Ethan keeps bugging me for a cell phone. He's 11. Actually, he's been asking me for one since he was 8 because a friend of mine got one for her 8 y/o son. I think it's ridiculous for an 11 y/o (or younger) to have a cell phone. Yet many of the children in Ethan's grade (6th), and younger, have one. It boggles my mind as to why children under the age of 16-17 would need a cell phone. I mean, in reality none of us NEED a cell phone. We all got by without one growing up. Shit, I didn't even have one until I was 24. But these days I could see why it would be feasible to get one for your busy teen. But not any younger.
Apparently, I'm one of only a few parents who feels this way. I was picking Ethan up from school on Friday and I stopped to let a big group of kids cross in front of me. As I was watching, I saw many of them pulling out their cell phones. Ethan said, "SEE! Those kids have phones and they're in 4th grade!" I replied, "Well, I'm not their mom. Plus, there is no reason for them to have phones." He said, "Yes there is. It's cool."
Ahhhh, COOOOOL. Well he's going to have to find a different way to be COOL because I refuse to give in to this bullshit. WHY? When he's at home, we have a house phone. At his dad's, a house phone too. School, they have phones in every classroom if he ever HAS to call anyone. When he's with me or Joe in the car, we each have a phone. When he goes to a friends, they have house phones and parents with cell phones (and I know all those numbers as well). He doesn't need a phone. Period.
I know he doesn't want it to make calls. He wants it just to have it. And I'm not going to get him one just so he can *have* one.
It's not like phones are cheap, either. Once you buy the phone, you have to pay for it monthly. That monthly amount would sky rocket when you add insurance because you KNOW they're going to break or lose the phone. Then add unlimited EVERYTHING because no one wants to get stuck paying $5 per minute or $2 per text in overages.
I just don't get it. Why are so many parents buying their young kids cell phones? I think it's because they're spoiled and this is just another way to give them a stronger sense of entitlement. But I could be wrong. What do you guys think?
(If you're a parent and you've bought your young child a cell phone and this post offended you? I don't care and I'll make no apologies. Thankyouverymuch.)
Deep Throat of the Day: Ghost Busters! DUH!!