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My son got a cell phone at 10
that is also when I gave him more freedom to visit with his friends. He uses about 1 dollar worth of calls a month. My daughter will be 10 this summer and we are scared. She's a talker and is expecting a phone.
posted by
homegirl
on October 27, 2006 at 9:12 PM
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Thank you all so much for your comments.....much appreciated!!!
Spitfire...thanks so much, I will look into that phone thing where you go on line to lock it...never heard of that before...but will research it..
Thanks all.
posted by
_Symphony_
on October 27, 2006 at 6:29 AM
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Symph,
Kids these days have so much stuff! They have no idea what our childhoods were like or our parents' childhoods. We thought getting an Atari gameplayer was the bomb! 8 years old may be a bit young for a cell phone, I don't know. (Do her friends have phones?) She may be too young to be responsible with it (losing or breaking it) but on the other hand, it may be good for security purposes. Anyway, I do have one suggestion you might consider. I would stick to your guns because you already said no and if you give in, she'll hound you even more the next time she wants something; thinking she'll eventually get you to give in again. However, maybe give her added responsibilities like certain chores. Tell her that if she can prove she is responsible, you'll consider getting her one for Christmas. Also, phones now have this thing where you can go online and "lock" the phone use during certain times. Parents can schedule lock out times such as during school hours and after bedtime hours. Just a thought. Parenthood. Never a dull moment, huh?
posted by
SpitFire70
on October 26, 2006 at 6:43 PM
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DON'T let her make you feel guilty!
YOU ARE RIGHT! Stand your ground! She's way too young.
posted by
Passionflower
on October 26, 2006 at 6:12 PM
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She is so fortunate that she doesn't appreciate what she already has. Try bringing her to visit an orphange. Maybe that would really open her eyes. You are a good mother and have to exercise tough love.
posted by
A-and-B
on October 26, 2006 at 3:08 PM
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I agree, 8 is too young to have a phone. When I was that age my parents would never have given me something like that because they didn't want me growing up so fast.
But when I was 18 they practically forced a cell phone in my hands, just to get me to stay in touch!
posted by
Kasthu
on October 26, 2006 at 12:27 PM
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she is too young.
posted by
Amanda__
on October 26, 2006 at 9:18 AM
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Hold onto your decision, it's the right one
Kids are growing up far too fast these days and it's going to take parents to bring that to a stop.
This is the first in a long line of things she's going to get huffy about (makeup, dating, curfew, going out alone) so it's a good lesson for her to understand that she won't give in just because she is causing a scene.
I used to let my kids have their time to vent at the unfairness of life (usually a day) and then they had to get over it. If they still continued, they'd end up losing some priviledges. Otherwise they'd be whinging for weeks.
As cruel as it sounds, kids need to understand that just because they want something doesn't mean they will get it. Life isn't fair sometimes! I want to look like a runway model and have millions of dollars and I'm still waiting :)
posted by
DivineDiva
on October 26, 2006 at 9:10 AM
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I agree, she's far too young...
She may be throwing a strop right now but in a few years she won't even remember. You probably will though! Stick to your guns though!
posted by
blagging
on October 26, 2006 at 8:44 AM
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You're absolutely right; she is far too young.
I wanted a motorcycle when I was that age. "Everybody else has one" I would whine. My dad, of course, would say,"You're not everybody. Now stop your whining or I'll give you something to cry about!"
posted by
strat
on October 26, 2006 at 8:00 AM
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It's a different world we live in
but that doesn't mean they don't need to be active and imaginative
posted by
SuccessWarrior
on October 26, 2006 at 7:16 AM
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I agree lovelyladymonk.....it is so sad that children no longer use their
imagination to play proper games....
I learned a lot from imagination games 
posted by
_Symphony_
on October 26, 2006 at 6:38 AM
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ladychardonnay....I think 15 or 16 would be a better age....like you said
to know where they are.....I probably would let her if she was that age.
but, I would still worry about her getting mugged....as it seems things like a mobile, portable DVD, portable computer and so on....sometimes trainers....are the things - thugs go after....
what is this world coming to?
posted by
_Symphony_
on October 26, 2006 at 6:35 AM
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You're absolutely right, Love. She is far too young. I once sat in on one of my roommate's classes, and one of her classmates was saying that when she'd given her young neice a colouring book, the child asked how it was going to fit inside the computer.
How terribly sad that children lose their desire to be a child at such an age...
posted by
lovelyladymonk
on October 26, 2006 at 6:33 AM
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Thanks Tanga....I will stick to my guns!
posted by
_Symphony_
on October 26, 2006 at 6:32 AM
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I agree.....fionajean ....whatever did happen to no means no?
I know that I never questioned the word no......just goes to show you how much things have changed!
and yes I loved going out on my skatboard and bike as a kid....and loved using my own imagination.
now all kids want to do is play the computer ....stuck inside the house.
posted by
_Symphony_
on October 26, 2006 at 6:31 AM
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Oh Don't worry....darkmuser.....I will hold my ground!
even though I do feel like the bad person right now!
I have heard all that too 'But she has one'
argh....I am sure next week she will want something else...but just as expensive...which I think toys get more expensive every year!
posted by
_Symphony_
on October 26, 2006 at 6:29 AM
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Yes...steeler_fan ....They do get far too much and always want more.
posted by
_Symphony_
on October 26, 2006 at 6:27 AM
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it drives me mad too....Mrs Tanga
all the kids do is want, want, want......
my daughter already has a video, Dvd Player, Tv...computer....still never satisfied.
My son who is only three has got a tv and video in his bedroom.
I never had anything like that as a child.
posted by
_Symphony_
on October 26, 2006 at 6:26 AM
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I know....OFFBEATS ....I kinda wish things never had to change!
anyhow...heres some Baileys....enjoy!
you should try that drink with the lizard in it....I think it is a chinese drink!
posted by
_Symphony_
on October 26, 2006 at 6:24 AM
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i don't even have one - so i can be MIA
posted by
ladychardonnay
on October 26, 2006 at 5:59 AM
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my youngest is 11 and i still say no
i bought my oldest daughter one when she was 15 so I could find her at all times. I wasn't allowed to get my ears pierced until I was 18 (back in the olden days). then i only got one pierced and so did my boyfriend and my dad was even more pissed off!!!
posted by
ladychardonnay
on October 26, 2006 at 5:58 AM
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Modern times??
Agreed, too young. Stick to your guns
posted by
Tanga
on October 26, 2006 at 5:38 AM
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What happened to "No" means "No"?
I wouldn't have dared argue back to my mom. I think you're absolutely right. She is to young and probably only wants it 'cos one of her friends have one. She's trying to make you feel bad, so don't worry about the stomping, etc. Kids today are unreal - I was visiting a friend on Sunday and got dagger looks because I suggested that her son and his friends go play outside. More shocking was her son's reply, "What are we supposed to do outside?" I don't know about you, but I think skateboarding for real is a lot more fun than playing a skateboarding game on a playstation.
posted by
fionajean
on October 26, 2006 at 5:00 AM
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Symphony
You are absolutely right.. She is too young. My son wants a cell and has wanted one since he was 7. I've told him no, and not budged. He'll soon be 10 and has finally quit whining about 'But Mom, all my friends have cells'.... Hmm, he's not all his friends, and I'm not their mums. Told him that too, and told him that he's just not proven himself responsible for a cell, maybe when he's 13 or 14? And even that isn't a promise. Right, off the soapbox.
darkmuser
posted by
darkmuser
on October 26, 2006 at 4:45 AM
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I agree with you, I think she is way too young for a cell phone...
I think children these days get way too much.
posted by
steeler_fan
on October 26, 2006 at 4:25 AM
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That is so difficult, I know what you must be going through and I agree
with you. She is too young, especially to have cameras and all the xtras on it. That is just asking too much. It is strange how the kids of today are more interested in mommy and daddy's "Toys" than there own. I have to shout at my kids constantly for pressing buttons on my microwave, vcr, tv and dvd player, even the fridge they fiddle with. It drives me mad!!!
Mrs Tanga
posted by
Tanga
on October 26, 2006 at 3:52 AM
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Symphony
Good morning! Dare I say it is a sign of the times? Yeah I know we all would love to go back to the good ole days, but our children were born into a world completely different then us. I guess moderation could be used. Good luck, this makes me thankful my children are raised already....now how about sharing that bottle of baileys for my morning coffee g/friend?
posted by
Offy
on October 26, 2006 at 3:41 AM
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