SOLC–Day 25
I can’t imagine how it was to send kids off to college and into their adult lives in the days before technology. I love the instant check-ins and links that technology offers. When my son started college, Facebook was still relatively popular in his age group. I became a full-out Facebook stalker. Each night I’d check his page. Had he made a friend? Ohhhh! Look! Two new friends–they look so nice! I laughed at myself but I kept on doing it. I found it reassuring (thankfully!) and it eased the sting of his absence. I’d watch to see what else he was posting about and we texted back and forth frequently.
These days, my son has graduated and is far less apt to respond promptly, so our text messages have a lag time of …a couple of days… or even a week. We tend, instead, to talk on the phone during his long work commute. On the other hand, I message and text almost daily with my college-age daughters. We have ongoing conversations and quick “I miss you” or “I love you” messages and check-in’s (“How was your day?”).
This week, knowing we were coming up to see her concert, my daughter sent a message:
Hmmm….. I wonder what’s coming next.
After laughing at the hot cross bun request (we’re all addicts of the amazing hot cross buns that are produced at a local bakery), I responded.
I paused here, uncertain how to respond. I had assumed that she wanted pizza when we were visiting. How foolish of me! I’m clearly not in tune with the tech. advances of pizza ordering in college. In my day…well, never mind. We continued our conversation.
I had to laugh aloud here — and read the comment to my husband. We both chuckled.
“Are you going to do it?” he asked.
“I don’t know….”
I wasn’t sure how to respond…so I delayed and merely agreed with her remark about her responsibility, wondering how she’d adapt her plea next.
Her response arrived quickly:
After laughing again at her dramatic exaggeration, I did what any self-respecting teacher would do –at least one who didn’t feel like saying “No” and who really needed to focus on getting report card comments written–I threw my husband under the bus.
Nix the comfort zone 
Your family humor is great! The insights about how we communicate with our family and friends is spot on, and I can’t imagine sending my kids away without being able to stalk them as you describe. I think fathers have always been thrown under the bus, though!
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Thanks, Melanie. My daughter makes me laugh all the time! 🙂
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This is a unique and fun to read format! The screen shots of the texts are great dialogue. You’re her last hope …or… maybe dad!
I used the phone on the wall in my dorm and called my mom.. I need money! Texting is much more fun.
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Love this post, and the texts you included 😉
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I love this slice! It left me smiling. You have a great relationship with your daughter!
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Your daughter is funny. I’m wondering if it’s the same daughter you write about earlier in the week with your treasured photo. Best of all, is your comment at the end. This slice 🍕 needs a part two.
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It is the same daughter, Amy! 🙂
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A very funny conversation. I remember being in college and having to call my parents collect and my friends with rolls of quarters at my side, when I thought I could get away with monopolizing the dorm’s only pay phone! (I feel old!) And I ordered pizza online last night and had it delivered right to my door! Times have changed!
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My kids both left home in pre-cell phone days and it was nerve-wracking! Love the exchange with your daughter. Hope she got her pizza!
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Some of my best conversations with my kids are through texts. I can belly laugh at what they write sometimes.
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I had to chuckle. Your daughter sounds persuasive.
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