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Adult children don’t call or message much

279 replies

mothersdayhmm · 18/04/2025 20:37

I have two adult children. My son is 28 and lives about an hour away. He calls me probably once a month. I message him quite a lot and he will take a few days to reply. But, generally our relationship is good and if I’m not working, I will make the journey to see him and treat him to lunch and we have a really good time. So I am not worried about my relationship with him.

My daughter, however, lives on the other side of the world. She emigrated to New Zealand last year. She is 26. We had a great relationship before she left. However, she literally never rings home and never messages first. I message her about twice a week to check in, she takes days to reply, and the reply is often short and perfunctory. She never asks about how everyone is at home. I feel like I am trying to be friends with someone who doesn’t really want to be friends with me.

My question is, is this normal? I am hoping that as she grows older, she will come back to the fold a little bit more, even if just metaphorically.

OP posts:
RickiRaccoon · 18/04/2025 20:46

I think it's normal at that age. In our 20s my sister and I lived abroad and were young and our parents just didn't come into our thoughts as much. It changed as we got older. With kids (and living in a different town) now I know we both make an effort to call once a week and we talk about what the grandparents might be doing a lot.

My brothers (neither has kids) are probably still a bit aloof but maybe talk with our parents every couple of weeks.

Hankunamatata · 18/04/2025 20:45

I'm crap keeping in touch and live a distance to my parents. If they rang me once a week though I'd make time

PinataHeeHaw · 18/04/2025 20:43

This is sad for you. Did you bring them up well and did they have a happy childhood?

They're probably both so busy with life.

Zone2NorthLondon · 18/04/2025 20:43

TBH I have not always diligent in keeping in touch. I’d unintentionally leave days between messages etc
Being busy,working shifts, sometimes over the years different locations
Doesn't mean I didn’t love or care for my mum,just was busy and consumed in my own career etc