Momfidence! - The Great Text Divide

About this Blog

Momfidence! cheers on commonsense parenting and sighs at the rest. How to worry less, wing it more. A.k.a. parenting by the seat of my mid-rise mom jeans.

About Paula Spencer

I'm the author of Momfidence! An Oreo Never Killed Anybody and Other Secrets of Happier Parenting, and a mom of four in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (where you can't even buy Oreos at the two wholesome groceries nearest to my home).

Some Kindred Blogs

Parentopia On mommy guilt
The Mother of All Blogs My fave fellow mom of four
MommaBlog in FotosLooks like my house
Parent Talk Today Kindred writer
Momformation ParentCenter
FreeRangeKidsSet them free!
Jane Austen Addict For diversion
Diet Naked For inspiration
Dr. Helen For conversation
BlythTimes For smart insights
LifeCoachBlog for positive reminders
Plan B for thinkin' past motherhood
Self Caring Caregiver blog I also write
College-path (trust me, eventually, you'll be there!)

The Great Text Divide

April 01, 2009

So do you dislike the idea of your kids texting, or do you not mind? Either way you'll probably like this piece on the subject by a local friend of mine in Monday's New York Times Well blog.

Is text messaging just modern technologyin action, opposed by fogey parents who forget how their own parents frowned at bulky 8-track tapes? Or an extravagance in tight times?

Age matters, too. Young teens gotta talk...In some ways, texting seems better than when I used to tie up our single phone line at home for 2 or 3 hours and infuriate parents or other relatives trying to get through the endless busy signal....

But what age? I draw the line here at high school. You??

Comments

Cathy says...

We were "uncool" parents in that we didn't get our kids cell phones until junior high when they started going to extracurricular activites that required communication on pick up times, etc. Our 3 are now 18, 15, & 12. The two older girls (high school) have texting, the youngest son does not (so to his friends we are still "uncool").
We have also set strict rules - like no cell phones (for kids OR adults) during dinner time, no texting or calling after 10 pm, absolutely no texting while driving, etc. And they know that I check up on them to make sure they are complying with the rules.
Like the mom in the article, I like being able to text them when a phone call doesn't work. Like last night, I was able to text the 18 year old to pick up the 15 year old from the softball game when she got off work, knowing that she would check her phone as soon as she got off. The 15 year old was able to text me when she would be able to leave the game without the hassle of trying to talk with wind and crowd noises in the background.

Denise says...

No prob with texting, just not at the dinner table and no personal mobile phones until they hit high school - grade 7.I see no need for them before then and they have to earn their money to pay for the credit for their phones.

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