Ready for some super fun ways to keep in touch with your friends and family even when distance separates? In August, my {Becky‘s} parents and two youngest siblings hopped on a plane and moved to Albania! Since then, we have been trying to navigate the difficult world of a “long distance relationship”. Whether your family lives across the globe (like mine), or just on the other side of town, it can be a real challenge to keep in touch! Here are some creative ways we have found to stay involved in each other’s lives. Thanks Gold Peak Coffee {our sponsor} for inspiring this post!
photo credit: victosha/dollarphotoclub.com
Creative Ways to Keep in Touch
- Have a Coffee Date – coffee is part of my daily routine, and nothing makes it sweeter than using that time to catch up with my parents. Each of us grabs a cup of coffee before the call, I have recently discovered Gold Peak Coffee – just the smell of it in the morning feels like being home, no matter where you’re at! These dates are simple – we get a cup of coffee, grab some scones, and pick up the phone to chat (the seven hour time difference hasn’t phased us yet, it’s all about perspective!).
- Video Chat Movie Night – turn on your favorite video chat service, then choose a movie and try to start it at the same time. Then, enjoy laughing (or crying) at the same moments, watching their reaction to the jump scenes, and chatting about the movie afterwards!
- Read Aloud – this can be done “real time” or recorded for later use. My brother and sister really enjoy having me read stories to them still, whether it’s a short picture book or reading a chapter at a time together. The seven hour time distance makes it hard for me to always “be there” for bedtime, so I sometimes video or audio record myself reading a story and send the file their way! This is also one Grandparents could do with their grandkids! Here are a few book ideas:
- Shared Craft – search Pinterest for an activity or craft that looks fun! Both of you can make it on your own time, then share your results – either through mail, in person the next time you see them, or show them over a video chat! Some of our favorite activities to do together have been Homemade Gifts and some of these Shaving Cream Art ideas!
- Bake Together – choose a new recipe to try out, or go with an old favorite, like these Banana Muffins. Set up the webcam in your kitchen (away from anything that may spill!), and work through the recipe together. Taste-testing whatever you make along the way is a must!
- Create a Smash Book – this is a fun long-term idea, and one that can be shared the next time you are face-to-face. During time separated, both of you can keep a Smash Book to record pictures, memories, journal entries, children’s artwork, etc. Next time you see each other, bring the Smash Book along to help remind you of things you want to share – funny stories, exciting adventures, or days that you missed each other and were looking forward to upcoming family time.
Whether relationships are far away or right next door, it is so important to take the time and show those people in your life how much you care about them. My ultimate favorite way to do this is over a warm, homey cup of coffee and Gold Peak Coffee (formerly marketed as Georgia Coffee), whether I’m sitting right next to them or through video chatting, we can use coffee as our excuse to catch up. And something about sipping a good cup of coffee while chatting with friends creates a conversation with so much more depth – it’s the “magic” of Gold Peak Coffee.
How do you make time for those “long distance” people in your life? And what are your favorite ways to stay connected?
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf Gold Peak Coffee. All opinions and commentary are my own.
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Birute EFE says
What a lovely post. I will use some of the ideas
Lauren Tamm says
I love this! As a military family we are always looking for creative ways to stay in touch with our family back in the states. We are living in Japan now…so about as far away as you can get. These are also really great ideas for surviving the holidays far from home. I’m about to write a post on that, so I may need to link back to this. I think my readers would love it.
Lauren
Alida says
Thanks Lauren for your kind words! Living that far from family is hard!
And we’d be honored if you linked back to us – thanks!