Travelers, share the ideas that keep your families together
Click here to go directly to a submission form
Thanks to your overwhelming response to my article "Keeping the Family Close, Even When You're Far Apart," in the January issue of Professional Speaker magazine, I'm thrilled to be writing a book that honors the ways families stay connected. I invite you to contribute your ideas for how you stay connected with loved ones while you're apart from each other.
To read Elaine's article "Keeping the Family Close, Even When You're Far Apart," click here
As a speaker, what's in it for you?
- Need Product? You can sell the book at the back of the room. Buy copies at a wholesale rate when your ideas are included. You make the profit from the sale!
- Be a published author - Being part of a nationally published work is a great way to establish credibility as "being published" at someone else's expense.
- It's easy to participate - As you see from the samples, the ideas I'm looking for are short and sweet. No need to write a long story, just share what's on your mind.
- More bonding with your family - Submit your ideas together, as a family. You can show your family how their ideas are now "famous!"
I'm looking for short (100 words or less), real life experiences of what your family does to stay close when circumstances take you away from each other. Ideas may range from a special variation on "phoning home", to whisking your family away with you without telling them first! Or maybe you have a tradition established when you are home that let's you spend special time together. Ideas should be original and spark readers to think of ways they could use what you share.
Ideas might include how to stay connected when:
- You travel away on business
- You're speaking on the road
- You send a son or daughter off to college
- You live apart in joint custody arrangements
- The kids are away at camp, exchange students, etc.
- Health issues or challenges of life separate you for a while
4 Sample Ideas to get you started:
When traveling: No matter where the job takes you, send a postcard home of the place where you are (kids love to get mail). What to do with them? We have a large map on the family room wall. We tape the postcards around the map and tie a string from the card to the location on the map. This encourages us to talk about the trip together and let's my son learn about new places.
Bruce Hoekstra, Fujitu PC - "My son and I enjoy playing the game of Battleship together. I created a copy of the game grid on paper and I take some with me when I travel. At night, when I call home, he and I play Battleship with the grids and pencil over the phone!" Could your favorite game be put on paper?
Sending a child off to College: I got this one from a friend of mine and I love it. - "Buy one of the car decals with the name of the college when you visit the college bookstore. Put it in the rear window of your car. Why is this so special? Whenever you look in your rearview mirror, you'll read the decal and it will remind you of your child - it makes me smile."
Great for a younger child: Write a letter to your child on a piece of cardboard that is precut into puzzle pieces. After writing the letter, take the "puzzle" apart and mail the pieces. "My Dad did this when I was at summer camp. I loved putting the puzzle together before I could read his letter!"
See how easy?
You may submit more than 1 idea whether it's from your household or the home of a friend or family member. Each idea used will include your name, and if you like, your email address.
Please submit ideas by:
- Email: click here to go directly to a submission form
- Regular mail: Connections book, 6460 W. 98th Court, Westminster, CO 80021
- Phone: 303-430-0592 or toll free at 866-780-0460 (or if you just have questions)
Thanks for considering this project to be a worthwhile one! Please submit your ideas by October 31st.
Elaine Dumler
President, education and training
Contact Elaine | 6460 W. 98th Court, Westminster, CO 80021
phone: 303-430-0592
fax: 303-430-7679
elaine@elainedumler.com