Reimer's article discusses conversation with your adult children and describes how you should watch what you say to them. She is trying to help the reader understand that since your children are grown up, they should be spoken to respectfully. Her tone is a bit humorous toward the situation. She makes fun of herself for the way she talks to her children sometimes. Reimer talks about how the time between phone calls with your kids is not based on yourself but usually your kids' busy lives. The humor in her tone seems to be softening the blow from being ignored. She tries to act like she is not worried and tries not to talk with her children about embarrassing or touchy subjects.