The Phrase I Texted My Kids 133 Times
A father reflects on the 133 times he texted his children the phrase 'Too loud' during the pandemic. These messages, often sent late at night, were a response to the lively noise of his kids and their friends in the house. Over time, he realized that these texts symbolized his appreciation for their presence and the joy of a full home.
- ▪The father sent 133 texts saying 'Too loud' to his children from 2020 to 2022.
- ▪Most of the messages were sent between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. in response to noise from his kids.
- ▪He recognized that the noise was a sign of a vibrant household filled with love and connection.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
FamilyThe Phrase I Texted My Kids 133 TimesAnd all the things it didn’t sayBy Russell ShawIllustration by Derek AbellaMay 26, 2026, 8 AM ET ShareSave Too loud.Too loud. Too loud. If you were to scroll through my archive of texts with my children—from the start of the coronavirus pandemic, in 2020, to the end of last year—you would find that I sent 133 of these messages.I discovered this a few weeks ago, sitting alone on the couch in my living room, when, on a whim, I searched for the phrase on my phone. My youngest daughter, age 19, has been the most frequent recipient of the text, though each of my three children appears in the archive. Typically, I sent these messages between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Atlantic.
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