Dear Mr. Dad: I’m a professional baseball player and during the season, I’m on the road a lot. I love my job, but I hate being away from my kids (ages 6, 9, and 13)—and I know they’re not happy about it either. How can I stay connected to them when I’m away?
A: What a great question. Besides missing their kids, a lot of sports pros who spend time away from home worry that they won’t be able to play an important role in their children’s lives or have an influence on how they grow up. But there’s an important difference between physical separation and emotional separation. Here are some great ways you can stay involved with your children while you’re on the road.
- Plan ahead. Before you go, let the kids know where you’re going and how long you’ll be gone (you probably have a copy of your season schedule stuck to your refrigerator, but talk to the kids before each trip anyway). The more details you tell them about the trip, the better. For your youngest two, hide a few small presents or love letters for them to find after you’ve left. And remind them that they can call or text.
- Keep in touch. As hard as a few days or weeks away may be for you, it’s even harder for your children. So try to be in touch every day. Texts and selfies are okay, but getting an actual postcard or, gulp, a letter with some silly drawings, will be a special treat for any child.
Read the rest of this story on Armin’s blog.
Photo by Niketh Vellanki on Unsplash
