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Should I start messaging instead of phoning?

(107 Posts)
keepingquiet Sun 29-Jun-25 18:54:07

I have a good relationship with my DD- who lives a fair distance away so we see each other about every two months or so.
In between we have developed a routine of talking on the phone twice a week usually once in the week she rings me and then at the weekend I ring her. We've been doing this for a couple of years.
Recently she told me that I am the only person she speaks to on the phone- she is far more used to texting and sometimes we text each other for practical purposes too, but the messages are short and to the point.
I have always enjoyed chatting to people on the phone, and will choose it over texting as you get the information you need much more quickly but I also enjoy having conversations.
However, I have noticed a tendency in my DD to seem as if talking on the phone to me is becoming more of a chore. I know she is busy but after some recent exchanges I do feel as if she doesn't really want to talk that much and sometimes the conversations are strained. I usually end the call and feel uneasy, as I have done today.
It feels as if she doesn't want to be bothered and it is making me wonder if I should just wait until she rings me once a week. Today I mentioned something she admitted to knowing nothing about, as if I should have told her before, but the calls are often not long enough for me to tell her all the family news etc and I don't want her to feel left out.
I'm just wondering if she would rather send text messages even though I never use them for conversations?
Do others use texting for long exchanges or should I just stick to my phone calls and ignore what is becoming an attitude?
I'm aware this is long and possibly trivial but I don't want to stress her out if she's finding these phone calls difficult.
Any advice here appreciated thanks.

PamelaJ1 Mon 30-Jun-25 13:45:01

If you use messenger or face time you can also see each other. Perhaps that’s more important when far apart but I love that I can notice things like the fact my DD has had her hair cut etc.
Messaging can be very useful but can also be a real faff.
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Luckygirl3 Mon 30-Jun-25 13:49:59

It is of course lovely to have face to face contact but in between WhatsApp is a great way to chat.

Norah Mon 30-Jun-25 14:50:58

I much prefer email to phone calls. I don't like my time interrupted. Perhaps your daughter is busy and feels interrupted.

It seems your daughter prefers texts, perhaps just text and wait?

PamelaJ1 Mon 30-Jun-25 17:07:15

keepingquiet don’t be sad just think of it as another way of keeping in touch.
I often text my DD and she responds. We then have quite a lot of background knowledge of what’s going on in each others lives when we do speak. At the moment for example she has just put an offer in for a house, she sends me details, I have a look at it on Google Earth then put in my expert opinion!!
I’m waiting to see if they have accepted her offer but will have to wait until tomorrow as it’s past her bedtime in Aus now.

keepingquiet Mon 30-Jun-25 17:12:37

I messaged my daughter with difficult news, a few words and she messaged back with a few words.

If this is the future of communication then I really will be KeepingQuiet.

They say Silence is Golden though...

PamelaJ1 Mon 30-Jun-25 17:19:19

keepingquiet perhaps she will think about it and then respond more positively? Hope so.

luluaugust Mon 30-Jun-25 19:11:31

I usually FaceTime once a week and otherwise it’s WhatsApp all the way

keepingquiet Mon 30-Jun-25 20:35:21

PamelaJ1

keepingquiet perhaps she will think about it and then respond more positively? Hope so.

Yes, I'll get the usual 20 minute call when she can fit me in. It's fine.

Norah Mon 30-Jun-25 20:47:20

keepingquiet

I messaged my daughter with difficult news, a few words and she messaged back with a few words.

If this is the future of communication then I really will be KeepingQuiet.

They say Silence is Golden though...

Well done you listening to DD Recently she told me that I am the only person she speaks to on the phone- she is far more used to texting

Many people dislike phone calls, she told you, you complied.

Philippa111 Mon 30-Jun-25 20:58:35

My daughter and I What'sApp each other fairly often but not every day. No instant response expected. We only speak on the phone if there is a problem or there is something that needs to be discussed in more detail. Our texts often carry messages of encouragement and support. We see each other once a week. I don't take any offence at all with texting. We have a very good relationship. She's a mum to a 12 year old and has a full time job. Speaking usually means having to stop what you're doing and I think parents these days just don't have the time.

Frenchgalinspain Tue 01-Jul-25 13:46:59

Personally, I prefer phones to text messaging.

However, everyone has their selective ways in which to communicate.

I do both ..

Barbadosbelle Tue 01-Jul-25 14:02:01

.

WhatsApp is good and you know whether the message has been sent/received/read.

Maybe you could also occasionally WhatsApp video - maybe at the weekend - and have a more personal natter and a chance to show off that new dress or those shoes you've bought!!

The sound and reception is always brilliant (I wear Hearing Aids) and I always find it much better than just a phone call where I often struggle to hear what is being said.
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Leavesden Tue 01-Jul-25 14:04:58

As you don’t see your daughter that often, I think you should speak to her. My son always video calls me and always lovely to see him. I use messages for a quick question.

WelshPoppy Tue 01-Jul-25 14:20:12

I see my older daughter several times a week in school terms as I pick her and granddaughter up 3 or 4 times a week. In the holidays I only get a phone call if she wants/needs something. We WhatsApp for quick transfer of information. Younger daughter we mainly WhatsApp each other, only ring if I need an immediate response and the same from her.

suelld Tue 01-Jul-25 14:48:40

Phoning costs money. Using FB Messenger is free. My family is over this week from Japan, staying nearby. We still message each other with arrangements rather than phone. You can also do an audio phone call on Messenger, and a Video call if you prefer. We talk and have conversations when we meet, or on Messenger( no limits like texting) and of course the same when they are in Japan. I think it works better… time to think about what you say!smile

Cazza1953 Tue 01-Jul-25 14:58:06

My daughter lives in Australia and we FaceTime once a week so I can see her and talk to her. We also WhatsApp through the week. It’s a good way to keep in touch.

AuntieE Tue 01-Jul-25 14:58:56

Text by all means, but don't expect to be told much of what is going on in her life!

My DD texts asking how I am and what I have been doing. I reply to her questions and ask in return how her day, or week has been and get a standard reply. Something along the lines of " everything is fine, thank you, darling´"

It is a generational thing, Obviously, they do not feel the need to tell us what is actually going on in their lives.

I think anyone in our generation feels snubbed - we feel they might as well reply Mind your own business, but I honestly do not think that is what they mean.

It has got me wondering, did we do they same? I wrote long letters to my mother every week, and told her most of what was actually going on in my life, and received similar letters from her.

What did you do`? Were we just a few who really wanted to know how the rest of the family was?

Mojack26 Tue 01-Jul-25 15:00:59

Personal choice. I don't like chatting on phone,never have. We phone occassionaly but my family stay 10 mins away.

ExaltedWombat Tue 01-Jul-25 15:29:45

Yes, the younger generations seem to have moved away from phone talks to the various forms of messaging, and it sometimes seems as if the etiquette is to message to ask permission to call! I think this has gone too far. A discussion is often more efficient that a series of ultimatums!

But I also have a few, usually older, friends/relatives who feel entitled to a regular phone call - and not a short one! And though I can often combine them with other productive activity, I do find myself running out of things to say!

Sanmrbro Tue 01-Jul-25 15:36:02

What about a handwritten chatty letter?

Gummie Tue 01-Jul-25 15:37:40

I think its really sad that people don't want to chat on the phone anymore and just want text messages. More and more people are becoming isolated and lonely.

I wish my mum was still alive so that I could talk to her on the phone.

Marg75 Tue 01-Jul-25 15:39:18

We have a facetime phone call (Alexa) once a week. It lasts usually an hour and a half as my DH and I speak to her. It's lovely to see her and the dog as they live too far away to see them regularly. Of course we are flexible in what day it is as we know she has a busy life. In between we WhatsApp if there is anything we need to talk about. She's been away to uni and has lived away since but we have always managed a weekly call without fail. There is no doubt or worry then about when or if we will hear from her.

Cambsnan Tue 01-Jul-25 15:45:41

Face time on a screen that you don’t have to hold and chat while you both get on with something else like dinner prep. We did this all the time during covid

win Tue 01-Jul-25 16:54:26

dogsmother

But with WhatsApp you can FaceTime and that is really lovely. A quick text to see if other one is free first otherwise it can be very intrusive.

This is my huge dislike I never have the camera on. I very rarely phone anyone. My best friend loves the phone and is on it all day. She phones but says very little then expects the person she phoned to keep her entertained for an hour or more. I always have to be very direct and say I am going now. She does the same when she visits unless I ask her to leave she will be here to midnight. It is very draining as much as I love her. I have known her for 57 Yeats and rarely get invited to her Manor, she says I can come any time but never invites me, I never phone anyone Emails, text, messenger , WhatsApp or messages I am happy with it all but phone calls can be intruding

grammargran Tue 01-Jul-25 17:34:31

So many responses and only one (I think) mentions a hearing problem. As a hearing aid wearer, any phone conversation is an absolute chore; OK, it's not as bad as it was now Bluetooth has come into the equation, but should anyone ring on the landline, forget it! WhatsApp is a complete game changer. We have a family one & believe me, everyone is in and out of it every day, and then there are sub-divisions of that main one. Photos are exchanged, worries discussed, recipes commented on, advice asked for (and freely given!!), it's a total joy! Loads of warmth and love flowing along whatever carries the messages, day after day. Sometimes there's even the odd one, late at night that says 'night, night, love you' followed by a heart emoji. I totally love it!