As we continue to make new friends, how do we find time to keep in touch with old friends?
Well, I'll share a few tips I observed from Elizabeth:
1. She has a note book dedicated to record birthdays. Every week she checks her records on Sunday to post sms reminder in her hand phone. At 5am on the birthday of let's say Sasha, the alarm would ring and Elizabeth would send off her pre-typed birthday sms for Sasha for that year.
2. She makes a point of returning to our adopted hometown at least once a year to visit and meet up with her old school friends. They would arrange to have a group meeting in the local mall for a meal or a bowling session. Everyone could come for part or whole of the activity.
3. I recycle all kinds of things in my home. Since we live in the affluent part of town, some of the items that pass through my hands are practically brand new. If any item, be it clothing or toy or stationery, reminds her of a friend(2), she would appropriate it for that friend(2) Later she would make arrangement for it to be passed from one friend(1)'s cousin to that friend (1) onto friend(2). Friend (1) lives two hundred miles away but meets her cousin often. The cousin studies in Elizabeth's present school.
4. She keeps in touch with whoever that writes to her, be it in Facebook, e-mail, or snail mail. I know it sound unreal, as teenagers are notoriously busy. Even if she could access e-mail once a week, or write long hand only once a month, she persists.
By now, we have left our beloved town at least five years. The last reunion Elizabeth attended was a farewell dinner to send off her good friend to College a few thousand miles away. Fourteen girls attended. I think all my effort in helping my daughter to keep her child hood friends was well worth it.
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