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| Cheers to #Facetime |
I was traveling for work this week, leaving our two younger boys in the most capable hands of my husband. It’s been several months since I last traveled and even longer since I was away for more than a night. And three nights away seemed an eternity to our ten-year-old.
Let me just share the day by day texts, #Facetime chats, and how he ended up joining one of my dinners.
First Night Away:
iMessage
Sunday 7:55 p.m.
Missed Facetime call
Me: Love you. Still at dinner.
Christian: I miss you so much (multiple emoticons crying, frowning x12)
Me: Miss you too baby. Did you see what I left on your bed?
Christian: Yes I love it. Also I am pooping so please don’t text me right now I will text you when I get done
A few minutes later ….
Christian: Hi mom I miss u so much and I love it (a deck of cards) and dad made meatloaf. PS this is Pete also here’s a joke. This isn’t to u just a joke. U piece of (insert pile of poop emoticon here). Lol
Sunday 10:08 p.m.
Me: I love you too sweet dreams
Monday 6:54 a.m.
Christian: Hi
Monday 10:58 a.m.
Me: Love you Sidebar: Christian’s basketball team won, but he was disappointed and sad, wishing to play more time on the court…and missing me.
Facetime call accepted Monday 8:30 pm (short call…tears, hiding in pillow)
Monday 9:03 pm
Me: Don’t let anyone take your power away. Believe in yourself. I believe in you and I love you. You are exactly who you are meant to be in this moment and you will keep doing even more J
Monday 10:09 p.m.
Christian: Love u 4 every day of my life
Sidebar: Made me cry when I read it.
Tuesday 6:25 a.m.
Me: Now u making me cry.
Fast forward to my last night away, dining with colleagues. I saw a couple of missed Facetime calls, but I hadn’t had a chance to call home.
Now, I’m not really superstitious, but I do believe sometimes things happen for a reason. As I sat around a lovely table, full of conversations, a nice glass of wine, and great colleagues, something unexpected happened. The lights went out. They came back on, then off, then on, then off for good. The servers quickly brought out candles and flashlights and the natural flow of conversation was abruptly interrupted. Just as I was looking around at the dark, yet charming candlelit atmosphere, I saw a silent glow coming from inside my evening bag. It was Christian trying to Facetime me . . . for about the 4th time in an hour.
It didn’t take me any time at all to decide to take his call. But what happened next was as much a surprise as the unexpected blackout.
Conversations were happening in every direction, across the table, and across the room, and suddenly a new comer. He’d arrived fashionably late, joined by one of the biggest innovations for working parents. Facetime does exactly what it says. You get face time with your kids anywhere in the world. And the travel miles don’t seem so far away, and the anxiety usually subsides and they are able to sleep after a goodnight talk and quick nighttime prayer.
Tonight, I’d say we broke the travel barrier in that restaurant and took Facetime to a new level. It started out as an impromptu hand off to a colleague on my left…and turned into 1:1 conversations between one 10-year-old and six individual business leaders. As the phone made it’s way around the table, he answered questions about homework, missing his mom, advice for dads (he had none BTW), and sports.
As the last person at the table handed him back to me, I was waiting with a smile. Great friends and colleagues sharing family time with us…telling my son what a great mom I was and encouraging him for just about everything in life. All in a matter of a few stolen moments.
You’ve guessed by now who came to dinner. My son, already networking and using technology like a pro…a future captain of industry…but today just a sweet kid missing his mom. Regardless, thankful to my indulgent colleagues for adding a +1 to dinner, turning a surprise blackout into one of those moments to be seized, embraced and treasured…#thanksstevejobs #I love Facetime. We are a #modernfamily too!
M