????I know the feeling. I live interstate from my family so visits are rare. It’s particularly difficult at Christmas time, not so much birthdays. I also feel like the closeness is disappearing. But, it’s what I chose, so I just suck it up

Join a local group or organisation. Its very hard being away from family. Maybe do Skype as well.

I live close to the same distance away and sending photos, video chat and regular phone calls have saved us!

Not sure how you can feel better. Have you done Skype? It’s fairly easy, cheap and a perfect way to catch up (nearly) face to face. Maybe your family could come to you for visits? It’s hard, but you do learn to cope with the distance and loneliness

We live 2 1/2 hours away from our family. Love the internet as the little ones can skype

Hi sweetie, I know where you are coming from. I suffer severe chronic pain, we moved from mainland Australia to rural Tasmania as it was the only place we could afford to buy our own home in our 40’s. We took our 2 children with us, one has gone to the mainland and one has stayed here near us with his partner and 3 girls. Thank goodness.

I really miss my mum, my aunty and friends. It is hard to make friends here when you have a disability and can’t go visiting. I can’t walk the distance. So,

I joined facebook, started a Chronic Pain Support Group, and was asked to be an admin in another. That really helps, especially when you can help people and you are most welcome to join our groups. It really is good when you make friends, and skype eachother, it is like they are across the road or even sitting in my lounge room. If you would like to join, my email address is m.d.lindsay@bigpond.com.

Another way to help the loneliness is having your own small business. Something you can do from home, doesn’t take too much time out of your day if you don;t want that, or if you want to work all day, you can. Its so easy. We market Happiness and bring happiness into people’s lives. There is no selling involved, only marketing happiness and travel. We can get extremely cheap holidays, I am associated with one of the founders, to there is so much help. All you do is go to http://www.fouroceans.net/doodles. Have a look at the video, then at the bottom right, there are more video’s to look at. If you click the Join Now button, it takes you to another screen that says Start, click there and then you are taken to the page which shows you 3 different ways to sign up. There are many who just sign up for free and wait to see what happens, or like me join up as Happiest, ready to make a wonderful income. This is brand new in the world, we are currently up near the founder, so people are signing up as happy just to hold their spot, then upgrade when ready. Then your aim is to sign 2 more up, hopefully as Happiest, but any level will do.

This has taken my loneliness away, I am excited about something new. I remember seeing those tupperware ladies in their pink cars, thinking I would love that, how could I do that, but you are thousands and thousands below the top. Whereas here, you are near the top and getting in before the world launches.

Sweetie, I am giving you a couple of suggestions. Please email me if you have any questions to m.d.lindsay@bigpond.com.

Take care of yourself.
xxx dee

Both my family and my husband’s family live in Europe, so I understand completely. Luckily there is Skype indeed. And Facebook is a great way to keep in contact with them too. I’m sorry for how you feel. I hope you will find some way to feel better soon!

Hi Deborah, all the other wonderful moms have suggested all the ideas I had so by now I hope you have given skype a try, when set up with a camera it really is like having them there with you. Also you stated a rural move so I agree with the CWA idea as well. Wishing you well and hoping your family surprise you with a visit soon.

Cheers for advice ,so glad to be a part of this community,don’t feel so alone .

some excellent answers on keeping the communication lines open. Also joining the CWA is a great idea to meet people and learn new crafts etc. This will give you something to do for your self. Lots of mums don;t have parents around or have husbands working away, the key is to keep busy and meet people at school, etc and make new friends.

Do you have good internet? Facetime or Skype talks don’t cost much and might help you feel a lot better.

Snail Mail, Email, Facebook. Skype is great especially if you put a special time of day and week to talk, like a date! I do this with my family, they are in Qld, I am in Victoria.

While Skype is a solution I would suggest contacting the Country Woman’s Association. They have all sorts of resources and advice to help families that are isolated or facing difficulties.

Thank for replies ,Wil try work out Skype ,not Tec savy.Glad some understand

I know exactly how you feel all my family live in England but we speak on Skype every week without fail.
We post messages to each other on Facebook and post photos of the children to, it’s great even tho I don’t see them very often in person I still feel as tho I’m part of their lives with all the photos and messages we do.
Maybe you could start doing things like this to, I know it’s helped me out with the home sickness.

I would’ve thought with all the technology available like facetime, skype, video messaging via a smartphone or via email that remaining in touch wouldn’t be so hard. Have you conveyed this to your family? I know you can’t travel but what about them? Perhaps everyone needs make more of an effort?

My daughter in law’s parents live along distance away but she uses the online Skype camera so she & her daughter can chat & see them. Our granddaughter may only get to see them once or twice a year in the flesh but she still feels close to her other grandparents also.