But I just thought I’d share my thoughts. I’m sitting here, looking out a window, cold out there I think, but can’t tell from here. It’s just blue sky (okay, some clouds) and pretty. And I think to myself… I’m good. Inside, I’m good. Happy. Been awhile for that, got off track of me. But really been working on finding me again… and I’m on the way. I’m the me I remember from years ago. I’m the focused, happy me. Any of that even make sense?
Just sharing.
Okay, and another thought I had this morning –
share with me your thoughts on it?
Jaden is going to the bus stop by himself – seriously, a 30 second walk… I usually even drive right by him. I saw him this morning, stopped to talk to him. I can see he’s nervous (again, even though this was his choice to walk)… he saw a bus go by, thought it was his, I said wasn’t yours buddy, he didn’t believe me (as usual). I told him I’d get him a watch. He said, can’t I have a phone? I said time comes on watches sometimes too.
He was worried, said what happens when I miss my bus? I told him relax, and don’t worry, if he misses it, just walk back home, go inside and call me, and I’ll come get you… he won’t even be late for school. He relaxed a little.
But it did make me think about a cell phone. Told him if he can completely stop whining (we know this is a Jaden issue)… I’ll think about it. He was happy and said okay.
So cell phone for incentive? It’s not like I’d get him a phone because he wants one. It’s more for my peace of mind. Don’t you agree? Thoughts?
9 comments:
I think a cell phone is a good idea. both my girls have one and of course I have like 50 eleven rules and so far they have abided. I tell them mess up once and its gone. Just that simple. I would get him one :)
At our house my 13 year old has been begging for a phone. We finally gave in and told him as soon as he gets straight A's he can have one. If the grades slip the phone is gone until the grades are back to A's. It is totally working. Whether or not it is a good idea in the long run I have no idea.
How old is he? I would say get the kid a pay as you go type of phone. And the stipulation if he uses it for anything other than the I missed the bus call or a true emergency take it away and give him a watch. I think times a different now and if he is nervous about the bus stop give both of you some peice of mind and get the phone!
My 13 year old has had a phone now for maybe a year... he is pretty good on it, we have unlimited texting and I disabled the internet feature. ANd it's the easiest thing to take away when he gets in trouble... which is, umm, often.
Jaden is 8. Gasp, I know. The original plan was ehn he was 10 he can have one. But it is for my peace of mind. And he will only be texting me. Maybe calling a couple other people... grandma, a friend from school. I also will disable internet on his phone as well.
I'm seriously considering it.
James will be mad, ha... he had to wait until he was 12. Oh well, different times.
i have seriously opinionated opinions on this issue. if you are a two-parent household, there's no reason for a young child to have one. but i think for a single mom: every one of your kids should have a cell phone.
and as you obviously already do, there are a million rules that should go along with it. none of my kids have a phone, and they won't until their schedules start requiring them to be places that i'm not. my step kids, however have phones at ages 10 and 11. this is good because i can call them without having to get hung up on by their mother. but they are not allowed to use them at our house. they brought them at xmas for the first time and they were texting friends, cousins, taking social calls. i was like HELL NO! you are kids! there is NOTHING you need to talk to anyone about that can't wait until you take your little butts back home.
so there you have it. my lecture for the day. get him the phone and put serious restrictions on it.
now i'm going to email you about the "getting back to me" portion of the post.
My 10 year old daughter has had a phone for 2 years now...She has it because she had to get herself to and from school by herself because of work schedules and I was worried about her.
Her phone has the chaperone feature so I know where she is at all times, and if the phone travels out of the boundaries I've set I get a text. I love it for the peace of mind so I say go for it.
We do have very specific rules as to who she can call and what she can use it for and she has been very good about following them. That might change as she gets older, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
My 13 year old wants a phone and I told him he could have one when he could pay for it. Thats just our rule-I think you have to follow your own rules. If it gives you peace of mind then get it!
I fought this one for years, and finally gave in at twelve.
But, they have those really simple ones that only can dial four or five numbers. For peace of mind's sake, it might be something to think about.
Although when my first and second graders show up with a phone, it seems all the teachers say, "WHY does he/she need a phone? Too young!"
How did we ever do it before?
Have you thought about getting him something like the Migo or the Firefly? Not sure what the texting capability is on either of those (think it is non-existent on the Migo). I totally know what you mean about peace of mind for YOU, though. I say go for it. Especially if it cuts down on the whining (I've got a whiner of my own over here so I know how fun that can be).
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