Caution Recommended
Written by Jen Saturday, 09 January 2010 15:52
Blog
My feeble attempt to seek peace and set priorities over the holidays involved staying away from the computer and turning off the cell phone. Then one evening, barely into 2010, my husband and I went to dinner with some friends. My first phone call of the new year arrived mid-course and consisted of this:
"Mom, I hate to bother you but Poppy threw up on the carpet and then ate it."
This does not bode well for the next 12 months (nor for the dog with a perpetual digestive problem). First off, my offspring broke the family rule about emergency calls. Never call Mom when 1) the message is likely to result in an overreaction and 2) the police are involved. Call Dad in both of these instances. It's safer for everyone. Most of the time Dad gets the call.
My sons prefer to text me. Their friends don't know they're checking in with their mother, and they don't have to hear my tone of voice as I respond to "can I go to an overnight laser tag birthday party 45 minutes away for this guy?" (Last name? Not exactly sure but we're "good friends.")
Once via text I questioned my son's bizarre carpool arrangement. I guess I must've expressed some annoyance as well as my sister-in-law's response was, "I don't know any Alex and why are you yelling at me?" Guess I should've verified the number before hitting "send." Apparently you CAN yell via text message.
I'm moving more cautiously now. Call it a resolution of sorts. This absent blogger will try to slow down and stay calm. I'll try to keep my writing to the professional variety and, oh, I'll be very wary of the cell phone.
