I must admit that I entered this era without a lot of enthusiasm. It just seems like the more technology we give our kids, the less control we have over them. And, let's face it, I'm nothing if not a control freak. I've been called the original "helicopter mom," and I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I own that title. So you can imagine that the decision to allow Amber to have her first cell phone was one that - for me - came with a fair amount of anxiety.
It's been two years since Amber received her first cell phone and I must admit that I almost regret not caving in earlier. For every benefit she has received from it, I've received an equal measure of benefit. What types of benefits, you ask? Allow me to explain.
How many times have you asked your child to do a chore around the house only to find it not completed and be told "But Mom! You never told me to...(clean out the dishwasher...mow the yard...clean my room..)!" With a cell phone, that problem is no longer of concern. You can just pick up your own cell phone and text your instructions to them...because you know that the phone is always within fingertip reach, and you also know that it's not in them to ignore a text without responding. Now you have proof! "Oh yes, I did tell you! I texted it to you at 3:17:57. Check your text log because you responded to that text at 3:19:02 and said...." A typical text message from me to Amber might be: "Please clean out the dishwasher in the next 90 minutes. At 3:30, I'll check the dishwasher and - if it's not done - then I'll allow you the privilege of doing the next load of dishes." Bwaaaaahhhhhhaaaaa! I never said I wasn't creative, not to mention downright evil!
Another benefit of the cell phone is that it gives you more grounding power. "Heck yeah, get her a phone," said my friend, Cathy, when the conversation came up. "It'll give you something to ground her from when nothing else works!" And oh how wonderful that advice has been!!! You see, kids will do anything not to have their precious phones taken away! Heaven forbid that Amber might miss the next "Hey" or "I'm bored" from her BFF, Sarah!
But my favorite benefit of giving the kids a cell phone is the pure humor that evolves. Take for example a recent conversation between myself, Amber and her friend Sarah.
"Sarah," I said. "If you keep butt-dialing me from your phone, I'm going to change your ring tone to that 'Big Butts' song."
"You wouldn't!" she exclaimed!
"Oh yeah...try me!"
"Is that what they mean when they say 'booty call?'" she asked.
"Ummm....no."
"I bet it is," said Amber. "Sarah...have you been booty calling my mom?"
"Yeah! I booty call a lot of people," Sarah responded.
Trying to keep a straight face during this conversation was becoming very difficult, but I could see this conversation was quickly going downhill rapidly and needed to be nipped before it got out of hand. Unfortunately, like typical teenagers, they wouldn't accept a simple "That's not what that phrase means and trust me when I tell you that you don't want to use it." They would be satisfied with nothing less than a complete and thorough explanation. It was me or Google. I chose to stand strong and not send them to Google. Who knows what they might've found if they'd taken that avenue!
Beyond the conversations surrounding the phones are the playful text messages that go back and forth between myself and the girls. Frequently I'll send Amber somewhere and tell her to text me when she arrives so that I know she's reached her destination. The following are a couple of the text messages she's sent to let me know she's arrived safely.
Day One:
Amber's Text: Mission Accomplished
My Text: Thx. Remember I plan to pick you up at 2:30.
Amber's Text: I read ya, Houston.
My Text: ROFLMAO! BRAT!
Amber's Text: Copy that!Day Two:
Amber's Text: H
My Text: I
Amber's Text: P
My Text: Missed a letter. J would've been next.
Amber's Text: Oh. I was spelling hip.
Ahhhh...quick thinking and nice save!
So you can see, the new technology has its ups and downs for both sides. From Amber's side she has to deal with the text trail I leave when I ask her to do something, not to mention the consequences that arise when those things fail to be accomplished; and, from my side, I have to live with a small loss of control. But, in the end, I think we've both benefitted by much of the humor that's evolved.
I wonder...how soon is too soon to get Braden a cell phone?
Braden needs a cell phone NOW! With all the girlfriends that young man has, he will need it to keep them straight. (Besides, it will drive Amber nuts. "What do you MEAN he gets one NOW? I had to wait SOOOOOOOOO long!)
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