But if a long-distance relationship with the child is fostered and nurtured, it is an investment in the future. The relationship years ahead will benefit from the time a parent takes to keep in touch and remain a major factor in the child's life. Our automatic listing of things we do for and with children is more suited for the parent who has daily contact with the child. Without daily contact, that list may appear unsatisfactory. Incarceration in jail or prison separates parents from children.
Inmates are women as well as men.
Business Trips Can Turn into Guilt Trips Research tells us that business trips are common requirements of work in industrialized countries. For parents, they often produce guilt about missing family events, abandoning everyday routines, and leaving loved ones behind. Long-distance Effects on Families Research has shown that separation affects family members' thinking and feeling, as well as their behavior. A sense of connectedness seems to be important during times that parent and child are apart. Both child and parent may suffer separation anxiety.