When was the last time you called home?

Home. The place where you took your first steps, got your first dollar from the tooth fairy, fell off of your bike and scraped your knee, had your first boyfriend and maybe your first heartbreak. Home is a place of comfort, growth, and coming of age. You spend years with your parents and maybe some siblings, forging a bond that will last a lifetime. You grow up and move out, which was probably a sad time for your parents and younger siblings. College, work, or life takes you in your own direction and down your own path. You’ve most likely established a support network wherever you are as life brings you new relationships and challenges. It becomes so easy to get sucked into your own life and forget to keep up with those who have been there from the beginning.

As simple as it is to call home, sometimes we get caught up in our own lives and forget to make even a short call home to keep up with our loved ones, the grandparents we spent summers with, the parents we thought didn’t know anything, and the siblings we used to fight with then grew to admire. Staying connected to your loved ones can certainly have its advantages as you grow older. For example, the dynamic of the relationship between family members changes. Remember when your mom tried to give you advice and you thought she was crazy? As you’ve gotten older, you’ve probably realized she made more sense than you realized. How about when your dad tried to teach you the basics of saving money and basic maintenance on your car and you felt bored? You may have had a moment where you wished you had paid more attention then.

The truth is, we need our families and you never know how much they may need you. No person is a lone star. Don’t forget to keep in touch with the people who love you the most and know you the best. Keeping up with family can help you feel more grounded, supported, and connected. Sometimes it’s nice to get a break from the people we deal with every day and hear the voice of someone who really gets you. With all of the various methods of communication today, there’s really not a good excuse to not be able to keep in contact with family. If you aren’t able to call, you can always send a text, email, letter or postcard, video chat, etc. The best thing is, it’s super quick to take a few minutes and send a message to your family and let them know that you care and are thinking of them.

So, when was the last time you called home?