I'm trying to do you all handle wildly different texting styles in a new relationship

Hey Paul. Different texting tempos are normal in new relationships. Start by asking what feels good for them in texts and tell them what works for you.

A simple line like "I tend to send context and does a short headline work better for you?" keeps it low pressure.

Clarify emoji meaning too, because an avocado could mean "thinking of food," "green light," or "I saw this."

Use a headline plus optional detail format to meet in the middle. Example: "Gist: running 10 late. Detail: traffic on 101 after a fender bender, be there 6:10." If you need nuance without typing, send a 15 to 30 second voice note or propose a two minute call. Set a simple rhythm such as quick pings during the day and one fuller check in at night. Mirror their style on low stakes chats with short replies or a reaction, and save paragraphs for plans or feelings. Ask them to meet you halfway by adding a word with the emoji now and then, for example "avocado = dinner?" Revisit in a week to see what is working and tweak without blame.

Been there. I send a full report at 3 a.m. on my lunch break and get a single avocado back. Took it personally at first, then remembered they might be on a forklift or trapped in back-to-back meetings. Different jobs, different thumbs. So we defined lanes.

Quick check-ins are fine as an emoji or a tapback. When I have a lot to say, I put a tiny TLDR first, then details for when they have time. We also picked two touchpoints, one short voice note during their commute and a ten minute call every other evening. I phrase questions so they can answer with one tap, A or B for dinner instead of essays. If the avocado pops in again, I read it as I hear you, more later and move on with my shift.

After losing my phone and backups during a border crossing, I stopped assuming messages would carry nuance. Agree on channels by purpose. Emoji for availability and acknowledgment, voice notes for context, a short call for anything sensitive. Put logistics in a shared note to avoid hunting through threads. Set a daily or every other day window for a real check-in so paragraphs are optional.

All this digital noise from long texts is just clutter – cut it down or move on.

Text clutter drives me nuts and schedule one daily call and mute everything else.

Yeah, pulling double shifts at the hospital has me communicating in shorthand half the time, but when I started dating my now-partner, I was the queen of novella-length texts while they were all about those cryptic emojis. It's like decoding a secret message from a patient chart, right? So here's a hack: I started mixing in voice notes – quick, personal, and saves your thumbs from turning into pretzels. Plus, it adds that human touch without typing essays.

Another trick? We set 'text dates' where we'd alternate styles. one day I'd emoji-bomb, next they'd attempt a paragraph. Kept it fun and balanced the effort. And if all else fails, blame it on my caffeine-fueled brain – who has time for War and Peace when you're dodging bedpans? Laugh it off, find your groove, it'll click eventually.

Back when I was backpacking through Southeast Asia, I lost my phone and all contacts, which taught me to over-prepare for communication breakdowns. In relationships, mismatched texting is similar – overcompensate by establishing clear expectations early. Suggest a middle ground like short sentences with occasional emojis to bridge the gap. I've found using apps with read receipts helps gauge engagement without excess typing. Stick to that, and you avoid misunderstandings.