I have a situation on the home front I’m not sure how to handle.
The kids have a cell phone. Yes! A freaking cell phone! Remember, they are only 6 and 8.
In my opinion, they are too young to handle the responsibility of a cell phone. It makes me really uncomfortable that they have it. It worries me what we are teaching them. It makes me feel like I am not in control of them when they are in my care (like I should be).
The 6 year old thinks it’s a toy, even though she has been told it’s not and is only for calling specific family members when they are missing them. So far today, she has called:-
- me – even though I was in the same house as her
- her dad – whilst he was at work, to ask him a question that her brother had for homework
- her mom – just to chat
- her mom’s girlfriend – who knows for what
- her mom’s ex-girlfriend – again, who knows for what
Oh yes, I didn’t mention that the approved list now includes some people who definitely do not classify as “family”, as evidenced by the girlfriend calls above. Also, all the calls occurred in privacy because she only wants to talk in private. She could be calling anyone for all I know. Or anyone could be calling her.
Their mom got the phone for them, to apparently “give them more control over their lives”. That seems really odd to me. What 6 and 8 year old kid has control over their lives? Or should need to have that control? To me control and responsibilty go hand in hand. And 6 and 8 are definitely too young for responsibilty. Surely what they need more is stability and security? Not control?
It’s tricky.
One Woman's Journey 