Staying in Touch
My own mother is currently struggling with figuring out how to keep in touch with my sister, so I can relate to these problems. My advice is to find the method that works for your family and stick with it. If you're having trouble staying in touch with your child, I recommend trying multiple methods to raise the likelihood that at least one of them will work.
Call:
This can be tough because people with ASD aren't always the best about communicating on the phone, but if it works for your family, do it! It certainly can't hurt to try. You might think about setting up a time when you consistently call, that way you know your child will be free to talk.
Text:
Again, this method depends on the family. My own sister certainly seems to read texts more than she listens when she's on the phone, but when it comes to replying, we're lucky to get a simple response of 'k' (as in, okay). However, texting your child a reminder to call you, as my mother does successfully, might be the best of both worlds.
Email:
If your child is already in the habit of checking and replying to their own email, this can be a great option. If not, it's still a good complement to other methods.
Visit:
The key to this, of course, is planning and moderation. Visiting your child at campus is great (particularly if they want you to visit), but try to remember that your child is becoming more independent now, which may mean that they need more space than before. The moral of the story is to ask if your child wants you over before you go, and even if they do want you, don't go all the time.
Be creative!
In this day and age, keeping in touch is not limited to phones. Skype, instant messaging, texts, and Facebook are all great ways of keeping in touch. They're easy and accessible for anyone. Keeping in touch is all about doing what works for you and your family.
Ease Off
Your child is in college now, and on the road to independence. I encourage you to keep in touch with them, but, naturally, everything is best in moderation. Make sure you know where that line is for your family, and try not to cross it.
Call:
This can be tough because people with ASD aren't always the best about communicating on the phone, but if it works for your family, do it! It certainly can't hurt to try. You might think about setting up a time when you consistently call, that way you know your child will be free to talk.
Text:
Again, this method depends on the family. My own sister certainly seems to read texts more than she listens when she's on the phone, but when it comes to replying, we're lucky to get a simple response of 'k' (as in, okay). However, texting your child a reminder to call you, as my mother does successfully, might be the best of both worlds.
Email:
If your child is already in the habit of checking and replying to their own email, this can be a great option. If not, it's still a good complement to other methods.
Visit:
The key to this, of course, is planning and moderation. Visiting your child at campus is great (particularly if they want you to visit), but try to remember that your child is becoming more independent now, which may mean that they need more space than before. The moral of the story is to ask if your child wants you over before you go, and even if they do want you, don't go all the time.
Be creative!
In this day and age, keeping in touch is not limited to phones. Skype, instant messaging, texts, and Facebook are all great ways of keeping in touch. They're easy and accessible for anyone. Keeping in touch is all about doing what works for you and your family.
Ease Off
Your child is in college now, and on the road to independence. I encourage you to keep in touch with them, but, naturally, everything is best in moderation. Make sure you know where that line is for your family, and try not to cross it.
