be away from him.  We knew stories of families with OFW parents and I don't want to take the risks, so isasama ko na lang siya.

[dad & angel's mom]

Well kami is one sample of OFW parents wherein pareho kaming nasa abroad and apart to each other.Our baby left in the Phils.That's sad part of our life now.Separated w/each other..
Right now we done have a choice kasi.It's a long story kasi.
But we set time frame sa sitwasyon namin ngaun.We just need 2 years para maayos lahat at magkasama-sama.Mahirap but I know something better will come after all the sacrifices that we passes through.
Importantly is keeping the communication on..
Hope no one encounters what we are going thru.
Just keep on trustin GOD!!!And keep the trust in each other..

[toughmom moderator]

Keep close ties with your family despite the distance, and introduce your child to his roots.
There’s no Place like Home: How OFWs Stay Connected with the Families they Left Behind


http://www.smartparenting.com.ph/mom-dad/ofw-resources/there-s-no-place-like-home-how-ofws-stay-connected-with-the-families-they-left-behind

[toughmom moderator]

OFW Parenting Tips: Keeping In Touch Across the Miles


Be careful, however, with how you react to anything that your children will share, because they may share things that will upset or shock you.  You do not want to end your conversation on a sour note. 
Read more:
http://www.smartparenting.com.ph/mom-dad/ofw-resources/ofw-parenting-tips-keeping-in-touch-across-the-miles

[ela.ralla]

I left my baby Ayman in Philippines almost 1 month siya ang hirap malayo.!!! due to changing sponsorship after 1 month nagkita ulet kami ng baby ko. After waiting ng working visa ko need left him again para ako tan** iyak ako ng iyak sa eroplano everymin lagi ko na miss ang baby ko buti na lang at may facebook & skype once or twice a week ko siya makita. my baby turns 5 months today.

[tinandkate]

I left my bunso when she was 1 month old. It really helps talaga ang skype dahil we always chat everyday. When I went back sa Philippines nasa 7 month old sya then I am very thankful dahil sumama sya sa akin after few days. After that everytime uuwi ako, pagkasundo pa lang sa airport sumasama na sya sa akin. Ayaw na niya sasama sa mga tao sa  bahay pag nandon ako. But am giving myself few years and mag for good nako sa atin.

[Mommy Jazz]

How to Make Parenting as an OFW Work: Experts Say Heed These Tips

Read it on Smart Parenting. Click this link:
http://www.smartparenting.com.ph/parenting/real-parenting/the-ofw-parenting-scenario-how-to-make-it-work-a1147-20171128

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