Kids and Cell Phones

When we got Katharine a phone four years ago, at the age of ten, it was still a big deal. I think only one of her other friends had one. Some of the mothers were probably thinking what a nightmare it was going to be until their daughters got one. I know first hand how some of the mothers felt. They thought their kid was too young, they would loose the phone or it would cost too much. But, since then things have become more commonplace. Every child we know has a phone now. There are family plans to add a person for a mere ten bucks. For the record, Katharine never lost her phone. Also for the record, not all kids want one. Zoe still didn't want one last year as a freshman. We pushed for her to have one when her schedule warranted phone calls for rides home. She still only turns it on when she calls me to come get her.

Yesterday, I was watching my video iPod while waiting for Katharine at her voice lesson. I sat in my warm car with the window down. I half watched and listened to three seven or eight year olds playing basketball, while watching a free download of the Top Designer. The boys reminded me of my childhood. Living on a cul-de-sac, where less cars traveled, making it somewhat safe. Carefree, teasing each other, just being boys. I was half expecting a shout from a sister or a mom telling one of them it was time to set the table, wash their hands or that dinner was ready. That never happened though. At least not the old fashioned way, with a nice belt from the diaphragm, or a screech from a put upon sister. It came in the form of one little boy getting a phone call. He told his friends he had to go home for dinner. He walked about sixty feet into his front door. Another boy was going home too and the remaining boy said dramatically, his life was over. He was joking, but he did tell mention that he was bored. I guess he just went in to his video games.

So, a seven year old has a cell phone. His mother calls him without looking out the window to actually see the boy. I don't suppose this is much different from when I am calling Katharine and she doesn't hear me. If I text her or call her cell though, I can get through. My how times have changed!