Comments on: Mobile Phones for Kids and Snooty People’s Opinions

By: KathyHowe

KathyHowe — Fri, 28 May 2010 03:20:06 +0000

I completely agree. I want to reach my kids (and have them be able to reach me) NO EXCUSES.

Technology is for our pleasure, convenience and sometimes safety. Not one of those is a bad thing.

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 19 May 2010 04:37:45 +0000

I completely agree. I think what I have learned the most is that all kids, all parents and all families are different. What works for one may not work for another. I have found that I am currently in a very comfortable place where I feel like my parenting instincts are right on. But I know that could change at any time, just as fast as kids change.

We bought my daughter a phone, specifially to have at soccer practice. We laid out all the rules because we figured she’d be talking and texting a ton like all her friends.

She never uses the thing. In fact, we’ve had to make it a rule that she take it with her on sleepovers. This makes me laugh.

You never know. It is all trial and error. As long as our kids are healthy and happy, we are all doing just fine.

By: Lucretia Pruitt

Lucretia Pruitt — Tue, 18 May 2010 05:26:00 +0000

Love where you went with this. I was surprised by how supportive people were – given how much kvetching I had heard a couple of years back about “children not needing cell phones”… but I do think the lack of pay phones has changed how that impacts our kids these days.
Then again, there are probably a few folks who are being supportive to us but saying something, um, less supportive we’ll say when they are talking amongst themselves.

Either way, I think you hit on the totally important bit.

None of us has “the answer” do we? There probably isn’t even one ‘answer’ – but as many as there are kids and families. They say the only time you’re a perfect parent is before you have kids – or after they are grown and you are telling them how to raise theirs!

I need to work on my own judgmental tendencies. Thanks for the reminder!
.-= Lucretia Pruitt´s last blog ..The Power of Speech gives way to the Art of Conversation =-.

By: Busy Mom

Busy Mom — Tue, 18 May 2010 04:43:06 +0000

The problem is that some people equate a child not being with you at all times to absentee parenting.

You know, only kids whose parents *gasp* work need cell phones because they are left alone all the time.

Cue everyone’s favorite line: “if my kids need to call me they just have to yell because I’m in the next room.

Reality says there are times your kid won’t be with you and you need to reach them directly.

That is not the same as leaving them unsupervised while you are off putting money before family like I do all day

Did we survive without them? Sure. But, like I said, a cell phone is only a tool. It’s available, use it or don’t.
.-= Busy Mom´s last blog ..The one where I aided and abetted a criminal =-.