Kids Dont Call

Oh how I hate the "you never call me" whine.

Pick up the phone and call them. If they're busy or you get voice mail, try again later or the next day. The phone works both ways. Just call them. They aren't going to call you.

Tell them. Have them over sometimes for a family dinner/lunch.
Reach out. Be proactive.
They can be busy too, in their lives.. but still. Being in touch with family is important.

My sister... sorta did that with my Dad. But when he died.. .she miserably learned, that all her busy-ness with her life and work and successes and meetings and obligations and friends... just didn't mean anything. She was remorseful.. and wished she had spent more time, with my Dad or even just calling him. It was a rude awakening for her.

All the best,
Susan

Call them. I live 20 minutes from my mom and see her once a week (at least) and she still calls me every day. I love it! I am very very lucky. I am busy and she is retired. When she calls, it gives me an excuse to stop working, stop cleaning, stop cooking, etc. and have a chat. Does she wish I would be the one to call (and BTW...sometimes I am) - I doubt it. She remembers what young families are up against.

Call them.....just not everyday.
I live away from my parents and I don't call them as much as they'd like, but I'm busy too!

I like how Kaye put it. Sometimes we are so busy as Moms with young kids that getting that phone call actually does make it easier to stop what you're doing and chat. For some reason, it's really hard to make the time to fit in a phone call, but if it rings, I always answer it! You have given me something to think about though since I'm sure my Mom wishes she wasn't always the one making the call. Thanks for the reminder! Just let your kids know how you feel....maybe that will help. I'm sorry you're feeling left out. I hope you can work something out that makes you happier!

Have you asked them to give you a call once in a while? Are you not able to call them? Their lives are probably a lot busier than yours at the moment especially if they are going to school or starting families.

Is or was there hard feelings when they left home? If not perhaps if you made the first call and told them how you feel, how it hurts you, then they will start calling. I know how terrible you must feel and how hurt you are. They have to hear this from you yourself. Perhaps something happened prior to, I don't have the whole story. If words were spoken prior to them moving, it doesn't hurt to say an apology. We all make mistakes, we are only human. Give your love to them and it will be returned. Take care!!

that's interesting....
what can i do to get my parents to call?
LOL

Unfortunately, the majority of young people in our society have lost the art of verbal communication and feel that e-mailing or texting takes the place of a phone call. (Did you see the post about the wedding invitation via facebook?).

Pick up the phone and give them a call.

Oh, I am not in your shoes yet. My kids are still elem. age but I know my parents want to talk to me all the time, and I feel so much pressure from them, that I really don't feel like calling them, but emailing them because then I do not have to hear all the (possibly good) advice from them. Also, they have a lot of free time now whereas I am extremely busy. It is much easier for me to send couple lines email from work during lunch time than call and tell them that I have to hang up in two minutes. They are not bad parents and I am not a bad daughter but there is not really much to talk and then some people are not phone person. I am just giving you the perspective from kids' side, though it may not be much help for you. It is not that I do not care for my parents (and I am sure your kids care about you too), and I will be there to help if they are sick or they need anything, I just need my space and sometimes I really don't want to talk (I have heard and talked all day long at work and then with kids).
Got to go now .. seems like my mom is calling again.

The President of a college told the parents of freshmen, if they do not get a call from their children and the children do not answer the phones. To leave a message and tell them, "I sent you a check and noticed you have not cashed it." "Did you receive it? Call me today and let me know."

Then when they call tell them it must have been lost in the mail and then mail them a $25.00 check.. Good way to get their attention.

How about you just call them. It shouldn't be a matter of who called who last, and now it's your turn. If you really want to hear their voice, then it doesn't matter who called who, what matters most is you are talking to them.

Updated

How about you just call them. It shouldn't be a matter of who called who last, and now it's your turn. If you really want to hear their voice, then it doesn't matter who called who, what matters most is you are talking to them.

If they are in the US you can pick up the phone and call them too.
I have a 21 year old in Japan and he doesn't have a phone I can call. The last I heard his voice was Valentine's Day. He didn't even call home on his own birthday.
I'm the mom, as soon as he finds himself a wife I hope to get more phone calls, or even an email.
Call your children.
My MIL pits the three of her kids against each other. On her birthday when one of them calls she always tells them one of the others has called first. They never miss her birthday.

Just call them yourself, if you want to hear their voices call them, don´t wait for their calls and get full of recentiment because they don´t do it. Forget about waiting if they think if you are still breathing. I am 43 and my Mother use to never call and be angry for if don´t call her (I hate that). On the contrary, my mother in low call us almost every day....when she doesn´t call we fell something is missing jaja....so every thing you want, do it your self and don´t expect the others to do....give give give, don´t think about receiving.......good luck

There's not much you can do if they fail to call you back after having left voicemails, which is totally inconsiderate. You're their mother, not some unwelcomed telemarketer or bill collection agency that they may want to avoid. Maybe they feel independent and almighty right now, but there will be a time where they will need you (like if they have kids and need a babysitter), and at that time, they may apologize for their lack of attention and it will be up to you to decide whether to forgive them. Do they call you on your birthday at least? It's a shame that they feel they should alienate themselves, could there have been a reason for this? Was there a family dispute recently, or did they leave the house on bad terms? Many kids nowadays have no respect for the older generations and that's sad, as they offer so much wisdom and deserve a deep admiration. Please try not to dwell on their ungrateful attitude and keep your friends close, at least your friends seem to have time to talk to you and want you in their life.

Have you told them that all you want is a call? I understand how the digital divide is frustrating, but this is how the world has evolved. So seeing that relationships take BOTH parties to cooperate, I would suggest you calling them and asking them to call once a month, every other week - what ever is realistic to start and then work on an increase. But the exchange has to be mutual with fairness to the type of communication preferred ( call, text, email, etc.)

I had this same issue with my mother in law and we speak on the phone about every 3 weeks but we comunnicate in other forms at least twice a week, so she doesn't feel out of touch, but she still gets her phone call.

Hope this helps!