How often does your child call home? - Page 2

msmayor · 10-21-2009, 09:41 PM

Actual 'talk on the phone' calls? Probably once a week. Daughter sends me texts almost daily, though...just chit-chat stuff, or relating something funny that's happened, or sends me a picture of the art project she's preparing to hand in.

About once every 10 days, we get on Skype and chat for about an hour. She spends a good portion of that showing me her sketchbook and design work, and we just get 'caught up'.

99.9% of the texts/calls are initiated by her.

abasket · 10-21-2009, 09:44 PM

D is a junior - still have a daily phone call most days, though sometimes it's kind of quick. I do love to hear from her, but the daily calls are her request - she likes to keep up with what's going on with her siblings at home so she doesn't feel out of the loop. Also some quick texting during the day, and this year, since she is in an apt. a couple calls a week for cooking instructions.

cartera45 · 10-21-2009, 09:53 PM

Pretty much every day. I talk my Mom every day too so it's genetic. D talks to her grandmother about once a week too.

mommusic · 10-21-2009, 09:59 PM

Haha. don't ask.

I'm lucky if he remembers to email me so I know when to meet the Greyhound.

thumper1 · 10-21-2009, 10:07 PM

Here's our deal. We are paying for the cell phones. All the kids have to do is call us ONE time a week. If they don't call...THEY pay for that week. Each "forgot" to call one time. They didn't like it when they had to pay. I think they have figured out that ten minutes on the phone with mom and dad each week at a time of their choosing is well worth their time.

my-3-sons · 10-21-2009, 10:14 PM

Youngest S, a soph, calls almost daily while walking to or from classes just to chat. When the older 2 were in school they each called about 2-3 a week. Now that they've graduated and are on their own they call 1-2 times a week They are all good at sending and answering texts and we will often all text back and forth while watching the same sporting event. The kids grew up seeing me call my parents and sisters almost daily, so this pattern just seemed natural to them. I feel very fortunate that communication is one area that hasn't been an issue.

The Mom · 10-21-2009, 10:23 PM

We have mandatory weekend phone call. S1 has called consistently every Sunday going on 5 years now. Little bro not as dependable yet in his first semester away, but is getting better. Is pretty humorous when one calls the cellphone and the other calls the house phone at same time. Like minds.....

PackMom · 10-21-2009, 10:40 PM

Neither of my S's are on any kind of schedule. S1 calls more often (every ten days or so)than S2 but S2 is better at returning emails and will generally pick up when I call him.

hoosiermom · 10-21-2009, 10:52 PM

With all 3 D's in school, they each have a different night (of their choosing) to call me as it's usually a long chat. If anything comes up any other time during the week, they will email or send a text.
When S went away to school, he communicated very rarely even though I requested a brief weekly call. So one Friday morning, after about 3 weeks in which I had phoned him, emailed him, texted him, and sent snail mail- all with no response, I hopped in the car and drove to his school 180 miles away. I was there early enough that I knew I would catch him leaving for class so I waited in the lobby. To say he was surprised would be putting it mildly. I assured him that since I was a SAHM at the time, I would be able to drive down to see him any time I felt it had been too long since he got in contact with me. He did start calling weekly.

Modadunn · 10-21-2009, 11:19 PM

Hoosiermom.. that is hysterical. Not sure how my son would react if I showed up in the lobby, and maybe this is because I'd have to fly and rent a car to do so!! Still.. I would consider it. He is definitely treading on thinner ice than usual. But tomorrow is Thursday and so .... we'll see.

cartera45 · 10-21-2009, 11:32 PM

My D has always been good about checking in with me, but she also knows me well enough to know that when I say "don't make me find you" I mean it.

NorthMinnesota · 10-22-2009, 12:59 AM

Talked with D1 every day until this year...senior year. Now just a few times a week. Talk or text with freshman D2 (mainly text) every day.

oregon101 · 10-22-2009, 01:52 AM

ONLY when he has needed information about laundry. Surprising about 3 times already this year. Will answer a text. Does not answer emails.

calstatemom · 10-22-2009, 02:11 AM

Once a week, give or take a week :/ But I get lucky once in a while and catch him on Facebook for a short chat.

'rentof2 · 10-22-2009, 02:31 AM

We hear from our son by phone maybe twice a month, if that. Email about the same. But none of us are really phone people, I have to admit. Our kids grew up learning that the machine answers the phone, not us. He's away for his sophomore year now. We were in more contact at this point in his freshman year, but it was never anything like every day, not even every week.

I talk and/or email my daughter more often. Probably do one or the other 4 times a week or so, but more email than phone. Usually I initiate the calls, she initiates the emails. This is her first year away from home, though. I expect it will drop off some by next year.

Daughter, at least, we'll see a bit more often because she's just a 3 hour drive away. Son is clear across the country and we only see him at Christmas and summer.