As I was searching for creative ways to celebrate the holidays, I came across this practical list by a family law attorney, Sharyn T. Sooho on www.divorcenet.com and felt like it was worthy of passing on:

1. Plan Ahead

Develop a parenting schedule before the holidays.

Avoid scheduling the children for dinner with Dad at noon and a second turkey dinner a few hours later with Mom. Instead, arrange for Dad to spend the entire day with the children in all odd-numbered years, and have Mom spend the holiday with them in all even-numbered years.

2. Keep Your Word

Stick to the schedule. Arrive on time and drop off the children on time.

3. Keep in Touch

If the children are not with you for the holidays, call them, and be sure to send cards or email. Consider celebrating the holiday or birthday before or after the actual day. Children love parties and gifts any time – nothing fancy – but something special you create just for them.

4. Let the Children Keep in Touch

If the children spend the holiday with you, let them speak with the other parent. Give the children any cards and email from the other parent, and read the messages to young children who cannot read. If the children are too young to call, help them make or receive a call, and let them have a quiet moment to speak with the other parent. Make sure to avoid planning an exciting activity like gift-opening… (More)

No matter how a person comes to be in a long distance parenting situation, by choice or by circumstance, one thing remains:  Being away from a child is hard!  Having a support system helps and this site is a great place to start.  It has helped me to understand that I am absolutely not alone in being a long distance mom.  I’ve also recently joined a local support group for parents in similar situations.  It is refreshing to share experiences with other moms who don’t look at me funny when I say my daughter lives in another state.  It is understood that every situation is different and we don’t judge.  I highly recommend connecting with other long distance parents in whatever way works for you:  online, in person, or both.

~Holly 

As a result of travel costs being higher on that particular weekend, I was unable to visit my daughter on her birthday this year.  I was able to go a few weeks later and bring presents but I wanted to do something extra special for her on that day.  I arranged to have balloons delivered to her school.  I did not tell her in advance about the surprise.  This was such a big hit with her that I’ve already decided to make it a birthday tradition!  

If anyone has creative ideas for celebrating birthdays, holidays, or any other special day, please let us know! 

~Holly

At some point of every day I find myself standing in my daughter’s room and wishing she were here.

As some of you may know, my son, who was at a distance for a few years, moved to live with me in December. It’s now June and it’s time for him to head to his dad’s for summer vacation. This morning as me, him and my step daughter were eating breakfast, I mentioned that she would not be at our house tomorrow – she would be at her mom’s – so this is the last time they will see each other for a couple of months. (all of this blended family scheduling goodness!)

Emma: “You won’t be here for two months?!”
Ethan: “Nope.”
Me: “Yeah… so make sure you guys say goodbye this morning.. ok? You won’t see each other for two months.”
Ethan: “Well.. maybe not two months.”
Me: “… ”
Ethan: “… there is that thing that starts with an N… ”
Me: “OH! Netmeeting! Of course! You guys can definitely see each other over the internet and do netmeeting. That’s right!”
(le duh!)
Emma: “Yeah.. and we can play games!”

And both kids just went right on as if everything was just normal. And everything WAS normal. And it was then that I realized that he and she have adapted to this whole distance family thing. They are cool with it and they are adept at keeping those relationships alive. I taught them that. What a proud moment in distance parenting.