TikTok user @alij4l got interested in the funny ways this manifests and has been collecting unintentionally unsettling messages moms and dads sent their kids. Amy Kossoff Smith said texting helps her get the attention of her three teenage sons, ages 13, 16, and 18. When she or her husband Mitch calls them to dinner from downstairs, they have two choices: “We can yell at the top of our lungs three to four times. Or we can pull our phones out and text them," Ms. Smith explained. “When we get into their zone, we usually get a much quicker response.” Ms. Smith texts her sons with reminders that she’s leaving on an errand in five minutes or that it is time to get ready for bed. Her 13-year-old son, Noah, often texts her to get permission to go out with friends, Ms. Smith added. And it makes sense. The 8.6% of teens who text frequently during family meals tend to have poorer family communication overall, according to a study of 1,858 parents published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She noted that painful, awkward, tough conversations between parent and child are where children learn so much about the relational dynamics that are a part of adulthood. So this modern means of communication can very well bridge some gaps between us. We just need to remember that misunderstandings and humorous exchanges will arise since every generation has its own habits of interacting. Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
