Kids and Cell phones

@alori61 (344)
United States
July 26, 2008 6:27pm CST
This week was my youngest daughters 12th birthday. On the top of her birthday list was a cell phone. This is not a child that has a lot of activities, nor does she spend much time alone. She pitched a fit because I told her no she didn't need a cell phone. I told her I didn't care how big a fit she threw she wasn't getting a cell phone period. So she goes to her fathers a few days before her birthday. Her father had a 'secret' cell phone (I won't go into the reasons for the secret part) that I had put on my cell phone account for him. Now our daughter new it was a secret and she knew why it was a secret, but she was so determined to have a cell phone she went up to her dad in front of the person the phone was secret from, and asked for it. Made such a big deal out of it he had to give her the phone to shut her up. Now he can no longer have the phone, and my daughter has it. I think with the sneaky, manipulative way she got the phone it should be taken away fromm her. I have another line that the younger kids use when they have after school activities or when they are away from home but the phone does not "belong" to no one it's for who ever has a need for it. Only the high schoolers get thier own cell phone, when they drive they have one not before. This child has already lost two pre-paid cell phones her father gave her, I didn't approve of those and I don't approve of her having this one. Not only do I believe she is to young and has no need for one, I also don't think her manipulation should be rewarded with the phone. So mylotter friends when do you think a child should carry a cell phone of thier own? Do you think a child that uses manipulation should get rewarded with the item they manipulated?
2 responses
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
27 Jul 08
I would take that phone away from her immediately. That was absolutely wrong of her! My children did not get cell phones until they had a job and were able to pay their portion of the cell bills. This made them very responsible with the phone since they are paying for it. I would not put up with the behavior that your daughter has displayed. If you continue to put up with this type of behavior, you are teaching her to get ahead in this world you have to use manipulation.
@alori61 (344)
• United States
27 Jul 08
LOL Oh this momma does not give into manipulation. She was with her dad for a week, I just picked her up this morning, and all the way home she got a major butt chewing (it's a three hour drive) and while it has not been formally taken from her at this point she does not have it with her.
@shymurl (2765)
• United States
26 Jul 08
I absolutely do not agree with the manipulation. That was wrong and the father should not have given in like that. He should have stood his ground with her. Now on the other hand, my 10 year old son has a prepaid cell phone. He only takes it with him if he goes to stay the night at a friends house. or has an out of town ball game. He knows and understands that it is only for emergencies. I guess it just depends on the kids and how responsible they behave.
@alori61 (344)
• United States
27 Jul 08
I do have a phone for the younger ones to use when they are away from me. I want them to have a phone in case of an emergancy, I fully agree, all of the older children started out the same way. Do to the way our daughter revealed the existance of the phone her father had no option but to give her the phone or it would have cause more problems. I did tell him I was taking it away from her and he had no problem with that but at the time he had to turn it over to her. I do feel that he should have taken it from her though instead of making me be the bad guy, but I haven't survived raised 6 kids alone by giving into manipulation.