I hate Cell Phones

My sons are killers. They are cell phone killers.

I purchased Brody a brand new cell phone a few weeks ago since he was doing so well keeping up with his Go Phone. This was probably more of a convenience for me, as I often forgot to add minutes to his phone. Anyway, we received the phone, and he had it about 72 hrs before he jumped into the pool at the Sports Barn with it in his pocket. Now, I'm one smart mom, so I purchased "insurance" on all of our phones. I only paid $29.99 for this phone. I was told that there was a $50 deductable. Man. Okay, so seeing this as a teachable moment, I explained to Brody that I wasn't mad at him, accidents happen, but he was going to have to give me the money for the deductable. He wasn't happy. He has been earning money this summer doing chores and mowing lawns with Larry. He really didn't have anything he was planning on spending the money on, but he spent it in his mind about thirty times a day. This was a huge blow to him, but I figured he would be more careful with it, and it was a good lessoned learned.

Fast forward to about 10 days later. Larry called to tell me that HIS MOTHER called him and reported that Lucas (13 yrs old) jumped in the pool up at their house with his cell phone in his pocket. What the crap? Lucas was too scared to call me, so he had his grandmother call and tell Larry who in turn was supposed to call and "break it to me gently".

I'm really upset on so many levels. First because Lucas didn't call me himself. Second because Lucas gave my mother in law the impression that we would draw and quarter him for such an offense. Thirdly because Brody just did the SAME THING, and last but not least, unless I spend a fortune to get it here quickly, Lucas is going to the beach without a phone on Monday with our youth group at church.

My kids both enjoy their phones, but I have to be honest and admit that it is more for my piece of mind that anything. I love that I can contact either of them any time I want. I can only imagine what my mom went through when I was with my friends, or out on a date. I cannot stand when they go somewhere and don't answer or forget their phone. I guess that probably makes me a control freak(?) No, I didn't think so either.

Lucas did this exact same thing last year on the beach trip with the youth. He told me that some guys put wet clothes in a locker without his knowledge and the clothes leaked and damaged his phone. I didn't have insurance then, so Lucas had to use my old discarded PINK razor until his birthday in November where I upgraded him to a touch screen phone. He fessed up when Brody damaged his phone that he jumped in a pool that time too. Arggggghhhhh!!! I thought having to use the old pink razor would have been enough to make him cherish this phone, but boy was I wrong!

I guess I'll have to do the mean mom thing and have Lucas give me the money for the deductable and the overnight fee to get him a phone by Monday morning at 7:45 when he leaves. That will greatly reduce the wiggle room that he built for himself working hard this summer to earn money for the trip. I feel mean, but he needs to take some responsibility for this too.

Being a mom really stinks sometimes. I hate to be the mean one who makes them follow the rules, learn the hard lessons and eat veggies. I guess that's my lot in life. I guess I better go, I think I have some kittens to drown......