Don’t Waste Your Texts - 9 practical suggestions

You may not always enjoy or appreciate your teen/young adults' texting habits.

However, mom, since they are already texting, don’t miss the chance to communicate with them in a way that connects you rather than disconnects you to their hearts.

Moms, since they are already texting, don’t miss the chance to communicate with them in a way that connects you rather than disconnects you to their hearts.

Let me make just a few suggestions: (These ideas are for general daily life.)

• Your texts to them need to be genuine, full of grace, and without a hidden agenda, except that you love them deeply and want to connect your hearts.

• Text at random times, not only when you are concerned about their activities or you are "checking up" on them.

• Remember the KISS principle is so important when you text: Keep It Short Stupid. This is the TikTok generation. Long writing can easily lose your audience.

• Don’t flood their texts with too much, too often. Especially not too many emojis.😃 😢 😳

• Don’t sermonize, lecture, or slip in subtle teaching and hints. Simply share bits of your heart for them.

• Your daughters need to know you value them, that they are cherished. So keep that lens — regardless of what you are texting.

• Your sons need to know you value them, that they measure up in your eyes. So again, keep that lens in mind, whatever you actually type.

• Keep advice to an absolute minimum. You may want to run in and help them figure out any struggles they share, but this may not be the best platform. Consider holding that advice until it is the right timing- which might turn out to be a texting conversation.

• Don’t always expect a response to your texts. Text because it is from your heart and because you love them, not because you want a response.

If this is a new way for you to increase your connection with your teen/young adult, then start slowly. After that level is established, you may be able to say more or be more transparent. But go very slowly towards more words.

Using texting thoughtfully can be one of the most powerful tools technology has given us as parents! Let's see it not as a digital contact but communication to those hearts which own our hearts.