If you are a grandparent today, you probably have learned that texting is a great way to communicate with your grandchildren.

Back in the olden days (or "dinosaur age" as I tease my grandkids), if I wanted to speak with my grandparents I would have to actually go over to their house and visit them, call them on the phone, or send them a note on the back of a carrier pigeon.When I got my first cellphone, the saleswoman explained how it worked. She showed me how to use the keyboard to text.I thought to myself, "I'll never use that feature."At first my husband and I may have turned up our noses at text messaging as a way to communicate with our tech-savvy grandchildren. We wanted to hear the kids' voices and we wanted to use the phone to talk not type.Then we realized that that is not realistic in today's world. We realized that we could be missing out on relationships with the youngsters that we love.In the beginning I wanted as much personal interaction with the older grandchildren as possible. I felt that texting was so impersonal and detached. I really do get a great deal of happiness from hearing their voices.I soon realized as they grew older that I would have to adjust to their changes and preferences if I wanted to stay connected.Our grandkids live hectic lives and sometimes texting is the best way to keep in touch. Text messages can even be better than phone calls because the kids don't have to answer right away when they are busy with something else.Texting is so discreet that they can still speak with us grandparents while at a friend's house. Our text messages are usually short, sweet and to the point, but they always end in "I love you."Our grandchildren keep us motivated to keep up with new forms of technology. Our youngest grandchild is 8 weeks old; I can only wonder what new forms of communication will develop when he is a teenager.My husband and I have found that in today's world, texting is a wonderful way to keep in touch with our busy grandchildren.I just recently read an all-new text lingo that I may have to teach my grandchildren.It's called the Senior Citizens Texting Code and it goes like this:ATD: At the doctorBFF: Best friend fellBTW: Bring the wheelchairBYOT: Bring your own teethFWIW: Forgot where I wasGGPBL: Gotta'go, pacemaker battery lowGHB: Got heart burnLMDO: Laughing my dentures outOMMR: On my massage reclinerROFLACGU: Rolling on floor laughing and can't get upTTYL: Talk to you louder