How all parents use WhatsApp

I regularly receive the panicky message ‘call me’ from my mother on WhatsApp. Apparently, calling is still her preference. And shouldn't that actually apply to all parents? I personally think that we are the main reason they use WhatsApp, because we children are generally ‘too busy’ to call. Of course, they also enjoy sending photos back and forth, but at its core, they experience WhatsApp as a hassle, I'm pretty sure of that. I therefore assume that all our parents do the following things when they are busy messaging us:

1. Typing with one hand
Within two seconds, we have sent a lengthy message on WhatsApp, while our parents, on the other hand, type everything at their own leisurely pace with one hand, which makes it all take even longer. For minutes, you see in the status bar that your father or mother is ‘typing’. You wait in suspense only to receive an ‘ok fine’ in return. Did they take that long? Yes, they took that long.

2. Emojis, GIFs, and stickers
As soon as parents start using WhatsApp, you still regularly receive questions about how to send those cute little characters and funny videos. You dutifully explain this a few times, while you already know that you might be better off not doing this. Once they figure out how to do it, there is of course no turning back: every day you receive the weirdest stickers and images, often without any context. Just a GIF of a singing cat, and you have to make do with that.

3. Short answers
‘Short but powerful’ is the motto of all parents on WhatsApp. You put in the effort for a long, sweet, and detailed message, and you only get an ‘ok’ back. Or worse: a thumbs up. Well, you won't do that again; it's telegram style from now on. ‘On my way’, ‘See you soon’, ‘Thanks’, and: ‘Sounds good’.

4. Question marks
As soon as your parents think the responses are not coming quickly enough, they shamelessly send a few extra question marks after they have asked you something. They probably think you are on your phone 24/7, but you also have to work. Very pushy and suffocating, those question marks. Dear parents, please stop that.

5. Letter format
When your parents do take a bit longer to write on WhatsApp, you often receive a sort of letter, including a ‘Hi El, it's dad or mom here’, because apparently, after all these years, they think you haven't saved their numbers yet. And often such a message ends with ‘love, dad or mom’, just in case the penny still hasn't dropped. I secretly find it very sweet, such detailed messages. Anything is better than an ‘ok’ or ‘fine’.

6. The request to call
Last but not least: the request from your parents via WhatsApp to just call for a moment, because that is ultimately the most convenient. And in a way, I understand those parents, calling is much more pleasant after all. By the way, I also always find it very typical that as soon as you, as a child, ask your parents a question via WhatsApp, you get a call not even a second later. ‘Hi, yes, I thought: I'll just call you, it's nicer than all that messaging.’ Recognizable?