Here’s a daunting fact – one day your kids will fly the nest. And if they’re on their gap year, they could fly to the other side of the world.
Before you begin figuring out a way to halt your son or daughter’s aging process, take consolation from this – nine out of 10 students who take a gap year are more focused when they return to university. According to some studies, gap year students are even deemed to be more responsible than their non-traveling counterparts.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t worry, and it doesn’t mean you can’t have contact with your kids while they’re away. Although they might be living it up with their new found freedom, they need you now more than ever.
Knowing that nest is still intact for them to come home to can be the key to avoiding homesickness. And your sprogs, as old as they’ve become, will still want much more contact than they make out.
So, here are a few tips on how to stay in touch with your traveling teen – without crowding them.
Say Hello With a Parcel
There’s little more a weary traveler enjoys than a memento from home, and it could be cheaper to send than you think.
Thanks to the proliferation of delivery companies, the price of sending a weighty parcel has become a lot more competitive. Delivering a parcel to USA, for example, needn’t cost more than £20 if you opt for the right service.
Not only is this a great way to send a gift, it also allows you to keep your teen stocked up for their travels.
Stay Networked
While most kids would probably say something like “hashtag awkward” at the idea of their mum friend requesting them on Facebook, or whatever network they use nowadays, it is the ideal way to keep tabs on them and assuage your worries WITHOUT constantly messaging them.
Add them before they leave, don’t bother them with an abundance of comments (they’ll hate you for it) and appreciate that they’re having a good time.
Make it That Time of the Month
To ensure your mother-child relationship doesn’t fade, set asidea time in the month when you can both have a long phone call. This could raise your phone bills Godzilla-high, so buy international calling cards or find a tariff that won’t charge hand-over-fist for overseas calls.