Families are texting each other while in the same house. Teenagers are starting & ending relationships via text. Adults are making plans with friends or having hard and important conversations via long texts. Technology is very convenient, don’t get me wrong. (however, I did get in fender bender while reading a text….so take it from me, don’t text & drive!) Face to face communication is becoming a lost art & if we aren’t careful, our skills of connecting personally can atrophy. Just this week I reminded a young client about the importance of noticing someone’s tone of voice, body language and facial expressions when having an important conversation face to face. Although it can be awkward, pushing ourselves to exercise courage and clarity will not only protect against some miscommunication…it builds intimacy and trust. Parents – try not to talk negatively about texting, but instead MODEL good communication by talking more & having teachable moments. Expressing your thoughts and feelings face to face helps all of us later in life whether with roommates, teachers, bosses, partners & one another. Not to mention, having small conversations face to face about ordinary topics lays the foundation for hard conversations about sex, money, limits, homework, etc! I’d love to hear your feedback on this topic!
-Meredith