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The Involved Dad
5 Commandments for Today's Family Man
By Gregory Keer
3. You Shall Establish a Rhythm
Parenting is like exercise. If you don't jog regularly, your muscles forget where they should be and cause you pain. Give yourself a few assignments per day that involve helping your kids and you will get in their daily rhythm. Strive to have moments with them morning, noon and night. Try serving breakfast each day or every other day, driving them to or from school regularly and reading to them or checking their homework each night. 
I'm not a morning person, but I started making the occasional lunch for my oldest son. It's small stuff, but I do it in the morning and ask him later how he liked the lunch. In this way, I stay in his rhythm in the morning, the afternoon (when he's eating it) and at night.
If you leave before the kids go to school, put a note in their lunch or call them from work before they go. Phone calls do not replace being there, but they can certainly keep you more in the loop than if you disappear from their lives for the day. You can also e-mail them in the afternoon while they're doing homework.
4. You Shall Hug a Lot