Many parents find texting to be a convenient way to connect. It can be done silently, perfect for when a child is sleeping, and immediate responses aren’t always expected, allowing for a pause when that child wakes up. It may also feel less intrusive than a phone call. Many Leaders find that text messages promote faster responses. New parents frequently have their phone close by. 
 
Helping parents by texting can feel awkward if you’re not used to it. It works best as a series of short messages rather than one long response, which is like a phone call. But there are also the usual challenges of written communication. A lack of body language and tone of voice can make it harder to understand context and emotions, and it can seem choppy because of the unpredictable wait times for a response. If the question seems to need more information than you can provide through a quick series of texts, then offer to schedule a phone call, share an LLL online resource, and/or invite them to a meeting. 
 
The Basics

• Keep it short. We’re all flooded with information from social media, texting, email, and more. Put the most important information first…
• …and remember to acknowledge how they feel. Even when texting, empathy matters! 
• Use emojis thoughtfully. They can help convey your intended emotion when used sparingly.
• Answer as soon as you can – If you can’t reply or give a message your full attention, reply with a message like “I’m tied up right now, I’ll get back to you” – and then do it.
• Before sending, double-check what you wrote. Be extra careful with auto-correct and voice-to-text. 
• Pay attention to responses. Clarify confusing information and check that your message was understood.
• Wait for a response before going on to the next piece of information. Overlapping text conversations (where both people are typing at once, possibly about different things) can make the conversation confusing, particularly if it’s unclear which question is being answered.
• Follow up if you don’t hear back. Sometimes life with children gets busy, but the question still needs an answer.

One last tip - there are studies showing that a text ending with an exclamation mark is interpreted as more sincere than one ending with a period. Cool!

Thanks to Ann Calandro and Maureen del Vicario for their input.
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Cutrara, J., 29 Texting Abbreviations: What They Are, Why They Exist, and How to Use Them, July 24, 2019, https://www.grammarly.com/blog/texting-abbreviations/, (March 3, 2022).
EurekAlert, Study: Text messages that end in a period seen as less sincere, Dec. 8, 2015, https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/570442 
LiveLearn, 7 tips for effective communication using chat and text, Oct. 16, 2019, https://livelearn.ca/article/digital-citizenship/7-tips-for-effective-communication-and-etiquette-using-chat-and-text/, (March 4, 2022).​

​Are you interested in becoming more involved in La Leche League of Maine and New Hampshire?

The Leader Accreditation Department (LAD) is now seeking an Associate Coordinator of Leader Accreditation. As a representative of the LAD, you would correspond with parents interested in leadership, and then with Leader Applicants during their application period.

The LAD is looking for Leaders who:

• Are passionate about LLL philosophy.
• Are articulate and enjoy writing.
• Are open to new ideas.
• Pay attention to detail.
• Seek creative ways to solve problems.
• Exhibit warmth and empathy.

Training is provided. And after training is complete, the LAD has an extensive support chain. A helping hand is always available for situations that arise in the course of your work.
Think you might be interested, or just want more information? Write or call Melanie Kollman, Coordinator of Leader Accreditation (CLA)    -   melanielllleaderaccreditation@gmail.com    -    207-745-1520