TTT- Stay in Touch

Cob here.  I was initially concerned about my idea for this week's toddler tip since it is about Skype and I thought that if you are reading an online blog, odds are you know all about Skype.  However, I learned that Swans are Nesting has a significant number of print subscribers.  Apparently, Mrs. Swan has hired a number of paperboys in select cities who hand deliver her posts.  On days when Mrs. Swan has a couple of ideas (or drinks) in her, these paperboys need to leave class and Mrs. Swan provides them with a forged note from their parents.  Suffice to say, it turns out that there are many of you who will be reading this who have not heard of Skype.  It also turns out that many of those same people don't know what a computer is, but maybe my description of Skype will encourage you to finally give in and purchase an Interweb Box Machine (IBM).¹

                Skype is a free program that you can download off the web (just google or Bing! It) that permits you to make video phone calls to anyone else who has Skype.  All you need to do is download the program, set up an account and you are good to go.  Wait… you also need a camera...  and a computer, print subscribers.  Also, the other person needs a Skype set up.

That's right.  The future has arrived.  Every movie about the future featured video phone calls, like Back to the Future (fun!) and 1984 (bad!).  My experience with Skype has been more like Back to the Future than 1984 and it is great for our family.  My parents are in Chicago, so they do not get to see Lukas very much.  So are my brother and sister.  My brother in law (Mrs. Swan's brother if you are scoring at home) is in California, along with our nephew STU! (that's how Luke says it).  The ability for them to see Lukas and for Lukas to see them routinely is invaluable.  No, it is not the same as seeing him in person, but anyone who asks my parents, or STU!, would say it is definitely worth it.

If you think your family members might be reluctant or if they are not good with computers ("The internet is a series of tubes!") you can kind of force Skype on them, assuming they already have a computer. Newegg.com, Amazon.com, and even Best Buy have deals on webcams, and sometimes you can get a set of two or three, so you can pick up cameras for everyone you care about and want to Skype with.  That is what we did with my parents (though they are more computer savvy than most); we bought a two pack of cameras and gave one to them for Christmas. 

Now those of you who already know about Skype have probably fallen asleep by this point.  To some of you, this is yesterday's news.  However, I do have some tips and uses for Skype that I would like to share with you.  First, if you are buying a new laptop, and can afford the laptop with the built in camera, do it.  Here's why.  Sometimes Lukas wants to show Nana and Pop-Pop a new toy in his room, he will sprint from the living room, where we are talking, to his room.  He will not wait for the computer set up to be moved.  With a built in webcam – you can chase him to his room, doing your best to keep him on camera.  Also, when you get to his room, you can simply put the computer down and continue recording; with an separately plugged in webcam the process is a bit more difficult.

Second, having family and friends on the computer can help you get stuff done around the house.  No, you can't turn on the Skype and go wash your car, or paint the fence, but hear me out.  Sometimes, when I have to make dinner and Mrs. Swan is working late or out with friends, it sure helps to have Nana and Pop-Pop available to talk and entertain Luke.  He loves it when Nana sings itsby bitsy spider, and let's be honest, the hand gestures (brought to you by Skype) make that song.  It's a little light on plot – SPOILER ALERT – he goes up the spout again.  Many times that song, or the wheels on the bus (much richer plot, IMO), buys me some time to make his dinner.  Also, Lukas is particularly cute at dinner, offering Nana and Pop-Pop (that is, the computer screen) bites of olives or strawberries and basically showing off by how well he can spoon yogurt onto his shirt.  So I don't think I am out of line in saying that Nana and Pop-Pop like babysitting a little bit while I am making dinner.

If you live more than a few hours from grandpa and grandma, Skype can really help share the magic moments of your life with those you wish could be there with you. So consider this post my ringing endorsement of Skype.  In the words of Chicago legend Ferris Bueller "[Skype], it is so choice.  If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."

[1]  Full Disclosure:  Most, if not all, of this first paragraph is a lie.  You're welcome!