Parenting Dilemma #8754: Cell Phones
Just after school got out last spring I had this discussion with some other parents of soon-to-be sixth graders regarding cell phones. Because I had pretty much made up my mind that I was NOT going to get my son a phone that he clearly did NOT need, I was pretty outspoken on the ridiculousness of the whole idea. That’s just my way among friends after a margarita and I’m not apologizing for it.
“You’ll change your tune,” they said.
“What if he misses the bus?” they questioned.
“It’s really for YOUR convenience,” they assured.
So okay, yeah, whatever. I am now in the market for a cell phone. But I still think it’s ridiculous. Sort of like the 50-something inch TV that’s starting to look small to me now. Back to phones – let’s take a little trip down memory lane, shall we?
Back in the olden days we didn’t have cell phones. We didn’t even have cordless! All phones were attached to a wire and if you thought you might need to make a call you carried a quarter in your pocket for a payphone. If you were at school, you used the office phone.
Back in the olden days if you missed the bus you didn’t call anyone. You walked home.
Back in the olden days if you wanted to have a private conversation with your friend you had to stretch out the phone cord and hope your mom didn’t detach it from the phone while you were hiding behind your closed bedroom door down the hall. Unless of course you had a phone in your room, in which case you had to know your parents were listening in from the kitchen.
And back in the olden days we didn’t have our own secret text language that our parents couldn’t figure out. We had to be clever and make plans while they weren’t listening or watching. Whatever, Dad – no, you did NOT know were were ’sneaking’ out the sliding glass door.
We didn’t have rollover minutes and faves and unlimited texting. It’s actually a miracle our thumbs didn’t fall off – like the vestigial tail – from lack of use.
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by Lela Davidson on September 11, 2009
in Rugrats, Tweens, & Other Offspring, motherhood
Ahhh yes…the cell phone debate. I’m currently in the Outraged At The Ridiculousness Of It All mode, but then, my kids are 3 & 4. I somehow suspect I will conform to the pressure and buy them one sooner rather than later.
I still remember the day I learned pay phones cost 35 cents. My quarter wasn’t getting me connected–even after multiple tries. After digging around under the seats, I finally scavenged enough money. Of course, I had a BAG phone in the car, but I was too terrified to use it because my dad had instilled the message that it was for “emergency use only.” A flat tire on the side of the road didn’t seem to merit the risk of using it at an inappropriate time!
You could get one of the phones that only allows them to call certain numbers. No idea what they’re called (or what service they run off of), but at least they can’t run up a huge bill by accident. I think they have parental monitoring options too…like for what texts are sent, etc.
My 12 year-old 7th grader currently does NOT have a cell phone. He swears I am the last parent holding out. I see no need for him to have one. If he misses the bus, we have real live neighbors that we have formed a *gasp* relationship with and he can call me from a land line. We plan ahead. We have contingency plans. He knows my number and with the plethora of unlimited plan friends surrounding him, can actually call me for convenience when he needs to. But that’s it, convenience. I am not willing to put $100 a month on this convenience. Fear not, Lela. You are not alone.
I gave my 7th grader a cell phone as an electronic leash to keep him from forgetting his name or address or what time of day constitutes “night” after his ADD medication wore off in the evenings. It’s great for those games of “hotter / colder” we often have to play just to get him home for dinner.
“Where are you now, Jake? Well, what state name is on the license plates? OK, good. You’re in Arizona. Now, keep walking until you see a ‘Welcome to Nevada’ sign…”
Of course, he has since destroyed both his – by the inexplicable method of spraypainting it black, and mine, by tossing it into a bowl of tomato soup.
Damn cell phones.
We have one cell that both our kids share. They don’t carry it everywhere. It’s for when they’re out playing in the neighborhood or at a friend’s. So far, it’s worked out well. They have it when they need it. So far, although this may change, the plan is to get them thier own cells when they start driving.
Hey Lady, I gave you an award over at my place cause I just love ya!!
My public school had a pay phone.
My public school had a “late bus” for those who missed the bus and had no choice or for kids whose mothers refused to pick them up, to take them home.
Teachers and leaders who take care of my kids at drop off events have land lines or cell phones should they need me.
If they need a cell phone other kids have one they can borrow in an emergency.
I’d argue that kids don’t need cell phones at all. This is a fad, it’s an indulgence, it’s about peer pressure and fitting in.
My kids are homeschooled and they want one to be like some of their friends (in school and homeschooled) but they say they don’t know what they’d do with them. Only my older has phone conversations w friends and uses a land line and talks when he’s home. That is good enough.
My nieces in public school say the peer pressure is terrible (gr 6 and 7 in middle school that is gr 5-8). THey say though you are nobody unless you have a Blackberry, the latest version, or an iphone. Everyone else is a loser and gets made fun of, they say.
i think we should be friends…i’ve gone on the exact same rant multiple times…my 13 year old does have a cell phone…the best thing about it, you ask? i can bring her to her knees at the mere thought of taking it away…she’s in my control…i’ll take it, anyway i can get it…