--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on…" description: "\"“Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.' 'Or,' I said turning to Rafe, 'if you want to ski..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/kelley-armstrong-581_cell-phone_another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the_30709.jpg" --- # Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we… ![“Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.' 'Or,' I said turning to Rafe, 'if you want to skip the whole awkward meet-the-family social event you could just submit your life story including your view on politics religion and every social…” quote by Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/kelley-armstrong-581_cell-phone_another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the_30709.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/kelley-armstrong-581_cell-phone_another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the_30709.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/kelley-armstrong-581_cell-phone_another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the_30709.jpg) > ““Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.' 'Or,' I said turning to Rafe, 'if you want to skip the whole awkward meet-the-family social event you could just submit your life story including your view on politics religion and every social issue imaginable along with anything else you think they might need to conduct a thorough background check.' Mom sighed. 'I really don't know why we even bother trying to be subtle around you.' 'Neither do I. It's not like he isn't going to realize he's being vetted as daughter-dating material.' Rafe grinned. 'So we are dating.' 'No. You have to pass the parental exam first. It'll take you awhile to compile the data. They'd like it in triplicate.' I turned to my parents. 'We have Kenjii. We have my cell phone. Since we aren't yet officially dating I'm sure you'll agree that's all the protection we need.' Dad choked on his coffee.”” [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A satirical take on parental over‑scrutiny of teenage relationships, exposing the absurdity of treating dating like a bureaucratic vetting process. **In simple terms:** Parents treat dating like a background check. Key Takeaway Dating can become a bureaucratic nightmare. Themes family dynamics generational conflict satire privacy social expectations Mood wry ironic playful Type dialogue satire humor When to use this quote - teen dating negotiations - family dinner conversations - parent‑child conflict over autonomy - cultural expectations about courtship Key Concepts parental control privacy invasion communication breakdown social media influence Practical Applications - using humor to critique over‑protective parenting - highlighting the need for healthy boundaries Questions to Reflect On - How does excessive parental oversight affect teen autonomy? - What balance should families strike between safety and privacy? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cell phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cell-phone/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-story/) ## Related quotes > [“I just... I understand you might want to start dating more seriously, and that means dating someone from town. But if you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-just-i-understand-you-might-want-to-start-dating-more-seriously-and/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“When I hung up, Gabriel said, “Now you’re going out that—” “I’m not leaving you.” “Don’t be stupid. I have a gun.” He reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-i-hung-up-gabriel-said-now-you-re-going-out-that-i-m-not-leaving/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“I'm sick of this. It's like being twelve again, dealing with all this damned drama. I like her. Does she like me? What if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-m-sick-of-this-it-s-like-being-twelve-again-dealing-with-all-this/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [We have Kenjii. We have my cell phone. Since we aren't officially dating, I'm sure you'll agree that's all the protection we need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-kenjii-we-have-my-cell-phone-since-we-aren-t-officially/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He was scowling. "What the hell? If I had a daughter and she was dating a guy like me, I'd take him out back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/he-was-scowling-what-the-hell-if-i-had-a-daughter-and-she-was-dating/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [If Ivanka weren't my daughter, perhaps I'd be dating her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-ivanka-weren-t-my-daughter-perhaps-i-d-be-dating-her/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Believe nothing a man tells you and everything he shows you"…(Taken from a farewell video from a dying father to his infant daughter on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/believe-nothing-a-man-tells-you-and-everything-he-shows-you-taken/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [My parents don't like that I don't bring guys home but I don't want a guy to know or meet my family if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-parents-don-t-like-that-i-don-t-bring-guys-home-but-i-don-t-want-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So where’s your house at?” I ask, swinging our hands between us. “I want to properly Google Maps creeper-stalk you before agreeing to meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-zappia/so-where-s-your-house-at-i-ask-swinging-our-hands-between-us-i-want/) [Francesca Zappia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-zappia/) > [We met in April of 2000, and we weren't really an official couple until June or July. His family has a fishing trip they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mullally/we-met-in-april-of-2000-and-we-weren-t-really-an-official-couple/) [Megan Mullally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mullally/) > [“I can’t believe you gave me twenty minutes notice to meet your family! I could kill you right now!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-can-t-believe-you-gave-me-twenty-minutes-notice-to-meet-your-family/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“-Are you nervous to meet my family? -No, not really.They're either going to like me or they won't. All I can do is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-chance/are-you-nervous-to-meet-my-family-no-not-really-they-re-either-going/) Jacob Chance > [“This world is to be passed through, shieldmaiden. It is a waypoint on the journey. We meet our family on the way, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fanetti/this-world-is-to-be-passed-through-shieldmaiden-it-is-a-waypoint-on/) [Susan Fanetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fanetti/) > [On a personal level, I've seen a lot in my time as attorney general, but few things have affected me as greatly as my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/on-a-personal-level-i-ve-seen-a-lot-in-my-time-as-attorney-general/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Like the guy I was dating. White, liberal, educated. I went to meet his family and I think that they probably didn't know they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/like-the-guy-i-was-dating-white-liberal-educated-i-went-to-meet-his/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) ## More by Kelley Armstrong > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He turned my way, and I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice for a second. Then I realized I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-turned-my-way-and-i-was-so-engrossed-in-my-thoughts-that-i-didn-t/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [when times are tough, the weak bail and the tough get creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-times-are-tough-the-weak-bail-and-the-tough-get-creative/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Nuh-uh. No deals with the devil. I’ve learned my lesson on that one. ~Jaime Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nuh-uh-no-deals-with-the-devil-i-ve-learned-my-lesson-on-that-one/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Believe me, I have better things to do than sabotage your friendships. No one else's world revolves around you, Cassandra." -Paige to Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/believe-me-i-have-better-things-to-do-than-sabotage-your-friendships/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Reviews are great. I can read negative reviews and say, 'You know that point they made... they were dead on.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/reviews-are-great-i-can-read-negative-reviews-and-say-you-know-that/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When a series is doing well, it's very tempting to keep writing it, even when the creative well is drying up. It's tempting because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-a-series-is-doing-well-it-s-very-tempting-to-keep-writing-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [You bat your baby blues at tall, dark, and gruesome, and next thing you know, he's trailing you like a lost puppy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/you-bat-your-baby-blues-at-tall-dark-and-gruesome-and-next-thing-you/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [With no chance to take off, I had to play my role, searching for the rendezvous spot, which gave me the excuse to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/with-no-chance-to-take-off-i-had-to-play-my-role-searching-for-the/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When I glanced at the chair, it started to shake. I’d like to think it was scared of me, but I rarely invoked that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-i-glanced-at-the-chair-it-started-to-shake-i-d-like-to-think-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Nonsense, Chloe. I certainly hope you aren't afraid of cemeteries" "Um, no" Tori said. "It's the bodies buried in them that worry her. Uh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nonsense-chloe-i-certainly-hope-you-aren-t-afraid-of-cemeteries-um-no/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I was...a journalist...though my typical beat was freelancing articles on Canadian politics, which never included any mention of demonic phenomena, though it might explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-was-a-journalist-though-my-typical-beat-was-freelancing-articles-on/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I found something" Simon said as he walked in. He whipped out an old-fashioned key from his pocket and grinned at me. "It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-found-something-simon-said-as-he-walked-in-he-whipped-out-an-old/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He laughed and tugged me down in a kiss. Then, lips still close enough to feel them tickle mine, he said, "You know this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-laughed-and-tugged-me-down-in-a-kiss-then-lips-still-close-enough/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“You were just worried about me." An exhale, relieved that I'd understood. "Yeah." I turned. "Because you think I'm worth it." He put his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/you-were-just-worried-about-me-an-exhale-relieved-that-i-d-understood/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) [Explore all 458 Kelley Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## More Cell phone quotes > [“What you’re holding in your hands is a BookShots Flames story. It’s part of a revolution in reading. Hand-picked by James Patterson, BookShots Flames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ciotta/what-you-re-holding-in-your-hands-is-a-bookshots-flames-story-it-s/) Beth Ciotta > [“Kindle Paperwhite 3G models use the same technology as cell phones, so they are dependent on cellular coverage areas. By default, a 3G device…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amazon/kindle-paperwhite-3g-models-use-the-same-technology-as-cell-phones-so/) amazon > [“I’m not sure how the ponies happened, though I have an inkling: “Can I get you anything?” I’ll say, getting up from a dinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-m-not-sure-how-the-ponies-happened-though-i-have-an-inkling-can-i/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [I like everything with a heaping dose of feminitity, including my cell phone. I created this phone for the classic woman, who like me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimora-lee-simmons/i-like-everything-with-a-heaping-dose-of-feminitity-including-my-cell/) [Kimora Lee Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimora-lee-simmons/) > [“People were sitting together, talking and telling stories face-to-face again, instead of staring at a cell phone screens while texting or chatting with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-foster/people-were-sitting-together-talking-and-telling-stories-face-to-face/) [Mike Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-foster/) > [“To me, at least in retrospect, the really interesting question is why dullness proves to be such a powerful impediment to attention. Why we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/to-me-at-least-in-retrospect-the-really-interesting-question-is-why/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [Girls are like cell phones they love to be held and talked to but whewn you press the wrong buttons you will be disconnected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/superman/girls-are-like-cell-phones-they-love-to-be-held-and-talked-to-but/) Superman > [Sometimes life really sucks. Then I see your name pop up on my cell phone and I cant help but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-life-really-sucks-then-i-see-your-name-pop-up-on-my-cell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I remember one point seeing I had like 60-some different cell phones. I know I only use one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-kosar/i-remember-one-point-seeing-i-had-like-60-some-different-cell-phones/) Bernie Kosar > [Cell phones are so convenient that they're an inconvenience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/cell-phones-are-so-convenient-that-they-re-an-inconvenience/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“The history of the sexual vanguard in America was a long list of people who had been ridiculed, imprisoned, or subjected to violence. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-witt/the-history-of-the-sexual-vanguard-in-america-was-a-long-list-of/) Emily Witt > [The increase in chemicals and the increase in technology, like wi-fi and cell phone use that's going through our bodies all of the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-jennings/the-increase-in-chemicals-and-the-increase-in-technology-like-wi-fi/) [Mason Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-jennings/) > [But I'm acutely aware that the possibility of fraud is even more prevalent in today's world because of the Internet and cell phones and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armistead-maupin/but-i-m-acutely-aware-that-the-possibility-of-fraud-is-even-more/) [Armistead Maupin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armistead-maupin/) > [“was my first indication that the policies of Mamaw’s “party of the working man”—the Democrats—weren’t all they were cracked up to be. Political scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/was-my-first-indication-that-the-policies-of-mamaw-s-party-of-the/) [J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/) > [As the OLPC laptop was getting ready to go into mass production in 2007, many executives approached me wanting the screen that I invented,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-jepsen/as-the-olpc-laptop-was-getting-ready-to-go-into-mass-production-in/) [Mary Lou Jepsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-jepsen/) [Browse all 982 Cell phone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cell-phone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.' 'Or,' I said turning to Rafe, 'if you want to skip the whole awkward meet-the-family social event you could just submit your life story including your view on politics religion and every social issue imaginable along with anything else you think they might need to conduct a thorough background check.' Mom sighed. 'I really don't know why we even bother trying to be subtle around you.' 'Neither do I. It's not like he isn't going to realize he's being vetted as daughter-dating material.' Rafe grinned. 'So we are dating.' 'No. You have to pass the parental exam first. It'll take you awhile to compile the data. They'd like it in triplicate.' I turned to my parents. 'We have Kenjii. We have my cell phone. Since we aren't yet officially dating I'm sure you'll agree that's all the protection we need.' Dad choked on his coffee.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kelley Armstrong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the-weekend-we-can-have-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cell phone" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the-weekend-we-can-have-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/kelley-armstrong-581_cell-phone_another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the_30709.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/kelley-armstrong-581_cell-phone_another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the_30709.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/kelley-armstrong-581_cell-phone_another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the_30709.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.' 'Or,' I…” — Kelley Armstrong", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kelley Armstrong", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the-weekend-we-can-have-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the-weekend-we-can-have-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```