<p>We hear from D once or twice a week, almost always by text. When she was a freshman, we tried to establish once-a-week Skype dates, but those were too formal for us, and especially for her. I think it was the whole “making a date” aspect of it that she disliked; it felt like since we’d all gone to the trouble of clearing our calendars we’d better have important stuff to say, and lots of it. </p>
<p>We’ve found that quick, spontaneous contact works better for us, and we’ve also found that communication is more frequent and more pleasant if we let her take the lead as to mode and timing. Besides texting, we also have the occasional phone call usually prompted by a text received. Recently she texted me that she and her friends had just won the Cake Contest, whereupon I immediately called to get the lowdown. It was a fun, unplanned, 5-minute conversation – perfect for us. </p>
<p>We do still Skype once or twice a semester, but honestly, it feels a bit forced. For us, it’s not a good venue for heart-to-hearts; those must be in person.</p>