I suddenly had to adjust from a hands-on dad who worked from home to seeing my kiddos 30% of the time. As it was incredibly hard for me, I wondered what my kids were feeling. I was overwhelmed at the thought of not being accessible for them.
What felt most important at the time was letting them know and feel my love. This still holds true and always will.
They were 4 and 2. I knew I wanted something to help us bridge the new gap in our lives, simple enough for them to use, and respectful to their mom's boundaries. I recognize each dynamic can be unique, but hopefully you find these options useful:
Good Morning Videos - Every morning I would try to record a video of myself and send it to their mom. Stay up to date with school activities and wish them the best on a test. Share what the weather will be like that day. Mention what you'll be doing that day. Make them feel loved.
Because of how involved the other parent may need to be(younger children), this option may not last long.
Lovebox - This little device is awesome and has been most effective at meeting my needs and still use it every day. I send a photo or drawing with a message directly on it and the heart on the face of the box will spin. When they remove the lid they can view the screen containing the message. I make it a point to send good morning, midday/after school, and a good night messages. Include current events, similar to the morning videos. My kiddos can spin the heart on their end and it'll flood my phone screen with hearts. Let me tell you, being on the receiving end of those hearts is the best.
Be mindful that the heart does not stop until the message is viewed. So if the other parent is home all day while the kiddos are at school and you send a message, there's a chance they may not enjoy it. Be respectful and be grateful for their part in this connection you get to have. There's no intentional sound other than the small motor that spins the heart. The good news is you can preset a time to have the message delivered! I schedule one to be delivered on their way home from school while I'm at work.
They offer premade images, gifs, and messages that you can send. I often doodle something outside of the app and import it as an image. You can not import gifs though.
Lovebox is not paying me anything to mention them. I found it to be so useful that I am happy to share my experience with it. In fact, so useful, I reached out to them and the very kind Flore, of the Lovebox team, created a unique discount code for me to share. For 10% off sitewide enter code: BLENDB10
Mail Letters - Nothing could compare to receiving mail when you're a kid. Imagine how special receiving something from a parent feels. I don't recommend jumping on Amazon and showering them with gifts. That's not the love you want them to feel from you. Rather, write letters, make paintings, send photos. My love language is acts of service, so I thoroughly enjoy crafting my kiddos something from the heart.
There are many ways to convey your love. Always seek to connect and find a way that doesn't impose on the other parents' time with your children, but shower them with it. Don't leave any room for your children to question how you feel about them.