Do your teens call you

[Tiggeroo]

when they are away. My one son is away for his third week long thing and he hasn't called yet again. I send him with a phone card. Alot of his friends have cell phones with free nights and weekends. He is at running camp. His coach has talked to his dd also at camp, and to my son and several runners during a group call. Several parents have mentioned hearing from their kids. But my son, NOOOOO.
When he went all of the way to California, no call for the first 5 days. Not even a check in. I knew he got in, because the boy he flew with called his mother to tell her and she called me. I'm glad he's independent, but AAARGHHHH. His older sister is just the same.

 

[FOJMO]

OMG, I would be going CRAZY if my DD didn't call me and was away for a few days/weeks. When she was in Europe last year, she called every other day because it was so expensive, but she would have called every day, twice a day, if she could have.

Do your kids talk on the phone as a rule? Sometimes people get so caught up doing emails anymore, they don't rely on the phone like people used to. Can he email you at all?

Good luck and just know that he'll be home before you know it! VAL

 

[bsnyder]

Tigerro, my two teenage boys are the same way.

I'd rather them be independent too, and not calling over every little thing, but some happy medium would be nicer!

 

[Tiggeroo]

My kids aren't big phone people. But yep some happy medium would be nice. I would like them to call when they get settled in, and maybe once during the week to let me know it's going well. And I tell them this. They always say, yes mom I'll call (eyes rolling here) but then don't call. And then I worry about them. I don't want to be a whining mom who say Why don't you call! But my son is only 16 and I still need to know he's ok.

 

[Evil Princess]

I think its a teenage boy thing. When in high school, I always called my mom when I was out if I went somewhere else, or when I was away from home. When I was in New Orleans with my boyfriends family two weeks ago, I called my mother every day.

My brother, on the other hand, is now 15, and hardly ever calls my mom if he's out and decides to go somewhere else.

 

[kazzie]

With my teens it's the other way around! My DS age 18 is so considerate it is my DD age 16 who doesn't call and makes us worry

I keep saying 'When you're older and YOU have children you'll understand' She looks on with much eye-rolling

 

[Keli]

My dd Ashli is pretty good at calling now but when she was a younger teen I didn't hear from her much at all. It would drive me crazy sometimes because I always wanted a call saying "We've got here safely and everythings great" and at least one more that said "We're leaving in the morning at __'Oclock and I'll be home at __" But ususally I got zilch and just worried until she got home.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I'd be worried too, but "no news is good news". So long as all the others are checking in with their parents, I'm sure he's fine. Maybe he's exhusted at the end of his day? If there was a problem I'm certain the message would be passed through the others at camp.

 

[Beechparty]

My ds son is the same way.
I also took a group of youth on a mission trip and TRIED to lend my cell phone to several of the boys to call their mother and they turned me down, even after I hinted that their mother would love a call.

 

[sharbear]

I think it's a boy thing. When we first got married, my DH was not very good about calling when he was away. It really irked me, but he's not much of a phone talker. It's nothing for him to go weeks without talking to his mother. He is better about calling. The cell phone helps. I know this sounds crazy but using a phone card is pure torture, he just isn't comfortable doing things that are outside his comfort zone. Don't get me going on ATM's.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I guess it is a boy thing. I took 10 boys to Hatteras for a surf trip this easter and there was a point where I actually forced a couple of boys to call home. I mean all they had to do was say, mom dad I got here safe and am having fun.
My son comes home today, and no he hasn't called yet. Another week down.