When our oldest went to college for the first time, she called me nearly every day. I was not mad about it. I was thankful for hearing her voice so I could really know how she was doing (text messages aren’t so reliable).
No matter how busy I was or what I was in the middle of, I tried to separate myself from it and be fully present on the phone so I could really listen to her. It wasn’t always easy, but it was always worth it. It helped me stay connected to her and it allowed me to still “mom” even though she was far out of reach.
It didn’t take too many of these phone calls to realize that it was important to not only listen and be present during the conversation, but in the “goodbye” as well. A quick “Ok, bye” was not enough. I learned quickly how important it was to her to take my time when we said goodbye.
Don’t leave things unsaid.
Say, “I love you.”
“It’s nice to hear your voice.”
“I hope you have a great night.”
“I can’t wait to see you again.”
“I’m praying for you.”
“I’m here if you need me.”
Kim Perry Writes 
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