Read When Parents Text: So Much Said...So Little Understood Online
Authors: Sophia Fraioli,Lauren Kaelin
Saying Words
MOM
: My fingers are saying words. This is amazing.
Higgy Higgy
ME
: hey mom
MOM
: higgy higgy
ME
: . . . umm what’s that supposed to mean
MOM
: oh sorry that was supposed to say hi how are you. i’m new at this
Abusing Quick Text
ME
: Hey dad, when are you going to be home?
DAD
: Let’s meet up!
ME
: Are you sending random quick texts again?
DAD
: Let’s meet up!
GGMM
MOM
: Fantastic!! I am trying to work GGMM in to a text but haven’t had the right context yet. Can you figure out what it is??
ME
: Haha i have no clue . . .
MOM
: One of my catch phrases . . . for showing shock or astonishment. You still don’t know?
ME
: Good god molly moses?
MOM
: Would I say that!?! Good golly, Miss Molly!!
Eyepatch
MOM
: When will you be home? ;)
ME
: Pretty soon, why?
MOM
: Just wondering ;) going to bed soon ;)
ME
: Okay, what’s with the winky face?
MOM
: What?
ME
: This! ;)
MOM
: That’s a pirate. See he has an eyepatch! ;) ;)
Big Ups
MOM
: This is my very first text message. It’s for Jesus!
Pepperoni
MOM
: Is pepperoni coming over?
MOM
: I mean Melanie.
FWD: HELLO!
DAD
: Just wanted to say hello to you!!
DAD
: what is a signature and how do i
DAD
: change it??
:1)}
DAD
: :1)}
ME
: what??
DAD
: this is me with my beard, I’m smiling.
Fast
DAD
: Look how fast im texting!
Hugz from Dad, XO.
DAD
: ({})
ME
: What?!
DAD
: It’s a hug.
ME
: . . . that doesn’t mean what you think it means.
SUBJECT:
DAD
: SUBJECT: sick.
MESSAGE: Your mother is vomit.
ME
: Vomiting? And how do you even put in a subject?
Heartfelt Apology
DAD
:Iwillpickitupforyou.iamsosorryforbeing meanandnotverycompasionate.Ihopeyouwill forgiveme.LoveDad
Camel Hoof
MOM
: Ewww, this girl just had a camel hoof!
ME
: Camel……toe?
Unread
DAD
: What does “unread” mean on my messages?
ME
: You haven’t read it. . . .
Bloodwork
MOM
: I’ve been farting all day because I have to get bloodwork done tomorrow.
ME
: Did you mean fasting??
MOM
: Oops. I meant to hit the button four times.
Susan Boyle at Rockefeller Center
MOM
: What’s the story??????
ME
: Going out to dinner
MOM
: Not to Susan Doyle?
ME
: Boyle?
MOM
: Doyle
MOM
: The phone has a mind of it’s own! Won’t type B
MOM
: It doesn’t like Susan
MOM
: It prefers Doyle
MOM
: You try
ME
: Boyle
Dickstain
MOM
: i learned 2 txt!
(three hours later)
MOM
: dickstain
F%#@ing Bus
ME
: The bus was late today :(
DAD
: F%#@ing bus!!!! Dont tbey know you have stuff to do??
ME
: Haha you can type the word out, dad.
DAD
: Thats too mainstream for me.
My Pin
DAD
: what is the typey thing I do so we can be BBM friends?
ME
: type my pin without a space in between
DAD
: mypine
DAD
: mypim_
DAD
: my pin
DAD
: it’s not working.
ME
: dad…. .
R2D2
ME
: So are you advanced enough to text now daddy?
DAD
: I’m working on it
(five minutes later)
DAD
: I’m going to name this R 2 D 2
Finals
MOM
: Hi. What are you doing?
ME
: At the library studying for my organic chem exam.
MOM
: Homo.
ME
: Excuse me?
MOM
: I meant to spell GOOD. sorry.
Skillz
MOM
: I am sending a two handed text
Mad
MOM
: COME HOME RIGHT NOW
MOM
: COME HOME RIGHT NOW
MOM
: COME HOME RIGHT NOW
MOM
: COME HOME RIGHT NOW
MOM
: COME HOME RIGHT NOW
MOM
: COME HOME RIGHT NOW
ME
: Okay . . . um why did you send me this 6 times?
MOM
: i am mad
FML
ME
: FML
MOM
: what?
ME
: Fuck my life
MOM
: oh, I thought family medical leave haha
When Parents Watch TV
DAD
: you broke the tv
ME
: no i didnt
DAD
: it wont work, I called comcast and set up an appointment
ME
: did you try pressing the input button?
ME
: . . .
DAD
: sorry was on the phone with comcast, had to cancel appointment
I Love You, Dad
DAD
: What does Totes Magoats* mean?
ME
: Totally
DAD
: Totally what?
ME
: It’s just an expression. Magoets rhymes with totes so people say it.
DAD
: I think life is just passing me by
*Made famous by Paul Rudd in the movie
I Love You, Man.
Emoticon Madness
MOM
: :() that’s a monkey! -:), ME WITH ONE HAIR!
ME
: hahahaha cool mommy
MOM
: :#( SAD MAN WITH MUSTACHE. NOW ITS ALL AND I DONT KNOW HOW TO CHANGE IT.
Sneaking
ME
: Can you still pick us up in a bit?
MOM
: Wdp
ME
: What?
(fifteen minutes later)
MOM
: I was in a meeting and tried to type that under the desk. Thats hard to do. I didn’t pres the keys enough. Wdp = yes
Pumpkin Bread
MOM
: the text that i just sent u, i sent to the wrong person over an hour ago. I just found out cuz they sent me a text saying “i don’t know who this is but good luck with the pumpkin bread.”
Airplane Mode
MOM
: How do I turn my phone off?
ME
: Hold the red power button down. It’s usually the end call button
MOM
: I don’t understand. I am getting on a plane. I don’t want to cause a plane crash.
MOM
: Hi this is Steve, your mom wanted to let you know she found help turning off her phone, she’ll talk to you in 14 hours. Love you! (this is mom)