The Techno Nag

In the 4 weeks my daughter was at sleep-away camp I received exactly two letters in the mail. I wasn’t sure how she would survive the no-technology policy at camp but it turns out that she survived pretty well. I’m the one that suffered from withdrawal.


It made me realize just how much I rely on text and email to communicate with her. I constantly text her reminders to finish her homework, write thank you notes, wear her bite plate, take a shower (especially when she’s with her dad, who has more lenient rules about personal hygiene).

Somehow, these missives delivered electronically, carry more impact and don’t seem nearly as irritating as when delivered in person. It’s as if the technology takes the edge off the nag. My friend Rob aptly named this - the techno-nag 

It even works on husbands.  My colleague Lorraine tells me that, on their long drives to their country house, she emails her husband Stephen, a weekend “to do” list. Stephen feels the buzz in his pocket as the message hits his in-box, checks his blackberry and is astounded that his wife has resorted to email. “Why don’t you just tell me,” he asks incredulously, “I’m sitting right next to you.”  “Because,” says Lorraine, “if I email you I know it’s ‘in the system’.”

The first thing my daughter did on her return from camp was log onto her computer and cell phone to catch up with her friends. I had visions of us lying on my bed and her regaling me with stories about camp life, her friends, the food, and the new things she had learned while she was away. I guess I’ll have to email her to find out.