Last week I was in New York for work and Annie initially had a rather hard time dealing with it. She’d only just started to get used to the idea that I was going to be working outside of the home and gone during the day when – boom – I was on a business trip and suddenly not home day or night. To cheer Annie up I decided that, on the first morning I was gone, I would make a “Good morning” video and text it to Heather to show Annie when she woke up. So, as I got ready that first morning I made a really simple video in my hotel room telling Annie that I hoped she’d have a great day, listened to her mom, and that I loved her. I hit “send” and ran out the door.
Later, Heather texted me that Annie LOVED the video and was over the moon with happiness. Since the video went over so I well I decided to send another video the next day, but this time I made things a little more exciting by filming it as I walked along the streets of New York. This video went over great, too, so for the rest of the trip I shot a video each morning and did my best to top the one from the previous day. I shot a video with cars zooming down 5th Avenue in the background, I filmed one in a beautiful city park, and I even filmed one on the subway!
The coolest part of all of this is that on the second morning a text popped up on my phone with a video on it. Annie, it turned out, was not satisfied with just receiving videos, and decided to send one back to me!
If you can’t see the video above click here.
Annie sent me a response video every morning, and I have to say they made my day every bit as much as mine made hers.
Technology really makes being away from home a lot easier than it used to. When I was a kid in the early Nineties my Dad lived in Australia for many months before we moved over to join him, and some days we didn’t even get to talk him on the phone. Now, though, you can trade videos, Face Time, and chat anytime you want thanks to cell phones. It’s pretty cool, but as much as I loved getting videos from Annie, I like being able to wish her a good morning in person a whole better.
Jenn says:
So ADORABLE with her stuffy little nose & I love James talking beside her. What a thoughtful daddy raising an equally thoughtful daughter!!
Pattie says:
Ah, technology. We do the exact same thing when my husband travels for work. Coraline is particularly fond of his hotel room tours.
And I’m with you — whenever my dad would travel for work, we’d just hope he was near a landline so we could say hi every now and then.
Mary Brock says:
Mike, post the videos you sent Annie!! I haven’t been to NYC in 4 years and would love to be reminded of how awesome it is!!
Glenda says:
Thank goodness for technology. You can take everyone with you even when they can’t come along. I love that!
Lanie says:
Technology is great but I am with you – being at home is better. Annie is adorable as always. Hope that you had a safe trip home!
nona says:
I didn’t know/remember that you lived in Australia. How old were you when you lived there? Was it a positive or negative experience for you?
Mike says:
I was fourteen at the time, Nona. I wasn’t crazy about the experience then because I went to a strict all boys school which was a big change from what I was used to in laid back California. Also, I was really into baseball, and this was before the Internet so I didn’t get to see a single game the whole season I was there. Now, though, I am very happy for the experience and love Australia. In fact, Heather and I went there for our honeymoon and I showed her my old school and the house we lived in!
Jess says:
You are such a fun dad. Love it. Annie = win (PLUS ADORABLE), as always
Karen says:
She just turned my heart right to pudding! You and Heather have created a family that just oozes love and empathy.
Paula says:
She will cherish these videos between the two of you as you age. I love to go back and read the letters I received from my grandmother when she and grandpa moved to Texas during the winter months.
Expat Mom says:
My dad traveled a lot for business and we used to make cassette tapes for him to take with him. Technology has definitely made life simpler!