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OPINION

Recently I went with a friend for coffee. Between laughs, she let me know she’d been let go from her last job. It happens to everyone.

You don’t ‘mesh’ well with your employer, or the work is specifically skilled and there is just someone out there that can do it better than you can.

What caught me off guard about her story was she was let go from her job via text.

I had to let that sink in.

Rewind six months. I was texting with a friend (who I have known for 28 years). I needed an immediate answer for something so I decided to just call her.

After a few rings I heard the familiar voice of my friend, “Well this is weird.”

And she was right. I couldn’t remember the last time I had spoken with her on the phone — for years we have planned playdates and activities through text messaging.

We used to talk on the phone for hours.

So what is the new normal with texting, or like the weather, are the guidelines a little bit hazy?

This isn’t a groundbreaking thought, I realize, but being the age that I am and living in the time period I do, I have really watched the progression of texting in both personal and professional capacities.

I’m trying to stay positive — change and growth are generally good — at least they start out that way.

Texting is a great example, and like usual, my examples come back to my children.

I worry a lot (have I mentioned that before?) and texting is going to be a great tool for my peace of mind.

I will be able to check in on my children in a non-disruptive way.

I won’t be ‘that mom’ driving around the block looking for them or calling them constantly and embarrassing them in front of their friends (although that depends on if they answer my texts or not).

I can send them little messages like, “Hey, remember me, your mom who loves you sooooooo much and just wants to make sure you are okay.” Or, “Hey, how is your day going? Need to talk about anything?”

They can peek at my messages from under their desks or nonchalantly read it with an outstretched arm from the back of their lockers.

When they start to blush from the sheer embarrassment of my mushy messages, they can casually blame it on the weather or the school’s poor ventilation system.

But not all the messages they receive will be from their benevolent mother, but rather girlfriends, boyfriends, bosses and frenemies.

What should I teach them is acceptable and what is cringe-worthy?

Who make the rules for texting and who is following them?

So although I haven’t had the pleasure of being dumped, fired or harassed via text message just yet (okay maybe the first one is a lie), I know that text messaging is going to play a significant role in my children’s lives and I will need to be there to remind them to save the winky faces for their friends.

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