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AIBU to feel hurt by my daughter’s slow replies to messages

392 replies

GoldenGran · 22/04/2026 07:57

My Daughter and her fella have two kids. Nearly 3 and 6 months.

I will text her or she’ll text me sometimes it’ll take nearly a day for her to get back to me.

I know she’s busy with the children but a reply literally takes seconds. She can be dismissive towards me. She knows my bedtime is 9 and she often replies around that time. I think it’s because she knows I’m going to bed.

She is quick enough to phone when she wants something!

My husband doesn’t get why I’m annoyed by this! It’s rude isn’t it?

OP posts:
HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 22/04/2026 17:22

You come across as a little mean tbh. She’s got two very young children and you’re accusing her of not managing her time effectively.
Try acting like a supportive mum rather than a demanding boss.

Poonu · 22/04/2026 17:11

fireworksandflowers · 22/04/2026 08:00

Some people are like this. I’m the same as you, I receive a text and reply pretty much straight away as like you say it take a minute. My partner (and his full family for that matter) may take anywhere from a minute to 36 hours to reply. I actually wish I was more like them and didn’t have myself constantly available for everyone else.

Me too lol

outerspacepotato · 22/04/2026 17:07

She has a toddler and a baby. She's busy.

Expecting her to respond immediately is fucking wild. Her life doesn't revolve around you.

Why are you upset she responds to you around 9. That's when her evening is winding down. If her end would only take seconds, then you should be ok even if it's close to your bedtime.

You come off as feeling entitled to her time and with 2 little kids, that is not going to happen.

Gloriia · 22/04/2026 16:50

Badbadbunny · 22/04/2026 16:26

This!! People today are constantly bombarded by being "Pinged" relentlessly throughout the day with one thing or another. People have to prioritise what they read and what they reply to, otherwise they'd get nothing else done.

It's easy for people who aren't working and don't have caring responsibilities to expect instant replies as they've forgotten what it was like to be pulled in several directions at once. Many "older" people wouldn't have been working when they had young kids and even those who did won't understand the increased demands of the modern workplace (again, multiple device pings throughout the day in lots of jobs these days).

It nearly drove my son to a breakdown when he first started Uni as he simply couldn't keep up with all the "pings" - He had, I think, something like 35 different Uni facebook groups, whatsapp groups, discourse groups, etc for each different module, the college, each club & society & sport, the student union, plus emails/texts from the personal tutor, welfare dept, plus two different departments (he did a "Joint" degree), it was relentless. Once when he came home for a few days, his phone literally pinged every couple of minutes! We had to work through some strategies for him to manage it all. And that was before he actually did the Uni work, attending lectures, etc.

In my work, I'll often get pinged by a client in the evening via email or webchat and by 9.30 the next morning, they're harrassing me because I havn't replied!

Obviously life requires time management and organisational skills. Your dc's uni chats sound far too excessive so good that you eventually gave him tips on how to handle being online.

Family is different. I ignore loads of messages until I cba, expect dm or dc. I get back to them becaue they are important where colleagues, clients and group chats aren't.

Cheesegrapeschutney · 22/04/2026 16:27

Are you one of those people who 'tsks' when they see a young mum on their phone when they're with their, children but also complains when they don't message back immediately?!

Badbadbunny · 22/04/2026 16:26

whattheysay · 22/04/2026 16:17

What are you texting her that needs an urgent reply ?

This!! People today are constantly bombarded by being "Pinged" relentlessly throughout the day with one thing or another. People have to prioritise what they read and what they reply to, otherwise they'd get nothing else done.

It's easy for people who aren't working and don't have caring responsibilities to expect instant replies as they've forgotten what it was like to be pulled in several directions at once. Many "older" people wouldn't have been working when they had young kids and even those who did won't understand the increased demands of the modern workplace (again, multiple device pings throughout the day in lots of jobs these days).

It nearly drove my son to a breakdown when he first started Uni as he simply couldn't keep up with all the "pings" - He had, I think, something like 35 different Uni facebook groups, whatsapp groups, discourse groups, etc for each different module, the college, each club & society & sport, the student union, plus emails/texts from the personal tutor, welfare dept, plus two different departments (he did a "Joint" degree), it was relentless. Once when he came home for a few days, his phone literally pinged every couple of minutes! We had to work through some strategies for him to manage it all. And that was before he actually did the Uni work, attending lectures, etc.

In my work, I'll often get pinged by a client in the evening via email or webchat and by 9.30 the next morning, they're harrassing me because I havn't replied!

whattheysay · 22/04/2026 16:17

What are you texting her that needs an urgent reply ?

Beebeebee24 · 22/04/2026 16:14

No, you're not being unreasonable to feel hurt that your daughter doesn't have time to reply to you.

You want to be important in her life and feel like you have a place and are valued. It must be difficult to go from being one of the most important people in the world to your daughter to her having many people that she loves and has to prioritise.

I dont think she is being rude. Life is exhausting with children that young and she likely has little time to herself. ( the only time I get to myself is a bath once I've put the little ones down to bed and following that a load of housework) she is probly stressed, the world is probly on top of her and shes is most likely struggling juggling her new life with so many priorities.

I carry a lot of guilt when I forget to reply to my mom or take a few days sometimes and honestly with my little ones my head isn't on straight most the time. She most likely loves you dearly and she is making time to reply to you. If she's like me she will care dearly but sometimes life gets on top of us all and with a baby that little there can be so much on the list of things you have to do that you're heads constantly spinning.

Not so much as not having time for you more a life so overwhelmed with things that need doing that important things are often put to the side for the immediate thing that needs doing in front of us.

nutbrownhare15 · 22/04/2026 15:54

GoldenGran · 22/04/2026 08:04

I understand your points. I also had two children, her and her sister. But I managed my time

I doubt your mum was texting you multiple times a day when you were bringing them up.

Grizelina · 22/04/2026 15:41

GoldenGran · 22/04/2026 08:04

I understand your points. I also had two children, her and her sister. But I managed my time

But as mobile phones were unlikely to have been around then, it’s unlikely your mother was texting you all the time! And I bet if your phone rang and you were busy you ignored it!

TheGreatDownandOut · 22/04/2026 14:26

IncognitoTime · 22/04/2026 13:41

I did the same, because I got sick of the "Thanks for reading and not replying" passive aggression.

Same here! I used to have a friend (used to being the operative word) that would text me a load of waffle about her day and what was left off her Tesco food delivery and then I’d get one half an hour later saying “are you alive?!” It really annoys me.

Expecting immediate responses to texts is akin to jumping up and down in front of someone saying “give me your attention NOW”
Just because it may “only take a few minutes to reply” doesn’t mean it’s not irritating and draining.

Cherrytree86 · 22/04/2026 14:04

Time to just focus mainly on yourself , OP! Spoil yourself. Go out with friends, hobbies, gym, etc Invest in yourself @GoldenGran 😊

Gloriia · 22/04/2026 13:58

trainkeepsgoing · 22/04/2026 13:21

I see it as a good sign-she is fully present with her children rather than sitting on her phone

I bet she is sat on her phone just cba to reply to her dm..

FeelingALittleWoozyHere · 22/04/2026 13:52

RidingMyBike · 22/04/2026 13:31

And this is why I turned read receipts off on my phone. The expectation of replying instantly to a non-urgent message.

I get a lot of msgs, from people I’ll
be seeing that day at toddler group, from my partner about picking up food,
from nursery or school.

All of those are a higher priority than a message from my mum about nothing in particular.

I did this too. Also I turned off visibility as I was finding my mum was messaging me the minute she saw i was online. I feel bad as I know shes lonely but I find it really stressful having constant messages to respond to and the expectation of having to respond immediately just cos she knew I was online made it worse

Bered · 22/04/2026 13:50

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Pattaya · 22/04/2026 13:49

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Yes i have a few close friends that make the effort.
Sometimes its just a quick, hi im busy right now so I'll get back to you tonight.
Simple.

I didnt cut anyone off they just didnt bother getting back to me for days sometimes weeks, so i slowly stopped and waited for a response.

I dont have kids.

teraculum29 · 22/04/2026 13:48

OP,
unless there is a backstory and/or your daughter is not tallying you something.

If your daughter is anything like me, I see a text notification cant reply at that moment and then i completely forget about it until kids bedtime is over when i have time look on my phone and there it is "oh shit, i forgot to reply to mum, sis etc

IncognitoTime · 22/04/2026 13:41

RidingMyBike · 22/04/2026 13:31

And this is why I turned read receipts off on my phone. The expectation of replying instantly to a non-urgent message.

I get a lot of msgs, from people I’ll
be seeing that day at toddler group, from my partner about picking up food,
from nursery or school.

All of those are a higher priority than a message from my mum about nothing in particular.

I did the same, because I got sick of the "Thanks for reading and not replying" passive aggression.

Withthe2Ls · 22/04/2026 13:40

My sister is like this. We both have two young kids. I either reply straight away or leave it in read until bedtime but it’s a running joke to get a reply from her you have to wait 3-5 working days. Honestly if it’s that important we phone her if it’s not we wait, it’s not that deep people are busy. Is it important/urgent messages she is ignoring or are you hoping for daily communication. Not going to lie replying within 24hr from a mum with 2 young children is really good. Also definitely isn’t rude you just aren’t her top priority which I feel is your real struggle here

moofolk · 22/04/2026 13:40

AttentionPlease · 22/04/2026 08:03

It’s telling you think she replies at nine to be obstructive, rather than what seems like the more obvious reason — that the baby and three year old are in bed, she and her partner have eaten dinner, done a clear up and are at leisure for the first time in the day. Maybe this is the time she sets aside to reply to texts.

This is pretty much what I was going to say.

RidingMyBike · 22/04/2026 13:31

And this is why I turned read receipts off on my phone. The expectation of replying instantly to a non-urgent message.

I get a lot of msgs, from people I’ll
be seeing that day at toddler group, from my partner about picking up food,
from nursery or school.

All of those are a higher priority than a message from my mum about nothing in particular.

Bered · 22/04/2026 13:29

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Bered · 22/04/2026 13:25

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trainkeepsgoing · 22/04/2026 13:21

I see it as a good sign-she is fully present with her children rather than sitting on her phone

C8H10N4O2 · 22/04/2026 13:17

GoldenGran · 22/04/2026 08:04

I understand your points. I also had two children, her and her sister. But I managed my time

Hey MN, I’m juggling with a baby and toddler and its often 9pm before I get a minute to myself to catch up on the day’s messages.

Then DM complains that she goes to bed at 9pm and doesn’t want me messaging her then. She wants instant answers whatever I’m doing.

AIBU to just give up answering altogether?