As you might recall, Jane got a cellphone for her 11th birthday, and all she really wanted was a QWERTY keyboard. She wanted bright colors too, but mostly she wanted to type. She types quickly, and I find that texting is what works best for our family.
My friend Amy had warned me that texting would be where we were headed, she explained to me that kids didn’t want to stop doing whatever activity they are engaged in to talk to their moms. She also explained to me that kids would reply to text messages because they are short. Naturally, Amy was right.
I don’t often ask Jane to make certain to answer her phone. At this moment in time that would be a setup for failure. For some reason it’s just too much for her, but returning a text message is not.
I think I’m unusual, in that I’m a forty year old woman who has had a cell phone for the past twenty two years.
I love that short quick connections are so easy. I want to tell you that I’m always on time, never over-scheduled and forever organized, but that would be a lie. My friends and I are constantly calling one another with a, “can you pick up my kids?” or a, “if you’re at the grocery store would you mind…”
My home phone has gotten lonely. I’m never home anymore, heck I’m typing this from the school office.
Oh I’d forgotten that, and remember how rude it was considered to call someone during the dinner hour. We don’t have devices at the table. Even though my son doesn’t have a cell phone yet, he’d be just as likely to bring his iTouch to the table if he thought he could get away with it.
My daughter is eleven and she’s aware that her cell phone is only technically hers. I read all incoming and outgoing text messages, and she knew when we bought it that would be the deal. We’re teaching our kids that everything you write, in every venue should be considered public, and your Mom should be comfortable reading it.
We’re working on the manners, you know what I’m talking about; not using the phone in the middle of the grocery store, no loud talking… the subtleties. I often remind the kids that I’m not trying to punish them, I’m helping them learn something new.
