Working abroad can be an excellent opportunity to further your career and earn a good income, especially for parents in the Philippines. In fact, according to a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there are an estimated 2.2 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) abroad in March 2022.
However, this situation can also make it challenging to maintain a healthy relationship with your children when you cannot see them daily. Here are five tips for keeping your bond strong even when you’re miles apart.
Stay in touch regularly.
With today’s technology, there’s no excuse for not staying in touch with your children regularly. Whether you use video chat, social media, or good old-fashioned phone calls, make sure you touch base with your kids at least once a day to let them know you’re thinking of them.
This might seem like a little thing, but it can make a big difference in your child’s life, especially if they’re feeling homesick or missing you. In addition to staying in touch regularly, try to send your child personal messages that are just for them. This could be a photo of you doing something they love, a funny meme that made you think of them, or even just a short audio clip telling them a bedtime story.
Even if you can’t be there in person, sending your child personalized messages will help them feel loved and connected to you.
Send care packages.
Care packages are a fun way to show your children that you’re thinking of them even when you’re far away. Fill a box with their favorite snacks, games, books, or other goodies and send it off with a personal note letting them know how much you love and miss them.
Also, consider sending along a special treat for them to enjoy on their birthday or other holidays. This could be a cake mix and frosting so they can make their own cake, a new toy, or even just a heartfelt card letting them know you’re thinking of them.
No matter what you include in your care package, your children are sure to appreciate the thoughtfulness and effort you’ve put into it.
Support their needs.
One of the most important things you can do for your children when you’re working abroad is to ensure their needs are met. This includes ensuring they have enough money for food, shelter, and other essentials.
Fortunately, there are now many ways to send money to the Philippines online, and you can even set up automatic transfers, so your children always have access to the funds they need. In addition to their basic needs, you should also try to support your children emotionally by being there for them when they need to talk. This could be done through video chat, social media, or even just a phone call. Just letting them know you’re there for them can make a world of difference.
Finally, try to stay involved in their lives as much as possible. This means keeping up with their schoolwork, knowing who their friends are, and being there for them when they need you. It might take a little extra effort, but it’s worth it to know your children are getting the support they need while you’re working abroad.
Plan special events.
Just because you can’t be together in person doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate special occasions together. Birthdays, holidays, and other milestones are the perfect opportunity to get creative and plan unique celebrations that will make lasting memories for both of you.
For example, you could send your child a birthday cake mix, frosting, and a special message. Then, you can make the cake together over video chat and enjoy it while singing happy birthday.
Or, if you’re feeling really ambitious, you could even plan a surprise party for your child and have all their friends and family members participate from afar. No matter what you do, the important thing is to make sure your child knows you’re thinking of them on their special day.
Be understanding and flexible.
Working abroad can be difficult for everyone involved, so it’s essential to be understanding and flexible when things don’t go according to plan. Keep the lines of communication open and honest so that everyone knows what to expect and when things might change unexpectedly.
Most importantly, remember that your children are adjusting to a new situation just like you. They might not always be able to express how they’re feeling, but just knowing you’re there for them can make all the difference.
Working abroad doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your relationship with your children. With a little effort, you can still be an important part of their lives and help them grow into happy, well-adjusted adults.
Maintaining a healthy relationship with your children when working abroad can be challenging, but it’s definitely possible with some effort and planning. By staying in touch regularly, sending care packages, celebrating special events together, and being understanding and flexible, you can keep your bond strong no matter how far apart you may be physically.
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