Many parents working abroad don’t have enough time, chances, and opportunity to guide personally there growing children in the Philippines. Long-distance relationships between parents and children are usual scenarios of overseas workers. Efren Elane, a life coach explained the importance of parental care to their growing children even if they are working abroad.
Pray for them. The best way is to pray for the children. Even if parents are away, their dreams, and hopes for their children are very important. Prayers can move mountains.
Stay frequently connected especially on their concerns. Communication is the key. Always ask about their day. When they want to tell something, do not ignore but listen to them. Try understanding their concerns, and give them proper advising when they encounter problems.
Leave them with relatives or friends whose family has family life they are willing to embrace. Parents will be far away from their true home, away from their children. Let other relatives live with your children to protect them from any harm. Guidance from guardians is still important.
Encourage them to have a frequent family life with their foster family. Let them engage and live with other relatives. Let them feel the spirit of family
Encourage them to choose morally upright and responsible friends. Friends are important for self-growth. But give them proper advice to choose the best kind of friends that will uplift them and will also teach them what is right and what is wrong.
Know their friends and their friends’ parents, if possible. Befriend them.
Encourage them to invite their friends to meet up in their foster family’s home. This is in the presence of the family’s morally trustworthy and being a responsible adult.
Remind them frequently about faith and morals. You are their parents, not their friends. Guide them and lead them in the right way.
Give them reasonable rules and follow them through. Example: text you when they are at home already. This will give them a sense of following you as their parents. Don’t be too strict. Always allow them to speak and explain.
Give them a little less than enough money so that they will learn to make wise choices on where to allocate their scarce resources. Always remember, enough is enough. Give them enough amount and what is only needed. Money and gadgets won’t replace care and love. Your presence is important to them.
