How often does your child call home?

WaitingDad · 10-21-2009, 08:25 PM

My kids call home about once a week... if I'm lucky.

rodney · 10-21-2009, 08:27 PM

Call home??? almost never; I kinda get nervous if she does actually (but that's for another thread)...BBM, IM etc probably two or three times a day

actually, she just IMed me as I was typing this post....

TwistedxKiss · 10-21-2009, 08:30 PM

I call home probably once or twice a week just to chat and catch up, but actually end up talking to my mom nearly every day for one thing or another. But in my family the relationship between mother and child is like that, my maternal grandmother talks to both my mom and my aunt at least once a day every day and stops by frequently. I don't know how other families are, maybe that's not unusual.

On the other hand, I haven't spoken to my dad once since I left other than in the first week to discuss a computer repair issue. He ignores my emails and I haven't bothered to call.

oldfort · 10-21-2009, 08:32 PM

D1 calls me when she is really stressed or has boy problem. I got it figured out. She talks to me when her friends don't want to listen to her any more. I am the only one that won't hang up on her. As a junior she still calls everyday, even when she is 7000 miles away (of course she is not paying for the phone bill either).

kelsmom · 10-21-2009, 08:34 PM

When she wasn't feeling well, at least once a day. When things were fine, every couple days. Now that she's in Scotland ... once a week. (which is a whole lot more than I called home when I was in college)

Modadunn · 10-21-2009, 08:38 PM

Once a week.. and as it turns out falls on a Thursday. He sometimes will answer or make a text. However, in all of these modes of communication I don't seem to get much information!

Columbia_Student · 10-21-2009, 08:41 PM

Once a week but not as reliable. Oh yeah, and when she needs money for groceries. She is more independent this year.

science fiction · 10-21-2009, 08:47 PM

S1 (freshman) calls 3-4 times a week. Mostly when he is "in transit" going from place A to place B. He mostly calls my H. He talks about things happening at school, courses he is taking, his decision to turn down the fraternity rush offer, clubs he wants to join, a request to send a suit and tie for some special event, etc. With me, he communicates via email. Again 3-4 times a week going back and forth. He sends me the whole text of the speech his famous faculty gave, forwards email sent to all students by the president of the university, some philosophical issues etc. We exchange thoughts on some current affairs. I actually like this mode of communication very much. We get to now really interact like two adults sharing thoughts, philosophies, opinions, and world views. In my mind, I have already made a transition from me being mostly his parent and him being my dependent into us two adults with him having a very interesting mind and perspective for me to explore.

We are role-reversed in my family (my H and I). H sends S1 a care package of snacks and such and I send him a classical music youtube link once a week with my own commentary.

The frequency of communication is a complete shocker (pleasant one). I was bracing myself for a biweekly terse text message. I don't know if the current practice will last. Probably not. I will let him maintain whatever mode and frequency he feels most comfortable with.

My resolve is to treat him like a pet: when you want your little puppy to come to you, you wait with a bone as a reward if/when it comes. You don't put a leash around its neck and yank it: if you do, it will dig its heels in

morandi · 10-21-2009, 08:48 PM

One child, the 'quiet son' while growing up, calls surprisingly often -- maybe twice a week -- just to chat about something school related. He does most the talking. We also have a standing conversation every Sunday, but I call him.

The other son, the 'outgoing' one, never calls at all unless it's a return call. We, too, have a conversation each Sunday, but he mostly just answers questions.

Reminds me to call my mother more often!

4gsmom · 10-21-2009, 09:01 PM

My husband left for college and after saying goodbye to his parents did not speak to them again until he called them to make plans to go home for Thanksgiving.

So anyone who feels badly about how infrequently they hear from their kids can now feel better!

somemom · 10-21-2009, 09:03 PM

My girls have always called frequently in college, especially when walking from class to class, so little 5-10 minutes conversations that end abruptly.

mantori.suzuki · 10-21-2009, 09:15 PM

My son (in residential high school) goes about three weeks without calling or returning calls (until I threaten to embarrass him by calling his house mentor). Then he calls every day for a week. Repeat.

limabeans · 10-21-2009, 09:18 PM

Male or female calling? There's a huge difference.

I love the fact that my DS always has his iPhone near him. With it, a quick phone call isn't a big deal. But mostly, I write emails. My DS answers my emails with all sorts of fun details, but he hasn't written to my husband at all. I guess he's used to my asking tons of questions. There's just tons of ways to keep in touch these days: FaceBook, IM, emails, cell phone. In my day, we had to wait in line to make a phone call, which was in the hall. It was such a hassle to keep in touch, so I just wrote letters...snail mail. Who would do that now?

mamabear1234 · 10-21-2009, 09:27 PM

I requested a once a week phone call so I know she's OK. Occasionally I will get a text with a brief question. I don't like to talk much on the phone, but I do want to hear her voice for a few minutes.

morandi · 10-21-2009, 09:31 PM

^'Who would do that now?'

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.