Do you usually text this kind of stuff with your parents? My parents are not emotional on text. If I call, they would be over the moon about us visiting and we would hear it. If I text, they would say, "Yes, Tuesday-Friday works. We look forward to it."

Maybe they got used to you not being around and this messes with their routines. You managed without them for years but expect them to be all excited and grateful for you showing up. Well saving postage makes up for some of the hassle your visit causes.

This is how my mom is. She is excited to see us, but doesn't really text and only wants to talk on the phone for 5-10 mins at a time before getting off to watch TV with her cat. I think some old people just get really tired and can't muster as much energy. Go do the visits and remember you can't control their reactions, but they are probably happy in their own way and your kids are hopefully making good memories. If they are cranky when you go, you can always shorten visits or just see one side at a time each year.

OP, I’m coming on here a bit late but you sound exhausting. I don’t have a lot of words with text but it would not mean it wasn’t excited.

I would have either liked your post to acknowledge it or responded “great”. I don’t text in paragraphs and save that for the conversation

Totally off base and too sensitive. I had to read it twice to even understand what you might have been upset about.

Anonymous wrote:You moved away and abandoned them. I don't blame them if they're a little off put.

I didn’t think it was possible for any of the responses to be as ridiculous as the OP, but you managed it. Brava!