Friday 28 December 2012

iCaved


The older two girls are now the proud owners of cellphones.
The shrieking on Christmas morning was deafening. The silence since then has been glorious.

I have been pretty vocal about my boundaries and rules with electronics and social media. So why now Jess you ask? What made you do it? Were you drinking wine before you went Christmas shopping?

NO…it was time. Truth be told, there have been many times with the girls growing independence that I secretly wished to be able to send them a quick text. 
I would NEVER have told them I wanted them to have a phone. Shhhhh. This would make my life a hell of “iTold you so’s”.
This way I come off looking like the worlds Coolest Mother Ever. My award and crown should be in the mail any day now.
iRock.

Of course there are rules.
•      I can do random phone checks at ANY given time. This may be every five minutes or every five hours…ya just never know. Come on now…who doesn’t love a good surprise?
•      Nothing inappropriate. No texts, pics, songs etc. FYI ladies, that would be my definition of inappropriate, not yours.
•      The phone is mine a bedtime.
•      Deleting makes me suspicious and suspicious mommy makes for disappearing phones.
  
Olivia’s phone was confiscated for December 26th. Way to go love. She has always been more of a ‘hands on’ type of learner. Did ya enjoy the 12 hours of outside contact? Mommy means business. Now, lets try this again.

It turns out the phone is Peyton’s biggest motivator EVER.
Clean room. Out of bed on the first call. Laundry away.
I say jump, she asks how high. All with a smile.
This parenting thing just gets easier and easier.
I’m just worried they will need a neck brace and thumb cast in about 2 days.

Don’t worry, ‘Meanest Mom Ever’ hovers just below the surface of  ‘Coolest Mom Ever’ and there is still no Facebook. 
I was informed that Facebook is über uncool now anyway. Instagram is where it’s at. Duh!
They continue to point out to me that they have WAY more followers than I do in just three short days. But at least they added me and liked my photos. It makes me feel hip. Yes, I just used the word hip. Shit, that probably strips me of my ‘hip’ness.
Ah, hell. Now as I write this, it just dawned on me that 12 year olds seeking social media might have outwitted me. Hmm, you can post and like pics, add people and comment.
It appears that Instagram rhymes with Facebook.
Damn.

iLazy. 
Last night as I was enjoying a glass of milk (LMAO) by the fire, I called down to the sweet basement trolls via FaceTime and did a room inspection from the comfort of my couch. SWEET!
Show me your bedroom. Clean. Good, you may keep your phone.
Show me your bathroom? Clean. Good, you may keep your phone.
Um…don’t roll your eyes at me...hello, I can see you!!

Usually rides in the car with all three of them make me want to stick a hot poker in my eye. Last night the silence was eerie. I could hear angels singing halleluiah. And those angels didn’t sound anything like One Direction.
I did point out to Peyton that she had barely spoken to me in two days.
She sent me a text saying “It’s ok mom, do you want to FaceTime later?” She even added a smiley face with a heart. Awwwe, how precious.

I am grateful for the silence and a fight-free ride to basketball.
I miss the conversations.

There is a new rule at our house. At dinner, everyone’s phones and devices will be placed in a bowl on the counter. First one to check their device cleans the entire kitchen. Boooya!

Family meal times will still be my real FaceTime.
They can’t escape me that easily.

xo J

PS: Have the magical wine fairy's arrived at your house yet? No? Well,  then LIKE the Facebook link to your right:)


Missing from photo: three iPods and the iPhone taking the pic.
#ridiculous








22 comments:

  1. You rock Auntie Jecca!!

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    1. Thanks Andrew. Not so anonymous when you use my family nick name:)
      J

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  2. A family friend has set up a charging station in the great room. That is where phones go at night, and when the kids are supposed to be getting something done like homework, or chores. It works out great. I actually never put restrictions on anything... I know-slacker, but I have a different way of parenting. I never made electronics a big deal, so they never where.

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    Replies
    1. Family charging station = great idea. Sometimes, not making a big deal about things is the best way to go. Pretty sure when my kids read this they will encourage me to take a page out of your mommy book:)
      J

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    2. I'm not much of a restrictive parent, either. Some call it lazy, I call it "whatever works".

      Delete
  3. So you have now become your home's equivalent of the FCC now? I applaud your efforts, and your generosity, Jessica! We've kept a close watch on Sarah's phone use as well.

    The best line you've written so far? "I am grateful for the silence and a fight-free ride to basketball.
    I miss the conversations."

    You're one-half of a great parenting team, Jessica. The conversations will return; give it time.

    Be well, my friend.

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    Replies
    1. ok...I admit it, I had to look up what the FCC was. See what you teach me?
      How old is Sarah (if you don't mind me asking). You give me hope in this teenage thing!
      J

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    2. Glad I could help enlighten you! Sarah's fourteen-going-on-thrity.
      And you give me hope in this writing thing!

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  4. Congrats, you just knocked Carol Brady off the top spot as coolest mother ever ... and she managed to keep six kids happy in a house with only one bathroom!

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    Replies
    1. WOOT WOOT!!!!! I can't imagine the wine I would need if there was only one bathroom in this house! Makes me cringe.
      J

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  5. Replies
    1. Awwwe, thanks!! I totally think I am hip. That's how I roll.
      J

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  6. You're a great mom. Keep it up.

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  7. Just wanted to say Hi and Happy New Year Jessica! Happy girls = happy mom = cellphone was a good choice.
    Enjoy your wine!
    /C

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    Replies
    1. Seeing Cingeling's comments = Happy Jessica = Happy New Year:)
      J

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  8. I thought I heard squealing . . . must of have been your girls. My kid got her cellphone when her dad and I split 5 years ago. She needed it to call me when her other parental unit forgot to pick her up. Now at almost 15, she rarely takes her phone with her and 'forgets' to check her messages. Yes, she is getting her 'teen card' pulled by her age cohorts. Perhaps it has because she's had it since age 9. . .not so much of a novelty. Sadly, it also means it doesn't work as much of a parenting tool - - - "I'll take your phone away." Response: "Huh? Whatever." I too do the 'random' checks . . . both of her phone and computer. Nothing alarming . . . and you're right Facebook is passe. Ask your girls about Tumblr . . . that seems to be where my kid is most of the time.

    Have a GREAT new year . . . looking forward more laughs from you and yours!
    Elizabeth

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    1. Now I am hopeful the novelty of the phone will wear off! I will NOT ask them about Tumblir b/c then I will need to figure it out and I CANNOT add one more thing! :)
      Happy New Year to you as well..I promise 2013 will bring more laughter at my expense:)
      J

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  9. I love bribery. It's one of my main parenting techniques.

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    1. I have never been, nor ever will be, above bribery.
      Some may judge..but those that do clearly do not have any offspring.
      J
      ps..I cannot wait to read your book!!

      Delete
  10. I got my first cell at 22... but I remember my first phone and line.

    My mum got it for my sister and I when I was probably 13 and she was 16. We had to pay the monthly cost from our allowance and my sister was very mad that I, being the younger one, got it at the same time as she did.

    Well... I rarely had access to that phone! My mum would take it away from me at the drop of a hat (bad behaviour, being rude, not doing homework, messy room) but I still had to pay my portion of the bill! My sister realized this wasn't such a bad deal after all! My mum allowed me 15 minutes a night on the house phone for "homework purposes".

    I remember several times when she would return the phone after a grounding, and before it was even plugged in, I would make some comment and it was gone again... good incentive, the personal phone! Go Jess, go!!

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  11. I aslo had a land line at 16. I also had it taken away more times than I care to admit. Its all about finding their currency. Things have been sailing very smoothly around here since the iPhone:)
    Yeah me...for now.

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