Anonymous
Post 03/15/2026 20:34     Subject: Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
Honestly I think he was lowkey abused by my mother so I am not sure how much he misses her. I asked him once and he said he was “trying hard not to think about her” whatever that meant.
At the same time he wasn’t a good husband to her because of his immaturity.
So it’s all complicated.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2026 20:29     Subject: Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
Anonymous wrote:How about people who can relate respond to the OP? The ones whose parents died when they were a teen or who had different relationships cannot relate. I guess it's great if you miss texting your mom... but there are many of us who do not. It's become a burden, because the elder is immature and needy. Often has always been. Imagining parenting your parent type of relationship. Give the OP some grace.


Yes, a lot of truth to that
-OP
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2026 20:25     Subject: Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
How about people who can relate respond to the OP? The ones whose parents died when they were a teen or who had different relationships cannot relate. I guess it's great if you miss texting your mom... but there are many of us who do not. It's become a burden, because the elder is immature and needy. Often has always been. Imagining parenting your parent type of relationship. Give the OP some grace.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2026 09:27     Subject: Re:Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
I’m sad that OP has this kind of relationship with her dad. He’s likely very lonely and after losing his wife OP is his closest remaining family and texting or calling is literally a few minutes. No one is truly that busy that they don’t have a few minutes for their elderly parent.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2026 09:23     Subject: Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
Geez, he’s probably very lonely. OP can feel what she feels, and it doesn’t sound like she’s unkind to her dad, but the situation is very sad nonetheless. Texting 2-3x a day doesn’t seem like a burden, especially since OP describes him as unproblematic in general. I can’t personally relate because I do not find that level of contact with my elderly parents irritating.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2026 06:37     Subject: Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You will miss him terribly when he is gone, and you will regret this post.


This sucks as a reply. OP is allowed their feelings.

DP


OP’s feelings aren’t valid, and the reply was spot on.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2026 06:36     Subject: Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Are you the same person who is literally cleaning her father's home and cooking his meals?


He has a cleaning lady and he makes simple meals himself (so idk what you’re referring to) but he wants to text every day.
This is progress after he was calling everyday (on FaceTime, with camera on).
I can’t say “dad please just don’t text”.
He doesn’t need anything physically.
I just am amazed by how annoyed I was by his constant presence so to speak.
The poster who talks about encouraging him to do things, he does them but still keeps texting and texting with mundane stuff. Like maybe 2-3x a day.


That sounds harmless and your irritation is over the top.

He used to listen to you prattle on about mundane shit, remember.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2026 06:34     Subject: Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
Anonymous wrote:Dad is spry for his age but very infantile and dependent emotionally. Told him it was a super busy week for me, he was still texting me with mundane stuff which of course I had to tolerate but haven’t heard from him for 2 days and suddenly realized what a blessing it was to not have to think about him for a little while!
I am sure he is fine, just wanted to share and maybe someone can relate. He has been a widower for 4 years now and it’s frankly become a bit much re: his presence even though he is a good man!


Did you have a question?
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2026 06:27     Subject: Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
Some of you people are just terrible daughters. Simple as that.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2026 04:24     Subject: Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
Anonymous wrote:I wish I could text my mom it was hard not to after she died when I had a little funny story to tell her about the kids etc I’m now learning to text my dad with those types of things. I’m sure he is very lonely without your mom.


+1

My mom died when I was a teen. My dad remarried and started a new family and moved on completely. So I have no parents texting me. I wish I had OP's problem.
Anonymous
Post 03/15/2026 02:37     Subject: Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
Anonymous wrote:I wish I could text my mom it was hard not to after she died when I had a little funny story to tell her about the kids etc I’m now learning to text my dad with those types of things. I’m sure he is very lonely without your mom.

+100
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2026 21:00     Subject: Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
I wish I could text my mom it was hard not to after she died when I had a little funny story to tell her about the kids etc I’m now learning to text my dad with those types of things. I’m sure he is very lonely without your mom.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2026 20:48     Subject: Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Texting bothers you because you are knee jerk looking at every text you get. Can't you mute him and look once in a while? This is why email and mail filters were so great.


I feel like I need to check at least daily in case of a relative emergency, so yeah.
There’s no way for me to tell him “please don’t text me unless there’s something truly important. Your best gift to me is not texting me for a week”. So yeah.


But you could say, "hey, dad, i can focus better on your texts if you just send them in the evening" (or whenever you want). You're allowed to state your preferences in a kind way.


Honestly I’d like to not hear from him for a week or more, there’s no way to say it really
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2026 20:47     Subject: Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You will miss him terribly when he is gone, and you will regret this post.


This sucks as a reply. OP is allowed their feelings.

DP

And we’re allowed to think she’s a selfish person to be saying these things because her lonely dad who she has characterized as unproblematic texts her a few times a day. BFD. It takes a few seconds to respond.


I get it! I can see your POV. Idk what’s wrong with me.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2026 20:44     Subject: Not hearing from a physically independent parent for 2 days is a blessing
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Texting bothers you because you are knee jerk looking at every text you get. Can't you mute him and look once in a while? This is why email and mail filters were so great.


I feel like I need to check at least daily in case of a relative emergency, so yeah.
There’s no way for me to tell him “please don’t text me unless there’s something truly important. Your best gift to me is not texting me for a week”. So yeah.


But you could say, "hey, dad, i can focus better on your texts if you just send them in the evening" (or whenever you want). You're allowed to state your preferences in a kind way.