How often does your child call home? - Page 3

2collegewego · 10-22-2009, 02:38 AM

Almost every day-- when walking between classes, when totally stressed, when someone has said something upsetting. I hear from less when kiddo isn't feeling well.

Leah321 · 10-22-2009, 04:41 AM

Normally every day. There was a time where DS failed to call - became worried - second day, still nothing- starting to panic - third day, nada - almost dropped every one of his classes -- end of third day and he finally calls. And boy did I let him have it. After our next visit hubs brought home a nice souvenier -- DS's ipod. Told him more will follow us home if this happens again. Since then the routine hasn't broken -- even received multiple calls between classes!

kleibo · 10-22-2009, 06:30 AM

Calls - never, I call him. Quick one or two texts almost everyday. He does call his Grandparents about every two weeks though without me having to tell him

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poetgrl · 10-22-2009, 06:46 AM

The first week D was away, I didn't hear from her at all and was braced for never hearing from her....turned out she had misplaced her cell phone (which was silenced) and couldn't find it. After she cleaned her room, she called like she had never talked to me in months! Now, I hear from her every day as she traipses from class to class, or is waiting for something...rarely after 5. But, I talk to my mom and sister every day, so it was odd not talking. D also calls younger sister or texts every day. And H about once a week.

PackMom · 10-22-2009, 07:38 AM

This thread seems to confirm what many other CC threads of the past on the same topic have shown. Girls are waaay more interested in talking to Mom than boys are.

Sally_Rubenstone · 10-22-2009, 07:45 AM

Before a child leaves for college, I always recommend a family pow-wow to discuss communications expectations. I don't mean that hard-and-fast ground rules must be determined. But it can be helpful for all concerned to air what they expect. This, of course, can change, once the student gets to college. But, even so, it can be helpful from the get-go for mom it admit that she's anticipating contact several times each week while Junior may believe that once/week is a lot. Also, it's helpful to discuss what constitutes "contact." A phone call? A newsy e-mail message? a 6-character text (in code that Mom and Dad can barely decipher?)

poetgrl · 10-22-2009, 07:54 AM

Yes, Packmom-- I also think girls just talk on the phone more, to parents or whoever. Though that is a grand, sweeping generalization based on the fact that I talk to my brother once a week, never see H on the phone, and talk to SIL, Mom, S and D nearly every day. It must be hard to not hear from the sons.

momofthreeboys · 10-22-2009, 08:00 AM

About once a week. If a week goes by and I don't hear from him, I'll give him a call just to touch base and say hi.

FallGirl · 10-22-2009, 08:07 AM

D calls every day. This was requested by H who is still nervous about her being in the city and says he wants to "know if she's alive". (is someone watching too much "Law & Order?).

I enjoy hearing from her, but would also be fine with hearing a little less often.

Deja · 10-22-2009, 08:10 AM

Quote:

this past summer, s1 was doing work on an isolated island in nova scotia -- no phones, no cell reception, and once a week mail deliveries. He wrote letters instead. It was odd to see his handwriting but immensely enjoyable to see a different side of him emerge. I miss those times when we communicated wit loved ones via letters.

What a wonderful keepsake those letters will be for your s1 one day!

We expect a phone call once a week.

scout59 · 10-22-2009, 08:20 AM

DD is a sophomore. She rarely called last year but this year calls at least once a day - sometimes 2 or 3 times. The difference? This year she moved into an off-campus apartment and I get tons of phone calls like this:

Where do I find (fill in the blank) at the grocery store?
Why isn't the bath tub draining?
What does it mean to "cut against the grain" when you're slicing beef?
I hear a strange beeping sound. What could it be?
And my favorite

The radiator is making a strange hissing sound. What is it? Is it dangerous?

I also get those between-the-classes phone calls more often. I love then all!

simba · 10-22-2009, 08:43 AM

We talk every day.

owlice · 10-22-2009, 08:48 AM

S's school has bad cell reception in some places, and none in the others. He's not much one for using a cell phone even to text (except for one brief period a couple of summers ago). He usually doesn't have his cell phone with him, and had to be reminded to bring it home with him so he'd have it when he took the bus back to school after break (I had picked him up from school).

I get my intell from one of his friend's mom's; the friend calls home -- from the landline in my kid's room that my kid has not yet told me about! -- once a week.

Skyped once; kid doesn't like Skype (for use with me, anyway). Doesn't like chat, either (and right now, his entire school is having connection issues because a trunk line got cut). If I send him an email which asks him to acknowledge receipt, he'll send back a string of random letters.

I think after he finds his footing, he might be more communicative. (Maybe!)

archiemom · 10-22-2009, 08:48 AM

Only phone call this year so far revolved around an event that included law enforcement

owlice · 10-22-2009, 09:16 AM

I just got off the phone with Spawn. Smelling salts, please!!

(His retainers -- $800 worth of retainers -- got "tossed out" by someone helping him clean his room; there's a good reason for NOT wrapping the retainers in tissues... He's on his way now to an orthodontist in his college town to get impressions made for new ones, and needed directions.... good thing he gets reception in town, AND that he had his cell phone with him!)