REGINA – As Mother’s Day quickly approaches, SaskTel is predicting the number of text messages will go up over the unofficial holiday.
On May 8, SaskTel expects to see more than 12 million text messages sent and received by its customers.
In comparison, approximately 6.8 million text messages were sent and received during Mother’s Day in 2014.
While texts go up, SaskTel says it is observing a downward trend in phone calls. In 2014, SaskTel customers placed 500,000 long distance calls on Mother’s Day. This year, the company expects a 30% drop just over 390,000 long distance calls.
However, many Regina residents said they still would prefer a phone call.
“If you can’t pick up the phone to call your mother one day a year, then that’s not right,” Lianne Werner said.
“Two is better than one but it would definitely have to be a phone call first.”
Dayton Martell also agreed that it’s better to place a call.
“I think if she’d get a text from me, I’d get in trouble so I know to call for sure. It’s a little more personal.”
Jane Pearce also enjoys getting a phone call from her daughter.
“It’s more personal and it’s nice to hear my daughter’s voice,” Pearce said.
A couple of people said while calling their mother is nice, they really enjoy visiting their parent on the holiday.
“I prefer to see her in person,” Penny Baker said. Baker lives 15 minutes from her mother and said she sees her all the time.
For some sons and daughters, texting is not really an option.
“I will phone my mother because she wouldn’t know how to get a text on her phone,” Sherry McCartney – Fuchs said.
Others don’t mind either a text or a call, as long as they get that Mother’s Day greeting.
“I’d be happy with either,” Margaret Clarke said.
“Just to get acknowledged, I’d be thrilled.”
If he has to use his phone, Darrell Kifiak makes sure the conversation is still face-to-face when he has to chat with his mother who lives six hours out of town.
“I Facetime her,” Kifiak said.
“Why would you want to text someone? That’s rude. She gave birth to you.”
And finally, one man admits he texts but also added it might not be the best idea.
“I’m kind of lazy like a lot of people. When you don’t spend a lot of time with your mother, a text is sometimes easier,” Logan Drydale said.
“I feel a little less guilty so I don’t have to know this is the only time of the year I give her a phone call. I’m a bad son. I’ll raise my kids to be better. They’ll call my mother, I’ll just text mine.”
For those who still prefer calling SaskTel says to avoid calling between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. to avoid delays or busy signals. Direct-dialed calls are better than operator-assisted calls.
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