How to be long-distant best Parent?

     Introduction

I may not be a right person for this topic but few months back, i got one assignment to work on. I am just posting my finding of that time. In today's life, you may find it very hard to be at one place constantly. I have heard that IT jobs are like a cats n dogs fight. you fight with your company, change your job.

Being a parent has never been a simple job. The tasks becomes more challenging, when a parent is geographically far away from their kids. Each parent, i.e. father and mother, has different perspective. The optimal development of children requires the perspectives of both. The child’s self-image, moral development and ability to develop positive relationships are influenced by the role of father and mother both. However, the long distances, whatever the reason it may be for, reduces intimacy and understanding between the parents and the children. It is possible that, such distances may get converted into the emotional distances. It is the responsibility of parent to take care of such situation and handle scenario before the loss of emotions. This requires the parent to have compassion, commitment and integrity to the parent-child relationship. This essay emphasis on the effective ways that helps geographically far located father because of job to maintain close relationship with his children (Defoe, 1719).

2.      The word “Long-Distance”

Generally, long-distance phrase is referred to indicate the distance which gives a feeling of really far. Even if it is a centimeter distance, it may be considered as long distance. However, as one of the definition of Long-distance, Oxford dictionary has following content. “Denoting or relating to a race distance of 6 miles or 10,000 meters (6 miles 376 yds), or longer” (Oxford Dictionaries, 2016).

3.      Kid’s relationship with long-distant father

The overall well-being of children is largely influenced by the mere presence of father figure in their life. It was reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that due to absence of father from children’s life, the change of drug and alcohol addiction, criminality, poor education performance, mental illness, teen pregnancy, suicide, etc. among children increases. The father by their presence in contributes significantly to the child’s mental peacefulness. Nearly 63% youth suicides and 85% of children suffering from behavioral disorders belongs to fatherless home. Thus, the involvement of father in the kids’ lives is very essential. Simply giving financial and emotional support will not do to maintain physical health of the kids (Defoe, 1719).

 Keeping lines of communication open with kids is always beneficial for the long-distance dad. The father should have regular contact with his kids by telephoning. In today’s high-tech communication age, conversation, exchange of photos, etc. have become very easy through emails. It is possible to have virtual visitation, real time and face-to-face conversation with the help of web-cam. The regular contact will keep a long-distance dad aware of the kids’ daily activities and progress (Ashley, 2008).

Maintaining good relationship with the mother supports the long-distance dad a lot. It gives the dad a full picture of happenings in the children’s lives. As in the absence of father, it is a mother who looks after the children’s school schedules, their homework, school activities and other various daily stuff. In case mother is happy, she will support the attempts and efforts of the long-distance dad to stay in touch with his kids. If mother is unhappy due certain activities of father, it is possible that she may bad mouth the long-distance father to kids and may influence their relationship with their dad (Ashley, 2008).  

Due to technological advancement, it is possible for the long-distance dad to maintain balance between work and family. He has an opportunity to involve in the kids’ lives, and have better and regular interaction with them. They have better chance to resolve the problems, confusion and dilemmas of kids, as well as impart them essential understanding and knowledge for their optimal development.

Showcasing commitment assists in holding solid relationship, specifically during odd times. A father needs to show his commitment to create the highest level of trust. Every effort seems to be ineffective if the child don’t feel the commitment from father. This dedication is required more over the age. As children grow, their expectations from father also grow and amount of carefulness required also grow (Ashley, 2008).

 References

Ashley, Steven. The Long-Distance Dad: How You Can Be There for Your Child-Whether Divorced, Deployed, or on-the road. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2008. Print.

Defoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe. London: Macmillan and Company, 1719. Print.

Oxford Dictionaries. “Definition of long distance in English”. 2016. 11 May 2016.