Kids Playing in Yard Hear Dad's Voice—But He's 'Hundreds of Miles Away'
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A dad has described the "overwhelming joy" he felt at finding a way to connect with his two young daughters while away with work.
John lives with his family in Youngsville, Los Angeles, but spends at least 14 days of the month working in South Texas and a further five days in South Louisiana.
Maintaining a good work-life balance can be difficult, particularly in the United States. One recent study ranked the top 20 countries in the world for the best work-life balance, and the U.S. did not make the cut. In fact, it came second-to-last in the poll of 60 different countries.
John has been able to come up with a workaround, though, using the Ring doorbell camera fitted outside his house. He told the company: "We use the Ring frequently to stay in touch, especially with my demanding work schedule that keeps me away for weeks at a time."
A video shared with Newsweek by Ring demonstrates how it works, with John surprising his daughters Layla, 22, and Mya, 5, while they are playing outside the house. "Seeing their joy and hearing their voices through the app brings me closer to them, even from hundreds of miles away," he said.
This use of the Ring doorbell cam has seen it evolve from being more than just a security device. "It's become a vital part of how we stay connected as a family.," John said.
Despite the distance between them, the camera has also allowed the family to create lasting memories that have not only helped John get through being away from them, but also created footage that will be cherished for years to come.
"My reaction to watching the video back was one of overwhelming joy. Layla's excitement is truly infectious, and it's a precious moment I wanted to share," John said. To him, the clip is a prime example of the "positive impact technology can have."
It s one of several examples highlighted by Newsweek in recent months.
Back in May, Brandon, a father of two from Port St. Lucie, Florida, was able to capture a similarly heartwarming moment involving his young kids.
Brandon was heading out to work when his doorbell cam captured the moment his kids called out "wait" before springing one last surprise on him before he left.
"I lost my dad earlier this year, and it made me realize how important it is to create as many happy memories as I can," he told Ring.
In June, a military father of two deployed overseas also found a special way to stay close to his kids despite being over 6,000 miles away.
Major Peter DeCrans was deployed to Kuwait for 10 months, but was able to stay connected to his wife and two young children, Zerick, 7, and Petroula, 5, back home in Forest Lake, Minnesota, by communicating through the Ring doorbell.
DeCrans told Ring: "With a simple tap at the doorbell, my family found an easy, meaningful way to stay connected, despite being thousands of miles apart."
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