'Texting' bug has bitten moms and grannies too!

New York, Apr 8 (ANI): It's not just the teenagers who are addicted to sending text messaging, for the 'texting' bug has bitten their moms too.

A report suggests that mothers of all ages, grandmothers included, have started to use text messages to keep in touch with their kids.

"It really is a whole new way of parenting," the New York Daily News quoted her Manhattan-based mother Pamela Weinberg, the author of the book 'City Baby', as saying.

Weinberg texts daily with her 15-year-old daughter, and she reckons that cell phones have done her family big good.

And statistics in 2008 support her opinion, as figures have revealed that 19.3 million moms are text messaging, which is up 75 percent from the previous year, according to Mediamark Research.The figures are despite the fact that cell phones are not permitted at the city's public schools.

Weinberg's daughter attends private school and zaps messages in between classes.

She says that the texting trend is crossing generations in her family, what with her mom, 66, who has gotten hip to texting and instant messenger so she can stay in touch with her grandchildren in the formats they favour.

"She and I still talk on the phone, but I give her a lot of credit for learning this new technology as a way to connect with them," said Weinberg.

Another mom Jennifer Wagner says that learning to communicate with kids using their preferred technology is the only way to stay connected.

And it's likely a parent's best shot of actually getting a reply.

"They're not going to switch to things for their parents, but if we switch to the things that they use, they're very happy to accept us," Wagner said.

Wagner has one son in college and one who's a recent graduate and she claims that without text messaging, she'd likely hear from her sons a lot less. (ANI)