This is freaking awesome

I know plenty of parents who have taken cell phones away from their kids for various reasons, particularly abusing the privilege aspect (minutes/data/appropriateness of communication), and, conversely, few who consider it off limits in the parental toolbox. However, you do need to take into consideration why you provided the phone in the first place. I wanted my kids to be able to reach me quickly, if needed.

 

That might be what you tell yourself, but the practical reason is societal pressure.

 

Societal pressure to do what? I don't understand what you're saying. The issue never came up with my kids, so I never needed to consider it.

 

He died while traveling in a van with a couple of other wrestlers on their way to a show up in Newfoundland. The van went off the road and into a lake because the driver was swerving to avoid a moose in the road.

 

If it were 2000, when few kids had cell phones but they were available, would yours have them?

 

That's at least as much economics as societal pressure.

 

Yes. Not because of societal pressure but for our peace of mind. At 12, she was beginning to spend more time away from home at various activities and events. We handed her one before she ever asked for one.

 

OK. That's an interesting take. Did you give her carte blache on use?

 

Yes, carte blanche. But she's probably a really bad example for this thread. My daughter was extremely mature and responsible by the time she reached 12, so it never even crossed my mind to instruct her as to how her cell phone should be used.

 

Well, be careful, then. My parents bought into my being mature and intelligent and thoughtful and I met every expectation they ever had of me. But accordingly I did a lot of things that were either ill-advised or illegal. And I did it all without a cell phone or the internet.

But, hey, I'm not in jail, I'm a writer. So everyone got disappointed in the end, woo.