Why Texting and Parenting do not mix

 

 

I used to insist on a biweekly hot bath.  Somehow in the craziness of life, that was pared down to a weekly dose of relaxation in the tub with a good book.  When we built this new home, I did a lot of research (thank you to my sister Cindy, who is also a fan of long hot soaks) on the PERFECT bathtub. 

 

Now I own the perfect  non jetted tub (did not want to wonder what was growing in those jets), 8 children, a part time job and I am LUCKY if I get to soak and read once a month. 

 

Last night I was tired enough and lucky enough that all the start aligned.  Dinner was done early, then children were in bed, and Bob – bless his heart was in a class learning more about Diesel Engines. 

 

Five minutes into my very interesting novel, I noticed the dog (directly outside of my bathtub window) was barking.   I noticed again, repeatedly, for the next 45 minutes. 

 

In a moment of desperation, I let my hands and arms dry, reached far outside of the bathtub and picked up the cell phone I had left laying on the floor and began texting my children.  The 18 year old – sitting in the family room on the couch playing computer….. The 16 year old…. sitting in the family room, at the computer desk, watching a movie on netflix …. and the 14 year old – on the couch, sick for the 3rd day, on  a laptop – trying to forget her misery. 

 

I was SO proud of myself!!!  I was learning to use technology to make my life easier!  I was totally in the modern age of parenting now!   So what if it took 3 or 4 very pointed texts….  The dog finally got fed!!!

 

 

 

Notice, if you will, that I mentioned 3 children in the family room…… Unfortunately I have two texting numbers for the 14 year old.  Which should have made me worried.  But did not as my book was so amazing.

 

Until I began to get these replies:

 

At this point, the woman who has run from her abusive husband begins to loose my attention as my mind begins to wonder why my 14 year old is still hassling me.  And then slowly (very very slowly) a small though began to creep in.  What if it was, indeed, NOT Savannah’s texting number?????

 

 

And THAT is how you end up in the bathtub at almost 10:00 at night, laughing until you have tears streaming down your face.  Turns out I MAY not be so great at this parenting thru technology thing, but I am REALLY good at comic relief!!! 

 

 

Just the thought of some poor random teen receiving a random, rambling string of posts spaced just minutes apart…..  Talking about electrocuting the family dog…..  Yeah.  I’m still laughing!!!!