The Buckets by Greg Cravens for August 03, 2012

I HAD to buy a cell phone once my family started working in places where there were no land lines.

Talked himself right out of that one didn’t he?

Why would he have to check in with his parents “often” – shouldn´t it just be a reason to be able to check in with your parents? Or isn´t he allowed to come outside at all for his parents.

The J.A.M. – read your comment too fast, thought you said land mines.

Oh Toby!

Better Luck next time.

LOL xxx

I have had a cellphone since 1998. I’ll bet that I’ve had more phone, than anyone in the comment section … just l click the link, and you’ll see what I mean. L

I have that for on my 19 year olds phone. Amazing how that really cut down on alot of problems when he knew I could always find out exactly where he was. He doesn’t like it, but as long as I am paying for it, it stays.

I understand that most of us can’t afford to give our children cell phones, much less expensive smartphones with their expensive data plans. But other than that, smartphones are great tools for parenting. Yes, there is a risk of misuse by the kid, but with a few rules the smartphone is Big Brother’s dream come true: 1) It’s my phone, which I give to you for your use as well as mine.2) I will check the details of usage in my phone’s bills. I may even verify who’s the receiver of repeated phone calls and texts. And I will decide when such usage is excessive.3) I will verify where my phone is located at any time I want to using tools such as “Find my iPhone”.4) I will set up parenting-control features on my phone if and whenI want to. 5) Any attempt to tamper with the phone in a way I have not authorized will result in me confiscating it. You will hand me my phone whenever I request it.6) I will call my phone whenever I think it’s appropriate. I understand that in some cases it is impossible to answer, but then I expect you to return my call within 10 minutes. Failure to do so repeatedly without a satisfactory explanation will result in a loss of your phone. And yes, you should have told me you were going to that movie before going.7) I may want to video chat at times. You will turn the camera of my phone on when requested. (Of course some carriers don’t allow you to videochat on some phones through their cellular networks; I will know when I can videochat with you).8) Don’t expect me to replace my phone if you lose it or break it. You owe me a phone. And of course the replacement for my phone will also be mine.…. and so on. Of course the risk here is that they may get the money to buy their own phone. But if they were willing (and able) to do that they would not be asking you.

BTW, Greg:A few days ago some of us were wondering about Toby’s approximate age. I think you may have said something about him settling on 15-ish, but Gabriel 7 though he may be 13. How old is he in your mind?

A couple of years ago he was learning to drive, so by now he should be 17ish. It was a great strip with his Dad in the passenger seat stomping his foot on the floor, Toby saying “Haha the brake is over here”, and Dad yelling “use it”

I don’t believe we need to know where our kids are every minute of the day. Of course I might change my mind once I’m actually a mom with kids out there, but I’ll try to remember this. It’s all about trusting them and teaching them what they need to know to be out in the big, “bad” world.

I think Toby knew he was fighting a losing battle even before he walked into the room!

Sorry Toby.

You should always know where your kids are, even if you trust them. Kids are in the stage of learning the world and they don’t have all the answers and in an emergency you might need to pick them up. Teenagers by design are pulling away and in that process they will be in a place they shouldn’t have gone to. There are two camps…both camps have elements of truth…trust and safety.