Why Kids Need Cell Phones Too!

I'm standing in the Produce Section at the Grocery store when my cell phone rings. "Mom, what kind of Paper Towel did you want?" my son asks on the other line? "Bounty", I tell him, "Bring them to me, I'm in the Produce Section." I catch a woman glancing at me as I put my phone away and continue picking out tomatoes for dinner. My 9 year old comes walking up and puts the paper towel in the basket. The woman looks at me pointedly and says, "I can't believe you people who allow your children to carry cell phones. Don't you think it's a little much?" While my first reaction in this situation is always to tell people to mind their own business, this is not the first time I've been confronted with this question.

Putting a smile on my face, I turn to the woman and say, "No, I don't think it's a little much. Let me share a story with you..."

For 2 years, my son begged me for a cell phone. I resisted, arguing that it would be a long time before he would be in a place where he would be without me or a trusted adult. However, when he was just turning 8, our cell phone company offered us a deal where we could buy 5 phones for the price of 1. We could add a caller to our plan for $10/mo. We decided it was a worthy investment even if we just had it for babysitters who wanted to take him to the park. We programmed our cell phone numbers into it along with those of my parents. We then locked out all other numbers.

Not long after that, my son asked to spend the night at a friend's house. I knew the boys mother and approved of her. She was smart, kind, friendly and treated her kids well. I gave my permission. She did tell me that her boyfriend was coming over to watch a movie but that he would not be spending the night. I told my son that he could spend the night.

We allowed him to take the cell phone with him that night. It was about Midnight when I got a call from my son on my cell phone. He said, "Mom, can you come pick me up?" I was in the car by the time he said "up". I asked him what was wrong and he said that Ms. X's boyfriend was yelling and swearing. I asked him where he was and he told me that he was in the bathroom. I told him to hang up with me, call his dad and tell him to call the police, then to meet me at the house, he was then to call me back. Once I arrived at the house, I called the home phone and told the mother that there had been a family emergency and that I needed to take my son to the hospital with me. I told her I was sorry that I had just jumped in the car and driven over and that I was actually sitting in the driveway, would she please send him out. She walked out with him and when she came out she had the beginning of a black eye. I put my arms around her and acted like she was comforting me and told her that the police were on the way. Her boyfriend was arrested and that night the sleepover happened at my house. Thanks to my 8 year old and a cell phone, everyone was ok. That cell phone paid for itself that night.

My son has carried a phone for almost 2 years now. We've lost one and I recently washed one, but again, they have more than paid for themselves. He does not carry the most expensive brand name phone and his phone usage is heavily monitored, but he will never be without one again.

With him carrying a cell phone, I'm comfortable allowing him to go play at the park with friends. Knowing that he can reach me if he needs to, I'm more comfortable allowing him to go to the mens room when it's just the 2 of us running errands, instead of making him come to the womens room with me. He knows how to text message. He knows that if he were to ever be abducted, he is to call and leave the line open so that we can trace him.

Still smilingly sweetly, I say to the lady in the Produce Department, "So, no maam, I don't think that it's a little much for my son to have a cell phone. I think it's just about perfect. The fact that he can help me grocery shop? Well, that's just an added bonus! You have a nice day now!"