GolfHos

This weekend we bought our daughter age 10 her first cell phone.

We had resisted for a while, citing the same old rhetoric.  You're too young.  You don't need one.  Just because your friends have one, doesn't mean you need one.

Well, we're out shopping, and she asked again.  Karen and had talked about it, and thought realistically, you know, with where we live, the hours we work, the activities she's in, it probably is a good idea.

So yesterday I finally thought "Wait a minute.  It's 2008.  It's not 1980.  The technology is available to us.  It's not going anywhere.  Embrace it."

She was elated.  It's nothing special.  20 dollar flip style ATT pay as you go Go-Phone.

She thinks it's awesome.  Perma smile on her face all afternoon.  Nice to see her happy.

We'll see how she does with it.


While I had to wait 'til I was 20 for my first cell phone, I did have the second one out there, right behind Gordon Gekko.
(http://gammatron.novarese.net/images/2007/08/11/gordon_gekko.jpg)

Score!

I had my first when I was teaching the moto course in VA.  Not Gecko-like, but fairly large and under-featured.  Then nothing, then a PAGER when I was trying to work through my 2L year.  Finally a real mobile in about 2002 or 2003.

 [sm_shock]

We're still getting by with letting our daughter take Susan's when it's necessary she has a phone. So far it hasn't been a problem.

I just heard from a friend that his 11 year old lost privileges when she ran up a $400 bill (text messaging) two months ago.

I'm pretty sure my daughter wouldn't be that stupid as she has had fiscal responsibility scared into her ( :)) but I'm yet to be convinced we need another cell phone right now.

 [sm_shock]  4 bills.  Yeah, she won't have that kind of range.



That is an integral part of the story.  We dumped our cell phones 2 years ago, and have been sans mobile communicado.  If we had one, we probably would have done what your doing Fuzz.

I'm holding out for an iphone.  I figure I got myself one step closer yesterday.   :D

You know, now that I re-read that it might have been 400 text messages and not $400 come to think of it. Either way she was in deep.

Our day will come. I'm still able to parry any opposing opinions.  :)

Pay as you go phones will teach your progeny that pay as you go phones suck

Blader Jr (13) had been begging forever for a cell phone.  We're waiting for our own plan to expire, so we didn't want to get another line.

Finally we said, "look, you can pull down a benny per weekend caddying, so if you want a phone, go buy your own, bitches."

He did.  A virgin something or other because of some dude named Branson who "reminded me of you, papi."

whatevs

He was elated.

Until the 2nd week when he'd run out of minutes and something was all f'd up on the whole texting front, which is the only function that actually matters on these devices.

Now he tells us not to call him on his phone when we need him, so as not to burn through his precious *goshdarn* minutes.

College graduation can't come soon enough

LMAO.

Lot's to look forward to.

my son ran up a $345.00 texting bill. i figured it out and it was like 65 text messages a day. idiots. i hope the all get carpal tunnel.  ;)

dont your providers offer unlimited texting for like $15 or $25 a month?

what a great scam  LOL

http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/07/01/atts-text-messages-cost-1310-per-megabyte/

Perhaps (never really checked). But that's $15-$25 wasted a month. IMO, YMMV. My 11 year old has zero need for unlimited texting. My friend got the most basic plan for emergency use only and is now teaching a valuable lesson to his daughter. 

If you get unlimited texting options you implicitly give permission for unlimited texting.

You don't have to tell them it's unlimited.  The bill will still say exactly how many are sent. [sm_devil]  Charge rent, teach responsibility.

Kids are smarter than you give them credit for and I guess if I were to get my daughter a cell phone I wouldn't want her texting at all.

Again, maybe I'm an old fogie, but I have yet to have a persuasive argument in favor of my daughter getting a personal cell phone. And this is a hill that I will fight for until she has an independent stream of income and can afford her own.  :)

You modified.  [sm_devil]

I don't need to get her a cell phone to teach responsibility. I'll put her up against any 11 year old as far as fiscal responsibility goes.

As I said, that's not the point. I really do believe she wouldn't abuse it based on other responsibilities she has today. It's just my personal belief that there is no need for her to have her own cell phone.

Did you show her this picture?