New Toys for The Kids
The kids are now the proud owners of brand new cell phones. And Dad is quite a bit lighter in the pocket book. While she was out to eat last night, the speaker on her phone stopped working. So we could hear her but she couldn’t her us. Everything else worked fine but a phone that only one person can hear the conversation is completely worthless. So it was off to the phone store for us. I know that electronics malfunction from time to time but The Girl’s phone is not that old. And, unfortunately, we didn’t have time to shop around since she is out and about so much and her Mom and I are not comfortable when she is unreachable.
The Boy’s phone still worked. The LCD was broken but everything else was fine. The only reason I allowed him to upgrade is that it didn’t seem fair that she got a new phone and he didn’t especially since his phone was older. He doesn’t answer his phone nearly enough to suit me. The kids get in trouble 100% of the time if they don’t pick up. But all too often, he lets the battery run down and then doesn’t turn it back on when it is done charging until he misses my call and then it’s too late. I know that it’s an honest oversight but he’s 16 and should pay better attention to things. I keep my phones until they are technologically obsolete. I wish they both could do they same.
I keep my old tech stuff and like it, Like my diaphragm, it is old tech, but still works. My problem comes in computer stuff, now I need a new video card to drive my plasma montor to the full sreen size. Then they tell me the mother board architecture is too old to support a newer card, etc. etc.
Missed calls should cost a percentage of the boy’s allowance.
Have they had their birds and bees talk yet. I was a little mistified that CG would not want to display her “primitive device” while in a motel with the kids. They obviously know that you are sexualy active unless you do all your activities when they are out.
CG amd I both vocalize as does MCB.
And what kind did they get???
Wendy: I’m not even going to say how old our main computer is. We’ve got a lot of them in the house but none would be considered modern. But they work and do what we need them to do (mostly) so I keep them going and put the money toward other things.
The boy doesn’t get allowance as regularly as his sister. But he’s wants to buy a lot less to so it’s not a very effective punishment.
They’ve had the birds and the bees talk long ago; but our sex not something that we want to immerse them in. Some things can’t be avoided but we’d like for there to be at least a little mystery. They think its “gross” and while that viewpoint won’t last, we’d like for them to keep it for a least a bit longer.
Kelly: Motorola RAZR V3s. In blue. Expensive for kids but hopefully they’ll last them for a while.
Kelly: I know The Girl’s isn’t going to get broken any time soon. She just lost her telephone privileges.
Oh no! How?
Kelly: Being a teenager. Which is to say not doing what she was told (repeatedly), that she knows she has to do even if I never said anything; and then back-talking when I said something else to her about it. Her responsibilities don’t change so it should be easy for her but…
Yeah..consistency is the hardest thing about parenting …you sometimes have to be the bad guy.
But i do believe it pays off in the end! Did she get it back yet?
Kelly: I am the “bad guy” more than I would like. I know it’s the job of a parent but I wish I didn’t need to. Yes she got it back. She’s out of the house to much during school time for me to keep it for very long. She does use it check in frequently with us which is one of the reason that we got it.
I understand – a cell phone is a necessary evil when kids live a busy life. i’m always embarrassed to admit my boys each have one! At 4th and 8th grade! Ewwww……and the 1st grader is hitting me up lately for one of her own. But I figure…she has some time before she will be so busy I need one to coordinate pick up’s etc!
yeah being the bad guy/girl really sucks doesn’t it? I’m it many times (in a week!)
Kelly: Cell phones are so cheap these days that there is no reason not to have them. We have a family plan where we all share minutes so the only cost for the kids is the additional line charge. And their having the phones gives California Girl and I extra free time since we don’t have to wait on them after their activities.
When ours were younger we got the “free” phones to get them used to them. They didn’t ever lose them but we did have a couple of close calls. And if they had, a basic phone is easily replaced. Both our kids are careful with technology; I think in part because we introduce things to them at an early age.