When You Cannot be with Those You Love on the Holidays

With travel and gasoline prices being expensive, sometimes we aren’t able to be with our loved ones as much as we’d like. Living far from one another, we communicate by different means, but nothing replaces being with those that we love. If, by situations out of your control, you have to be away from family during the holidays or other times, make the best of the situation until you can see each other again. Here are some tips on handling the time apart in a positive way.

Thank goodness for the telephone

Whether you have a cell, phone card and a pay phone, or land line home phone, telephones are a true saving grace during times apart. Make sure to call and talk to those important to you. What works for me is having unlimited long distance through my local phone company. It’s better than buying phone cards, and less costly than using a cell phone (been there, done those.) For around $45 per month, my family and I can talk as much as we want with one another. In some ways, we’re closer now than we were when I lived back in my hometown, near my parents. If your family members don’t unlimited long distance and are on a strict budget, send them re-loadable phone cards, so they can call you whenever they need to. Phone cards are great when you’re out of the country and not able to use a cellular phone, too. Just make sure that the phone card you buy is international call capable.

The internet

For those acquainted with the internet, webcams, internet phone or instant messaging are convenient and a wonderful way to keep in touch. Email each other photos, and other files, to keep them up to date on your life and world. Is there a beautiful sunset outside? Go take a photo of it, scan the photo into the computer and send it to them. They’ll appreciate that you thought of them. Send them the website of a restaurant or a attraction you visited.

When you go home to visit, teach those who aren’t computer savvy how to use one, so that they can reach you with ease. My mom is currently taking a free computer course at her local library to learn the basics of computer usage. The main things to know are how to give and send emails, how to scan and send a photo, open a video file, and how to search the internet. As their confidence increases, they will learn more functions later.

Care packages

Send each other little gifts in the mail. Gift certificates, something you’ve made, letters, books, or whatever else you think they’d like. Order something special online and have it sent as a gift to your family. The possibilities are endless. My parents sent me a comfort food package when I was sick and couldn’t get to the store. It meant so much to receive things I enjoyed as a child, through the mail. Mom even baked and sent a cake, which made it through really well. When I had calendars printed of my artwork, I sent my parents one, along with a portrait I did of their cat, printed on cards. We enjoy doing this, back and forth, to ease the pain of being apart and bring a smile to our faces.

Go ahead and be creative, as you find ways to be with those that you love, despite the miles between you. In time, you’ll see one another again, and when you do, the time together will be more precious than before. Life is too short to be out of touch with family and friends. We need to live our lives to the fullest. With a little loyalty and thought, making the most of the situation will get us through it, until we can be together again with our loved ones