Text me when you get there?

[Darknessinthevalley]

Tiny amount of background.
I'm early 20's, moved away from home at 17, I haven't lived within 100 miles of my hometown since then. Occasionally, DH and I will travel four or so hours to visit his family, and we don't drive so we almost always get a coach (no prizes for guessing where I am right now!).
If I mention to either of my (divorced) parents, they'll request that I text them when I get there. They don't always know that I'm going, and obviously they don't know when I go out, or go to stay with friends, so I find it odd that they ask for a text on these occasions.
It's a small thing to remember, but I do get snapped at when I forget, which in the mess of getting into the house and dumping bags/hugging in laws etc, I often do.
It's such a minor thing in the scheme of things, but AIBU to think this a little strange? Do you do this with your adult kids?
Just to clarify completely, I don't live at home, I haven't for years now, so they rarely know my whereabouts anyway.

Yabu. I get dh to text whens hes arrived at work safe. I lost five friends in car accidents. one time dh forgot to text me he turned up at 10pm and i was really worried id phoned the police as he normally home at 7pm. His phone had died and he been stuck somewhere which had no phone. Nature of his work but the worry been awful. Yabu. Its a tiny thing that puts someones mind at rest you dont even have to talk. I text my dp when i go anywhere as does dh.

46 and I text when I get somewhere. My parents went home yesterday after visiting us on holiday and they texted when they got home. Doesn't bother me in the slightest.

I'm nearly 37 and we do it both ways - my parents are in their 60s

You will understand when you have kids. (That’s what my mum tells me!)

I’m 39 and I text if I’m going on a journey. My 10 yo DD texts me when she gets to the play area at the end of the road. Mothers worry, there’s nothing pathetic about that.

I'm a lot older than you and I always phone my parents to say we are home after visiting them. Our children always message us when they are travelling to say they've arrived. I thought it was normal. You are more unreasonable only speaking to your parents once or twice a month. We speak to our lot all the time and two of them live on the other side of the world. My daughter phones me every day but we are very close with our children.

I’m 50 and I still do it. No big deal.

Oh no youre parents care about you......? Just say to them no news is good news. My mum freaks if she dosent hear from me after a journey so now we have that rule

As a mum of two grown ups who live away from home, I don’t think it’s strange for them to ask, no, but I stop myself from asking these things for the reasons you gave, I don’t know everywhere they go so why worry if I do know. I can’t answer that, once a parent always a parent!!!! Just accept the agro if you do forget but pop a reminder in your phone to just bing at you after you have arrived and that may remind you.

My mum and MIL both do this, only phoning rather than texting. I'm 43 and DH is in his late 50s. I have no problem with making a 5 minute call to set their minds at rest. There are road accidents all the time, so it's not an irrational fear to think someone might not make it safely to their destination.

We live in different parts of the country to my parents and my in laws. Whenever we travel to in laws I always just send a text to let my parent know we arrived.
I used to think they were over the top worriers but now with children of my own I can see where the worry comes from. I'm still their child and they're older now and still are concerned.
I usually draft a text 10 mins away from in laws and hit send as coming into the drive.
Job done. No hassle

I'd just do it.

Not to be dramatic but they were the last words my beloved Dad ever said to me before he died (he was very sick at home in his bed). We both of kind of knew I think that it might be the last time we spoke. He said ...

"You take care. Let me know when you get home"

Now my mum said it always the same way as a Nic to him. I wouldn't dream if not doing it and I'm nearly 50.

*nod

We don’t do this & I would find it really irritating. It must be very stressful waiting for people to call/text all the time.

I haven’t lived at home for over 20 years and have my own family, but I still text my parents when I fly or travel for business and DEFINITELY when we go on a long journey - they worry because they care. I’ll do the same to my kids too

If it bothers you then tell them that you don't want to do it

My young adult ds’s are all back at home for the summer. One of the rules is to text to say if they’re coming home/ staying out all night / walking home etc.

I might not even wake up to read it but , as said upthread, it’s a very quick text to say all’s well.

We are guilty of this, it’s just for reassurance, DS has a lengthy journey to college and always texts me when he arrives, as a mum you never stop worrying about your DC.

@BlueJava I came on to say "3 rings" 🙂
I'm in my 30s & still do this (in text form) I live 15mins from my parents and they ask me to do it if I've been there and it's bad weather.

A good friend was making a long journey earlier this year when it was snowy, I asked them to let me know when they arrived (has no family in UK). Whenever I visit my best friend, she asks me to text when I get home.
It just means people care doesn't it? 🤷🏻‍♀️

No, not stressful, just nice. But doesn't it depend on the relationship you have with your DPs?

It's hard to explain. Sometimes I don't think of it, it doesn't matter, I don't want or need a text or a call from my adult DCs. Other times I just like to know they're OK. For those that don't want to do it, why not just do one or two rings on your parents' landline? Takes all of 10 seconds, if that, I don't know why people are so adverse to putting someone's mind at rest, they love you and care, what's so pathetic about that.

I have to say... I may feel different when my DCs get married or partnered up. It's like when they go on holiday with their boyfriend, I don't worry so much but when one was travelling round S America on her own I did have worries but tried hard not to!

Food - me too!

My in laws do it to us when we are travelling back from staying and we do it to our daughter and she does it to us . It’s just something we do . No one minds and in fact a little while ago my daughter did have an accident on the way home so I think because it’s a bit of a longer journey than normal and normally at peak times you do just worry a bit more .

I do it when my parents know I'm travelling, I ask my children to do it when I know they are travelling.

My husband asks me to text as well.

I see no harm in this.

Foolfighter we still say "3 rings" if out with friends and after a few drinks! Give us 3 rings when you get in 😂. We're joking of course but it brings back memories.

I think a lot of parents just need that reassurance that their loved ones have arrived safely after a long journey.