Written Voices Article: Lauren & Sophia's Favorites

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FSB Author Article

Lauren & Sophia's Favorites
By Lauren Kaelin and Sophia Fraioli,
Authors of When Parents Text: So Much Said . . . So Little Understood

Lauren Kaelin and Sophia Fraioli moved back to their childhood homes after graduating college in 2010. Living under these familiar roofs, now four years older, created an interesting dynamic between parents and their young-adult roommates. Nowhere was this shift more visible then their texting exchanges. "I love and miss you" had become "WHERE ARE YOU COME HOME NOW" and a request to be picked up at 7pm was now, “7 tacos for dinner?”

After hysterically laughing over an exchange between Lauren and her mom one night, the pair decided to start a website dedicated to the trails and errors of parental texting. By December, the site was a viral sensation with over 5 millions hits a month and hundreds of anonymous daily submissions. Lauren and Sophia have read thousands of text messages to update their website and compile their new book, and these still stand out as their favorites.

Church Updates
Dad: So how was your homily?
Me: It was okay. He just kind of repeated the gospel.
Dad: Ours was about Internet Porn.

Piece of Paper
Me: Can we go to yoga tonight?
Mom: Maybe -- I really have to find a piece of paper on my desk, though, tonight . . .

Tenderloin Sliders
Me: How's the bar?
Dad: Yes cool iron sculptures around the TVs
Dad: Has tenderloin sliders with horseradish sauce

The iTunes Store
Dad: would y'all take me to the itunes store . . . i don't know where its located…is it on S. Congress?

Hearing Aid
Grandpa: I finished the harry potter movie. Couldnt hear half of it because my hearing aid fell out but it was visually stimulating. But not as visually stimulating as Avatar. What is Voldamert's purpose in life?

Cat Lips
Mom: Would it be weird to tell the neighbor his cat has nice lips?
Me: um . . . yeah.

On Domino's Delivery Tracking
Dad: Jaun has double checked our order for perfection at 8:08pm! Good job Jaun! He sounds like a nice guy. The internet is a fascinating place.

Bowtie Man
Mom: Can you please call me when you need to be picked up! Don't do anything stupid! :-)8
Me: What is that emoticon?
Mom: bowtie man! He doesn't do anything stupid

Human?
Mom: Our church is going to be on the news tonight
Me: that's cool! what for?
Mom: A bone washed up in the ditch -- They think it's human.

And the text that started it all . . .

Tacos for Dinner
Mom: Tacos or meatloaf for dinner?
Me: Tacos
Mom: Bring your appetite. When will you be home?
Mom: Eta?
Mom: ???
Me: Can you pick me up at 6:45? My phone is going to die.
Mom: Walnut St?
Me: Yes
Mom: How many tacos?
Me: Might be more like 7.
Mom: Tacos?
Me: No, my train gets in then.
Me: Tacos? 2?
Mom: How many tacos?
Me: Mom, chill with the tacos.

Author Bios
Lauren Kaelin and Sophia Fraioli, authors of When Parents Text: So Much Said . . . So Little Understood, grew up in Montclair, NJ, and have been best friends since sixth grade. After graduating from Smith (Lauren) and the University of Vermont (Sophia), they moved back to Montclair and created the hugely popular website, whenparentstext.com. The two have since moved out of their childhood homes, but they still text their parents. They currently live in Brooklyn and make their own tacos.

For more information please visit http://whenparentstext.com, and follow the authors on Facebook and Twitter