Do your children call you, or do they use Facebook?

If you really must know, I don't have any children.

To answer your first question, once I got on-line, the phone calls became less, and instead they would send emails. The pictures and snapshots of the grandkids they always sent...the ones we could actually hold in our hands!....also tended to be less because they would attach them to the emails.

Then once I got on FB, even that changed. There are now less emails and I have to go over there to see their pictures and read about what everyone is up to. And to be honest, there have been a few times that I've been unpleasantly surprised.

Maybe I'm just old-school. My father is 93 and I call him every few days. Out of respect....but also because I just enjoy talking with him!

As for your friend, that had to have hurt. Her "kids" definitely showed a lack of thoughtfulness and consideration to share their vacation news on FB but not directly with her.

I think your example is also hurtful and thoughtless of your friends kids. If the kids were connected on Facebook to another family member or mutual friend who then asked the parents how the kids got on in the Caribbean and mum and dad didn`t even know they`d been......hmmmm embarrassing or what? I don`t do any social sites (and the kids know that) but I automatically connect to MSN when I log onto the pc. I have a lot of chats to my daughter this way and it`s quite good fun sometimes with all the emotions! Download it and ask you kids and grandchildren to download it too if they already havn`t then you can add each other as contacts and chat whenever you want to once you`ve signed in.

Even before face book my children were always bad about calling, and it's worse now. But I don't blame them they have a life and are living it well. When I think about all the calls I don't get it upsets me a little, then I consider this: Why don't I call them, and yes I know it might not be a good time for them but what is it we are trying to accomplish as parents? For me I want to speak with my kids and it doesn't really matter if they call or not. In fact thanks for this question, I think I'll go call my kids:)

By the way I quit looking at face book. That way I don't have to answer their question: Hey Dad did you see my last post? Also, I don't particularly like what my kids post as it generally has nothing to do with our family

I never hear from my children unless they want or need something, not even on Facebook or an email. Our granddaughter emails us but not often. I guess they are busy and have their own families which takes up a lot of their time. It was the same when my kids were young, I didn't call or write my parents much either. Poppy

My kids called when they were gone away to college this last semester, but in our case it was mainly because they were quite depressed, so it wasn't really a good thing.

One of my kids posted on a somewhat regular basis on Facebook, and the thing I liked about it was that he posted some awesome pictures I may not have gotten to see otherwise.

The thing I like about Facebook is that my friends and family post regularly about the little things (and some of the bigger things) that go on in their day-to-day lives, just quick comments that people may not think they could make a whole conversation out of. It's fun to keep up with more distant friends and relatives that I normally wouldn't think to call.

But it is no substitute for actual conversation, and I am so sorry to hear your children treat you like that. One thing they may not realize, though, iw how important grandchildren are. If so, they are sadly needing to be educated.

Different children do different things. I hear from some daily, some weekly and others communicate by text, e mail and facebook. It all depends on the individuals, where they live and how busy a lifestyle they have. I dont always have time to spend on the phone either so I dont consider it a problem. Since they are adults I dont feel the need to be totally involved in every small part of their daily lives unless they want to share them. I still know that they love me.

It always makes me sad ...where I hear a story like yours and your friends....it really a sign of the times...the break down of the family unit.

I'm very lucky ...my adult children are in contact with me every week. My son has 8 month old twins but he still finds the time to phone and fill us in on all the news also what the twins are doing ...teething /crawling / giggling. My other daughter phones every week also...and they visit every few weeks. They live about a 2 1/2 hour drive away. I think as parents we have to set the lead...also they ( our children ) need to understand the importance of family. When trouble comes around...it's the family that will be there to give support. We don't use Facebook . when we disagree..we do it face to face ..then we get over it.

Actually, we hear from our son in Oregon almost every day, either on the phone or IM on the computer. Our son in California is like me. I we don't hear from him, don't worry. Only worry if we hear ABOUT him. But since he has adopted a brother and sister this past summer, we hear from him and our new grand kids every Sunday (that's when I'd call my mother, and my son picked that up from me). We see comments on face book, but since they do call, we don't 'talk' in emails or on facebook/myspace.

In fact, I just got off the phone with my 5 year old grand daughter who had sent me a hand printed card asking about my knee that had given me a hard time a couple of weeks ago. She called and I told her I had received the card.

I have seven grown children and only a few ever call me. One of my daughters lives with me and is a big help to me. Some of the other children keep in touch through facebook

They usually call us (they are in their 40's). Our daughter lives 8 miles away from us and we get to baby sit our youngest grand daughter (she's 3) every Wed. Makes for a fun day for us. The rest live about 2 hours away.