this post was submitted on 28 Sep 2023
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Parenting

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Does your kid never return texts? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by FlyingSquid@lemmy.world to c/parenting@lemmy.world
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Assuming they're old enough to have a phone, obviously.

I have to send my daughter reminders to do things all the time because she's extremely forgetful. She's not annoyed by that, she's asked me to do it. And whenever I send her one, I get a read receipt and no reply. And I've told her a bunch of times that it's rude to not reply to texts like that, but she keeps doing it.

It's driving me crazy. She's a good kid, but why doesn't she return texts?!

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[–] FatherOfHoodoo@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Texts are less important than email, and less urgent than a phone call. It's ridiculous to think it's rude not to reply, especially for kids who probably get 5-10 texts an hour.

If something's important enough to you that you want a definite response eventually, send an email. If it requires immediate communication, call. Don't apply false rules of politeness just to get a response out of your kid!

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If it requires immediate communication, call.

Oh yeah, and really piss her off.

[–] Hanabie@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Is it important enough to risk pissing her off? If not, then why even worry about a reply.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world -2 points 1 year ago

It was a joke. Are you really not aware that kids today use their phones for everything but a phone?

[–] Eheran@lemmy.world -2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

So they want them to do this reminder thing, but don't even want to reply with a simple "thanks" and that is supposed to be acceptable? They get 5 to 10 text an hour? Who cares? "Thanks" takes about 1 second and the person that is helping you (based on your request) would like it - how is that even a question at that point?

[–] FatherOfHoodoo@lemmy.world 18 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Yes, they asked for a reminder, not a conversation. Parents have to choose their battles. Demanding non-standard behaviour in order to do a required parenting thing like helping your child remember stuff is a really stupid hill to die on!

[–] Hanabie@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I agree. I raised two sons, and the only thing that kept me sane through their puberty was pragmatism.

I'm not even sure I'd send reminder messages tbh. Learning to deal with the consequences of forgetting stuff is important, better to do it now, while the stakes are low. Imagine her forgetting to pay rent.

[–] redballooon@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

They got a phone, they can use the reminder app. If they want the reminder come from a parent for some comfort reason, that should be worth a thanks.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago

I didn't demand it. I said it's rude not to respond. It's not like I'm punishing her for not doing it.