att-lg-xenon-free-in-red-photos

Exhibit A: Getting with the Times

In July, I went to the RWA conference in DC.  Across the country from my husband and son, for six days.  The longest I had ever been away from him prior to that was three days, so this was a definite jump in time.  And surprisingly, though by Saturday (I arrived on Tuesday and left on Sunday) I was more than ready for home, I did pretty well.  But I definitely believe that technology has a lot to do with that.

Just a few months ago, my husband and I purchased new phones (see exhibit A).  We decided to get with the times and try out the (in his words) “text messaging thing.”  We had heard from friends and family (yes, our age, not teenager age.) how it helped them stay connected with their spouses during the day.  They were having fun.  Being silly.   So we thought we’d check it out.   And I have to say we love it.  We joke around through the day, we text throughout the day. And this is actually what became my savior while in DC.

connor

Even though I was thousands of miles away, I felt connected. Throughout the day, my husband was texting me.  But he wasn’t just sending me text messages, he was also sending me pictures of him and my son.

The entire time we were apart, we were still together simply because of technology.  I got to see pictures of my son and I sent them pictures of me every day. Of course I won’t say that my self portrait pics were all that flattering, but my son didn’t care.  He loves pictures and he got to be a part of everything I did, in some small way.

jeanniedc

While I don’t foresee myself traveling a tremendous amount, I do know that conferences and other events are in my future.  I am happy to know that technology is finding ways to make it not so difficult, to ensure that I can connect with my son on a daily basis, even if I’m not there.  I had a phone full of pictures from my trip and my son’s time while I was gone, and with a mini smart card and USB adapter, I am able to put those pictures on my computer.

I also know there are other types of technology that can make time away not so difficult.  I haven’t used it yet, but Skype is a video chat program that you can use to talk face to face on your computers.   (There’s even a Skype for iPhone app.)

Anytime I’m a traveling Mama, it makes me feel better to know there are options out there and ways through technology that I can stay connected with my son.  It’s the everyday things you miss most — and those pictures of my son eating his breakfast, playing in the yard or even just sitting in his carseat meant the world to me.

I’d love to hear your routines and what you do when traveling to stay connected to your kids… Share away!