It is no exaggeration to state that since we started having the ability to Face Time with each other while my husband is on shift, communication has gotten MUCH better. Let me count down at least 10 reasons:
1. He can see what I am doing. i.e. I can’t be multi-tasking returning emails, checking mail and making a snack at the same time I am talking to him. It’s rude to do that while you are having a face-to-face conversation with someone!
2. Helps with disciplining the kids together. If we’ve had an “issue” pop up while Daddy’s at the station. You know like the note you get from the teacher saying your son needs to practice “keeping his hands to himself”. We can address it on the spot, together, with a quick face time to Daddy sometime that evening. They can see Daddy means business when they look him in the eye.
3. We get to see what his job is like! We’ve been on face time together and the tones drop and he just carries us with him. So we see live video of sliding down the pole, the lights and sirens, riding along in the truck, etc. (Disclaimer: he was not interacting with us! We simply sat on the dashboard and rode along)
4. You can see each other’s environments. If I’m relaxed on the couch in a quiet room, he can have a way different conversation with me than if we’re all sitting at a noisy dinner table together. and vice versa with him. If he’s in the bunk versus the day room, there are different things I might share.
5. Body Language. It’s obvious. How many times has your man gone silent on the other end and you are like “what is he thinking????” Now I just look for the furrowed brow, rolling eyes or pursed lips.
6. My 5 year old knows how to dial. She’ll sneak away with my iPhone while I’m busy and chat with Daddy. So he gets a “check in” from the family while I’m in the busy 5 pm dinner prep / dash in/out the door hour.
7. Laughter. It’s not facetime if someone doesn’t photo bomb the view with an extreme close up, gross out eye rolls or bunny ears on an unknowing suspect.
8. Show and Tell. “Daddy Look at this!” I can button. Look at my art. Watch me do this trick. Look what we made together. All activities we’ve shared via Facetime. Our daughter has been asked Daddy to show her that he took her picture into the firehouse and hung it on his locker door. She’s like the inspector.
8. 
9. Group conversations. They aren’t so annoying on the phone when you can see whose mouth is moving and talking!
10. Smiling. Saying the words “Good bye, I love you, Be safe” is second place when you can see each other smile.
PS: In case you don’t know, Face Time is like living during The Jetsons. Press a button on your iPhone and you are connected via iPhone video call almost instantaneously. We are so lucky to be living in these times!
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Trina
We use ooVoo the same way. Daddy “eats” dinner with us, goes to P-T conferences, opens presents on Christmas, all through ooVoo. Love technology!