How Simple Text Messages Create Stronger Connections with Your Children

Do you remember growing up without the internet or cell phones? We had one landline, and everyone in the house shared it. We ate dinner together, watched our favorite shows side by side, and played outside for hours until it was time to come home for dinner or to get money for the ice cream truck.

There was no tracking. No apps. No constant updates. Just being there.

When our parents wanted to talk, we talked face-to-face. We listened. We were respectful. And we were connected.

That was the norm for generations until mobile devices became a constant presence. Whether you believe the shift has been for better or worse, one thing is sure: phones are always within reach. For many, they’ve become an extension of the body.

As parents, we adapted. We use phones to stay in touch, track, remind, and manage our tasks. I’m guilty of it, too. When my sons were in middle and high school, I used text messages to send reminders, reprimands, commands, and to-do lists. My messages lacked warmth. Over time, I became someone my kids only texted when they needed something.

When the World Stopped—and Connection Began

Then the pandemic hit. Life paused. And what felt like a restriction became a gift.

With everything shut down, I reevaluated my life. I had time to reflect, to uncover patterns, and to confront limiting beliefs I’d been carrying since childhood. I began healing inner conflicts I hadn’t realized were shaping how I communicated with my sons.

While the physical world closed, the digital one opened. I immersed myself in courses, seminars, and mentorships. Thought leaders expanded my perspective on confidence, mindset, spirituality, character, gratitude, and emotional intelligence—topics I had never learned about in school.

I felt compelled to share this knowledge with my sons, not through lectures but through heartfelt messages. I didn’t expect a reply, but I wanted them to know: “I see you.” “I love you.” “I believe in you.” “You matter.”

I realized I longed to be someone they wanted to hear from, but I had to meet them where they were: on their phones.

The Distraction Epidemic—and the Power of Intention

We live in an age of constant digital distraction. I own a restaurant and regularly see people at tables together, yet they are absorbed in their phones.

It’s no wonder. According to Review.org, the average American checks their phone 205 times daily, about once every five minutes while awake. Over 43% say they’re addicted.

I realized that if I wanted to connect with my sons, I had to stop using texts as commands and start using them as connection points. I began sending intentional, heart-centered messages that expressed love, gratitude, appreciation, accountability, mindfulness, and inspiration. I shared what I was learning with them, not as a teacher but as a human being.

And I expected nothing in return. My only goal was to plant seeds of truth, hope, and love.

The Unexpected Gifts of Vulnerability

As I leaned into vulnerability, something beautiful happened. I apologized. I took accountability for yelling and reacting poorly in the past. I explained my triggers, not to excuse myself, but to model self-awareness.

These messages changed everything. My sons began to see me not just as “Mom,” but as a person, imperfect, evolving, and real. Compassion and connection grew. They started opening in new ways.

If we want our kids to be accountable, we must first show them what that looks like.

Why These Messages Matter More Than Ever

After October 7, 2023, I saw how essential human connection had become. The digital world became overrun with hate, misinformation, indoctrination, and fear, and that energy seeped into our minds and our kids.

According to a 2023 Pew Research Center study, 62% of young adults (18–29) encounter misinformation on social media and lack the tools to evaluate it, leading to confusion, anxiety, and emotional disconnection.

This isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a generational crisis. We cannot solve the global conflict, but we can provide our loved ones with one healing tool: intentional communication.

One Message at a Time

If you want a deeper connection with your kids or anyone you love, it starts with consistent, daily practice: a single message, not one-and-done, but a habit.

We get 960 minutes a day. Can you find 10 minutes to send a message that says, “I’m thinking of you. I believe in you.”?

When you hit ‘send,’ you release the highest-vibrating energy frequencies: love and gratitude. That energy has a ripple effect. The recipient feels it. It uplifts them. It connects them. And that connection can shift the energy of their whole day or life.

Connection Starts with You

We crave real connection in a world of endless scrolling and surface-level interaction. The good news is that you don’t need hours of time or fancy tools. All it takes is your phone and a little intention.

It becomes even easier when you have a guide of pre-written messages. You can personalize them, make them your own, and send them from your heart.

These are not just messages. They are acts of love, healing, and a legacy.

These texts helped my sons feel bulletproof, seen, supported, and deeply loved. So much so, they wrote the foreword to the book I created from this practice.

Imagine receiving a message that makes you feel deeply seen. Or sending one that shifts someone’s whole perspective. That’s the power of this practice—one message at a time.

If you’re ready to create deeper, more meaningful connections with your children, order your copy of Text Messages to My Sons: A Guide to Using Mobile Devices to Connect and Communicate Deeply with Your Kids. With over 200 pages of pre-written messages, you can start today because the best time to build a connection is now.

Order Now https://tammyjcohen.com/text-messages-to-my-sons-a-guide-to-using-mobile-devices-to-connect-and-communicate-deeply-with-your-kids/