This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Sprint
How you keep the lines of communication open with your children as they grow older and gain more freedom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The entire idea of cell phones is preposterous!
Carrying around a means of communication in your pocket when people used to use street lamps is really quite the deal.
At 8 years old {many, many,many moons ago} I could be climbing mountains in Taiwan or slaying dragons in a battle or being a mermaid under the sea – but once the street lights began to flicker on, I had best high-tail it home or risk having all the skin filleted from my thighs.
Nowadays, minute to second communication is a must.
When my son turned 8 years old, he began begging for his own cell phone. I related my story to him. He cried. He had no idea that making a phone call in my era was a precursor to the emergency room. My mom would answer the call with “You better be dead” or “You wasted a dime, you better be dead”.
After circulating my very responsible and incredibly academic son's request around other moms at his school, I began to see it for the tool it was.
I then began to actually contemplate the idea and began to think:
*It would be nice to let him know when I am running late so he is not nervously waiting for me.
*It would be nice if he decided he would like to go home with a friend, he could obtain immediate confirmation.
*If I forgot his lunch I could find out before noon and let him know I am on my way.
*I could text him in stores if I felt brave enough to let him go down the aisle. Or maybe, if I thought he needed a smile, I could text him one.
Sappy as it sounds, I LIKE my kid and would enjoy communicating with him every second of the day!
All of the things many parents, including myself, deal with {or sometimes without} can now be readily amended. Not to mention we can address safety concerns with Global Positioning System.
Five years have passed since I made the decision to add an additional SPRINT line to my phone just for my kid.
He has lost it once {baseball practice}, dropped it the commode once {don't ask, but it dried out quite nicely, no need for repair} and has upgraded so much – well, let's just say, I would REALLY like the Pre but someone has the Instinct – but that's just fine by me. I know he is alive, I can share my day with him and thank goodness for NO DROPPED calls! THANKS SPRINT.
What are some of your thoughts regarding cell phones and kids? How do you keep the lines of communication open with your children as they grow older and gain more freedom.
Share your comments with me and enter to win a $200 Visa Gift Card!
To enter, leave me a comment below and tell me [something about communication with your kids] - or you may leave a link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. The contest will begin at 9:00 a.m. (PST) August 10, 2009 and will end 5:00 p.m. (PST) September 4, 2009. Make sure the e-mail address you leave is correct.
Rules:
*No duplicate comments.
*You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
*You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
*This giveaway is open to US-residents, 18 and over
*Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
*You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
*Please see the official rules here: * Official Rules
Check out how other BlogHer Reviewers keep lines of communication open with their growing kids - you've got 8 other chances to win a $200 Visa gift card!
Find more info for keeping in touch with your kids here.
Comments are now closed. THANK YOU!
