When Lauren Kaelin and Sophia Fraioli published the website When Parents Text, they soon found they struck a chord of recognition with other people trying to decipher messages from parents new to texting. They received hundreds of emails a day containing hilarious quotes of actual text messages.
Parents and grandparents think technology is a great way to stay in touch with their children. The problems begin when the communication isn’t what it was meant to be.
Filled with humorous examples so funny they could never be made up, the book When Parents Text, So Much Said…So Little Understood allows us a peek into the world of communications gone awry. Young adults and teenagers who think their parents are the most inept at texting may be happy to find they’re not alone. Parents and grandparents will laugh at the text messages quoted in this book when they see similarities to their own texts.
Funny Quotes of Text Messages from Mom and Dad
Mom: Is pepperoni coming over?
Mom: I mean Melanie.
Dad: Look how fast im texting!
Mom: Stop at dollar store on way home and pick up lunch maggots.
Me: Lunch maggots?
Mom: Baffles.
Mom: Baggies.
Mom: Spell check is not helping me.
Emoticons for Parents Who Text
Emoticons have rapidly evolved with the entry of baby boomers into the world of texting. In this book readers meet Bowtie Man ;-)8 who doesn’t do anything wrong. Then there is Dimple Chin Man : -)3 something only a person over thirty would invent. Anyone who sleeps with a person who snores might find Breathe Right smiley :z) useful. The back of the book includes a helpful and funny glossary of parental abbreviations and emoticons.
Texting with Pictures Can be Tricky
Sending pictures with text requires another more advanced skill set than simply learning the keyboard. Some parents take a bit longer than others to master the technique. Lauren and Sophia generously provide examples of pictures they’ve received from their parents.
At times the picture is the funniest part of the text message. For example, in one message the daughter texts her mom telling her she’s lost and asking for directions. Ten minutes later Mom sends her a picture of a map. There is also a picture of Grandma playing a racing video game, and a picture of a half-eaten banana taken while Dad was learning to send pics.
Sage Parental Wisdom Via Text Message
In the age of technology, parental advice doesn’t always have to be given face to face or sitting around the kitchen table. Text messages can show how deeply concerned parents are about their children. Here are some samples of text message advice found in the book.
Dad: Remember cool kids play water pong.
Dad: I will deal with your sassy behavior when I get home. Meanwhile, have some fiber.
Mom: Have a great trip. Wish we were going. Stay away from box wine.
In addition to laughs, this book carries a joyful message. In spite of a generation gap, a digital divide, and communication chaos, families still want to stay in touch and convey how much they care about each other. Parents want to understand their children, and they want to be part of their world. One text on page 261 from Mom sums it up nicely:
Mom: Love you exclamation point.
Sources:
- Kaelin, Lauren and Fraioli, Sophia, When Parents Text, So Much Said…So Little Understood, Workman Publishing, NY, 2011, ISBN 9780761166047
- NPR interview with the authors dated August 16, 2011.
Suzanne Pitner - Suzanne Pitner is a teacher and published writer. A member of RWA and YARWA, she writes fiction as Suzanne Lilly.
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