This long-distance touch lamp makes the perfect gift for parents — here's how it keeps my family connected from thousands of miles away
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Filimin
- My parents and I live just over 1,000 miles away from each other, which is hard on all of us.
- I got a pair of Filimin long-distance touch lamps ($170) to help us stay connected on days when we're too busy or tired to call or text.
- When you tap the top, both pairs will light up in the same color — no matter how far you are. It's a small but sweet way to send love to each other without having to pick up the phone.
- Uncommon Goods recently released a new Mid-Century wooden version that may match your decor better.
My family and I are extremely close, despite the fact that they live in Florida and I now live in New York — approximately 1,022 miles away. I talk to my parents at least three times a week on the phone, and nearly every day via text.
In fact, as I write this piece, my dad is texting me to say he likes the new rug that I just bought, and maybe he'll send me a painting of theirs that I've been eyeing for our apartment if they decide they don't need it for their new house.
But there are some days when I don't feel like talking or texting — when the exhaustion of life in NYC has crept in and made itself at home, or when I have events after work that preclude me from an evening FaceTime session. When that's the case, my family and I always know we can rely on our long-distance touch lamps to say hi to each other, without actually saying anything.
Uncommon Goods
When you purchase a set, you can send one to a friend or family member and keep one for yourself. To set them up, you have to create an online account and connect the devices to one another via their serial numbers, then connect them to your WiFi. To use them, all you have to do is tap the top of your lamp, and the other half of the pair will light up in the other person's home in a cycle of colors. You can even connect more than two, and assign your family members specific colors so you know exactly who's tapping the lamp.
These long-distance touch lamps were the greatest gift I ever gave my parents (specifically my mom, for her birthday). I use them to let her know that I'm finally home after a long night, or that I'm thinking about them and too tired to call. They use it to say hi to me and my partner, and let us know they miss us.
As someone who constantly struggles with homesickness and missing my parents, I can honestly say that this gadget has been the single most helpful thing in dealing with the distance. When you're too tired to call or text or start a new conversation at the end of the night but still want to feel some sense of connection with family (or a long distance partner), this lamp is the perfect gift to give yourself and others.