It’s a pretty common scenario in the Philippines – a father or a mother chooses to leave the country behind to pursue greener pastures abroad, hoping to ensure a brighter future for the family.
This necessary sacrifice usually comes with the price. With a full-time job in a foreign country, it is inevitable that the departing parent will miss out on a lot of important family events during his or her absence. This includes not being present during birthdays, graduations, Christmases and many other occasions and life events – including the growing up years of their children.
As an OFW, you should remember that being a good parent not only means providing for their temporal needs. It’s also crucial that you maintain quality relationship with your children while you are away. See below post some pointers to an Effective Parenthood Tips
Here are several ideas you can consider as you strive to achieve that emotional bond with your children:
1) Explain your reasons for leaving.
Before your departure, take the time to sit down with your children and explain the reasons why you are leaving. Express how you feel about temporarily being separated from them. Answer their questions patiently. Share your goals with them. Ask them to take care of their siblings and your spouse. Establishing trust and understanding ahead of time will help guarantee a stronger relationship.
2) Get in touch often.
And by getting in touch, we don’t exclusively mean making those expensive phone calls too often. Instead, you can save money and still enjoy quality communication with your children by taking advantage of modern technology.
Check with your kids on Facebook. This is an easy way to stay updated with their activities. Leave a short comment on their pictures. Send a sweet message when they excel academically or in any other endeavors. You’ll be best buddies with your children in no time.
3) Remember special occasions.
Do not forget to contact them during special occasions. Give them a call. Send them gifts if possible. These simple gestures will allow you to express your love and show how proud you are about them.
4) Seek the help of your spouse or your relatives.
Even after doing these things, the truth remains that you are still away from home and so you’ll never really see what’s happening with their lives. Ask the help of your spouse or a relative so you can still monitor your children. Require them to inform you about any problems your kids may be having.
5) Spend quality time with them when you’re home.
During vacations, ensure that you spend quality time with your children. Take time for family activities to make your stay fun and memorable. Also, try to spend one-on-one date time with each of your child and ask them what they want to do or where they want to go. These dates can be a perfect opportunity to catch up with them and have private conversations as well.
These 5 pointers will surely help you be an effective parent even while working abroad.