Why I Created FunFaceTime

2024 was the most challenging year of my life. To explain why, I need to take you back a few years. I got married young and was blessed with a daughter, but after several years, my first marriage ended in divorce. Eventually, I found love again and remarried. My new wife brought a wonderful stepdaughter into my life, and together, we decided to relocate to Tennessee—a move that was as exciting as it was daunting

Relocating meant we needed a plan to ensure I could maintain the same amount of time with my biological daughter. This was incredibly important to me. My ex-wife and I met to discuss the logistics of co-parenting across state lines. With the help of our parenting coordinator, we developed a plan that worked seamlessly for two years. I felt grateful for the stability it provided my daughter and our blended family.

Then, everything changed in January 2024. My ex-wife unilaterally decided to withhold access to my daughter. Overnight, I went from being an involved father to being completely shut out. I wasn’t allowed to visit her, and she couldn’t visit me. My daughter missed her family here—her friends, her stepsister, and the life we had worked so hard to build together. Every connection between her and our side of the family was severed.

As a father, I was heartbroken. I did everything in my power to fix the situation. I pleaded with my ex-wife. I reached out to our parenting coordinator, an attorney, and even the court system. I asked our child’s therapist for guidance. But for nine agonizing months, there was no resolution. No way forward.

In that time, I lost something precious: my connection with my daughter. She began to withdraw—not just from me but from everyone in my life. Our once-close bond became unfamiliar. She grew quiet and distant, learning not to bring up her struggles. Even our FaceTime conversations became strained, filled with short, vague responses like “I don’t know,” “Not much,” or “Nothing really.”

The good news is that no amount of alienation can erase love. When visitation was finally restored, we worked hard to rebuild our relationship. But the experience left a lasting mark on me. I realized how fragile connections can be, especially when physical distance and conflict get in the way. I never wanted to be in that position again—where I felt like I didn’t know my daughter and she didn’t know me.

That’s what led me to create FunFaceTime. I wanted a better way for parents and children to connect, even when life makes it hard. FaceTime and phone calls are wonderful tools, but they’re often limited to surface-level exchanges. I wanted something deeper, something that could foster meaningful conversations and strengthen bonds, whether a child is away for two weeks, two months, or even two years.

FunFaceTime is designed for anyone who wants to stay connected despite the challenges of distance. It’s for parents separated from their children due to divorce, military service, or work. It’s for grandparents looking to bond with their grandchildren in a fun, engaging way. It’s for anyone who values connection and wants to make it stronger.

Our slogan is simple: “Stay connected when disconnected.” Because at the end of the day, family and relationships are everything.

James