Let’s face facts: Life is hectic and only gets busier. It is becoming increasingly difficult for parents to maintain contact with their children.

Parents struggle to be a better parent when communication is poor. There is hope! Here are three options to help you. “stay connected”Get to know your children before they get too big.

* Don’t expect your kids to remember to call you once they arrive at their friend’s house or other destination. You should instead rely on state of the art technology like IRIS (immediate response information system). TechRadium’s patented system that can send messages in multiple languages automatically delivers information on a cell phone or to a pager, e-mail, or PDA. You can reach your children from anywhere, at any time. Your kids want cell phones. You now have an argument why you should get one.

* Establish some routine. Families can have fun with routines such as walking the dog and the kids to the park every Saturday or stopping by the donut shop on Sunday mornings. Talking to your children about school, friends, or other interests is a great way to make the most of the time you spend together on a walk or in the car. Talking at the dinner table with kids these days is not possible due to their involvement in sports or other activities. Make sure you have some time for conversation that everyone can enjoy at least once per week.

* Be “hip”When it comes to holidays or other occasions. You are too busy to remember important dates Do you ever forget important dates or miss your kids’ birthdays because of too many things? You might need to remember dates for ballet class, soccer games or band practice. Don’t be confused! Are you confused? You can join for free, and with your interactive calendar that includes e-mail reminders, it will be impossible to forget any important date ever again. You’ll be able even to impress them on the most unusual occasions.

Any of these tips will show your children you care. This is how you can stay in touch with your children.

Visit www.iris.org for more information and to learn how you can stay connected. www.useiris.com.