I'm on the other side of the lake, but here's how we keep in touch with the kids when they're away at school:
--Cell phones with X number of minutes for the group. Although my daughter and I may talk for literally hours, we've never once gone over as a group. Thanks, taciturn men!
--The understanding that it's fine to call to talk a while, but it's also fine to call to ask a quick question--what was that movie where the guy does the thing? Yeah, that's it, thanks. Need anything? No? Okay, honey. Bye.
--Our Yahoo group which collects any messages intended for the whole family, from jokes to schedules to idle conversation like we might have over dinner. Here we discuss what courses to take from which professor, whether to go out with that guy who's actually kind of boring or try a party where you hardly know anybody, and so on. The Yahoo group includes a files section (phone and address books went there immediately, and later Christmas and birthday lists), photo albums (perfect for digital camera users), and a chat (which was slow but worked). All free.
--Instant messaging for the kid who never calls or writes. We were careful not to keep him for too long, but he seemed more willing to share his life that way than on the phone. (Although we were still the last to know about his girlfriend!)
--The students have lots of ways to keep in touch with friends who attend other colleges. I don't know if Facebook and LiveJournal are as huge in Canada as in the Great Lakes states, but it's how they know what's going on with their buddies at other schools.
I hope this is some help.
Maryn, glad to have her 'babies' home for the summer
