| How To Stay in Touch on the RoadStaying in touch with the children while you are on the road can be a real challenge. Consider these ways to keep close to your kids as a road warrior. Difficulty: Easy Time Required: Half an hour a day Here's How:- Plan Ahead. I have always found it important to bring along some cards or paper and envelopes, postage stamps, addresses (for the children not living at home) and a good working pen. If you are planning to e-mail or instant message, make sure you have addresses with you. You may also want to bring a digitial camera if you want to email pictures home.
- Jot Down Schedules. If you want to talk to your kids daily by phone or send them instant online messages, you'll need to know when they'll be home. Note in your planner or PDA when the kids will be at school, work or at social commitments while you are gone.
- Mail a Card When You Leave. Because there can be a lag time from when you arrive at your destination and when communication arrives at home, mail a card for each child from the airport or local post office when you leave. That way, there will be communication the first day you are gone.
- Consider Picture Post Cards. My children have loved getting picture post cards of places I have been. Pick some up at the airport gift shop or a truck stop if you are driving. It's especially fun if you send cards with pictures of things you have actually seen.
- Find Low Cost Telephone Solutions. If you have a cell phone with nationwide long distance, free minutes early or late in the day and free roaming, try to use it. But beware if your phone adds roaming charges! Consider buying a phone card if you will be calling from the hotel or pay phones along the way--it can really cut your long distance costs.
- Internet at the Hotel. If you aren't bringing along a laptop or a web-enabled PDA or phone, see if your hotel offers low cost or free email or Internet services. Some hotels are now equipped with WiFi access, so maybe you can use e-mail on your PDA.
- Balance Talk Time with Wife, Kids and the Whole Group. I recommend that some of your time on the phone be allocated to individual family members rather than just to the whole family on a speaker phone or the like. Taking a litle individual time with each child is important. And don't forget to keep connected with your partner as well.
What You Need:- Phone numbers
- Addresses: physical, e-mail and IM
- Cards, paper and envelopes
- Postage stamps
- A phone card
- Laptop or PDA (optional)
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