Long Distance Parenting
Being a parent from a distance brings with it a mix of regret, pain, fear, and even resentment. It can feel overwhelming, as though you are physically small and powerless. At times, your ego takes over, convincing you that you are in control, even when you're not.
This inner voice – the one that is often full of fear – can be paralysing, making it difficult to take action. But even in the darkest moments, that quiet voice inside can help you shift your perspective. It can turn everything around, like turning night into day, reminding you that every experience, no matter how difficult, has a purpose. And often, that purpose is to help us grow as parents.
So, what does it mean to truly be a parent? A parent is someone who sees their child as an equal, someone who respects their child for who they are. A true parent doesn’t simply impose the "shoulds" passed down from their own parents, but listens, understands, and adapts. A parent is not raising a child to fix a marriage, heal a broken family, or continue family traditions. Instead, a parent is focused on nurturing the child themselves, without relying on others like grandparents to take over.
A parent is someone who doesn’t shout in anger or belittle their child. They listen and communicate, putting their own ego aside in favour of understanding. Being a parent doesn’t require grand gestures – sometimes it’s as simple as taking a deep breath and listening to that quiet voice inside. That voice will guide you and help you find your way back to a place of peace and light. Everything that happens in life has a lesson to teach us. Reflect on what would have happened if certain events hadn’t taken place.
As a long-distance parent, I’ve learned that the most important thing is staying connected with my child. It’s about finding creative ways to stay involved and make lasting memories, even if we’re far apart. We can still do projects together remotely, and our conversations, whether through Skype, Viber, or another platform, can be just as meaningful.
Always remind your children how much you love them. And as my dear friend, prenatal psychologist Olga Gouni, says: "Love is not like a slice of pizza, where you give a little bit here and a little bit there, leaving nothing behind. Love is endless, and it grows the more you give."
