Oh, I am so with you. I have carpel tunnel and I carefully explained to all my children that it is painful to text, but less so than IMing. Please, I said, call me I love to hear your voice.
They texted me anyway. One said, "Can't call I am at work" so I'm thinking, why not call me after work? "Can't because I'm driving." Use a handsfree? "Doesn't work right." Call me when you get home then. "Have to make dinner."
Anyway, here's what we ended up with. They text me and I instant message them on the computer because they apparently get those on their phones. They don't like it as well but it is a good compromise.
And I finally broke down and learned the abbreviations and when I use them, they think it's hilarious. LOL!
But I was the first to get a Roku and the first to use a dongle in the family, so there.