The 10 Struggles of Video-Chatting With Kids

Published on 7/6/2016 at 3:36 PM

If you have ever been away from your kids for an extended period of time or have relatives in another state, you've likely had to deal with the struggles of video-chatting with a small child. You would think that the adult in the room would take control, but more often than not the child is either by themselves — because kids use technology better than we can — or there's an adult present but there's no way in hell that kiddo is letting them help.

If this sounds like a situation you've been in before, we feel your pain (and are laughing with you). Read through for the 10 struggles of video-chatting with a child.

The call starts and you're either faced with an enlarged eye or booger-filled nostrils.

Why can't they just hold the camera away from their face?!

They start screaming a million and one things about their day into your ear before you've even found your bearings.

Hi, hello, I guess you aren't going to greet me or ask me how I am first?

Your answers will be relayed to the adult in the house — whether this was asked of the child or not — via scream.

"DAD! SHE SAID SHE'S DRINKING COFFEE. SHE SAID SHE HAD EGGS FOR BREAKFAST."

They'll ask for an intricate guided tour of wherever you are.

And then they'll show you the room they're in with gusto (a room that is likely in your own house).

Once you answer all of the questions fired at you, you find they don't care about the answers and just want to show you toys.

Sure, I guess I have some time to watch you play with every single one of your Transformer guys.

You try to ask them about something simple — like their day at school — and are met with silence.

If you're lucky, they'll at least start talking about something else instead of fully ignoring you.

If there's another child in the room, they will at some point come over and begin a grueling battle over the device.

Which will probably be so bumpy it makes you nauseous.

The device will be propped up somewhere precarious and fall — several times.

As soon as you see the slow tilt, you know it's coming but are powerless to prevent it.

The child will laugh their heads off as they test the mute button over and over.

No, I can't hear you. Sure, it's hilarious . . .

You'll eventually have nothing left to say and your chat will be reduced to making funny faces at each other.

You probably taught them everything they know in that department.