Thank you for all the kind words. I agree that my job first and foremost is to be a parent and teach my children values and that you earn what you have. We do have gaming systems, a couple in fact, along with computers (2) and games for them. But homework and chores are done first, then 30 minutes of time ONLY on one of the games. Time for research on the computer is given, but if you've asked for research or homework time on the computer, I'd better not catch you doing anything else. Though my older kids I did let them IM while doing homework, but by that time the sense that homework or research must be the focus was ingrained. I let my older children, including my daughter, have the buy your minutes cell for the same reason as Linda. My children walked to school, and Tiffy still does, until they could buy their first car. It's a safety precaution. It also allows her to remind me when she's going to be late for one reason or another. But I can't see the reason for a child who does not walk to school to have, at a very young age, a cell phone that they take to school. My 11 yr old knows that despite what his friends have or don't, their parents don't make the rules for our house. I don't let them roam the neighborhood either. They may walk to the park a half block from my house with a friend or sibling, but if I've given permission to go somewhere, that's where they'd better be. I do have fun with and enjoy my children. I don't want to give the wrong message here. But I am their parent first and foremost and a friend secondly. Oddly enough, my older children will discuss anything in their lives with me, including some things that I'd really rather not be privy too in the case of my grown sons. I have a very good relationship with all my children. But they know that I am their parent above all. It's my job to keep them safe and teach them what life is about and I only have about 18-19 years to teach them the things that will shape their lives for, God willing, another 70 -80 years after they are grown. I'm not knocking parents who do allow their young children to have a phone, to each their own and I'm sure you have your reasons. Also not trying to make myself sound like an ogress or "super mom", I'm neither, and just expressing my views on parenting. My children have been my greatest joys, my sanity and insanity and my lifeline through some of the worst times of my life. They, along with my precious husband :), are the focus of everything I do, no matter what it is. Kathy

My 16 y/o got a cell phone last year. We pay for it, in our plan with my phone. (DH's is through work.) He asked for one, but didn't push for it really. But we got to the point that I would call his friends' cell phones and ask for him when they were out somewhere. Or even at a friend's house, sometimes the family does not have a land line, only cell phones for each individual family member. So I wanted him to have one as much as he wanted one. The rest of my kids don't even ask for one, not even the 13 y/o. I have friends who have given their kids cell phone for different reasons. One got a cell phone for her 9 y/o DD that will only allow her to call preset numbers, and no texts. She is a single mother, with that her only child, and they have no family in the state. She wanted to make sure her daughter could reach her 24/7 if they are apart (school, practice, childcare) even if it's just for a comforting voice. There was a time when the girl mistakenly went home on the bus from school instead of to the afterschool program. Locked out and alone, the neighbor not home, she was able to call her mother right then. Another, though, admitted that she gave her 9 y/o DS a cell phone for Christmas "because he has everything, and I didn't know what else to get him." Ooookaaay then. Sort out your priorities! I don't know about this situation. It's two different issues. The kids' cell phones sound like an expense that should be cut because they cannot afford them, not to prohibit communication with Dad. Then the communication with Dad needs to be worked out in a way that both adults can agree on to benefit the kids. Even if I were divorced, I cannot imagine my 7 y/o having a relationship with his father via a cell phone. Doesn't sound fulfilling.

I guess it all depends on how much you call from home versus away from home or on the road. We use pre-paid cellular. The new phones were free after rebate and my wife and I each spend about $5-$7/month for the STI Mobile/Sprint service. We only make quick 1-2 minute calls for necessary reasons and it works fine anywhere in the country that Sprint covers. Voice mail and text messaging are turned off on both cellular phones. Other cellular providers are now joining the pre-paid game with good deals. We are still stuck with the old telephone company for home and home office lines. I must have the reliability and quality of a landline for my business. I do pay too much for long distance, toll-free, and local service for my business compared to the low rates available today. Bills are typically $35-$50/month for relatively low volume usage. The last time I switched was from MCI to Ameritech(i.e. SBC/AT&T/who knows?) It was a pain to switch, but the new lower rates were good for a year before they went up again. Our home phone line just went up to $22/month for local phone service. It started at $18 several years ago. Pre-paid long distance service is $.025/minute using cards from companies like Cheap Phonecards. The latest cards don't require you to enter the pin every time from home and you can program the 800 access number into speed dial. The long distance cards are great from hotels too. We are seriously considering the switch to broadband phone service, but our local numbers are not yet portable for Vonage or the others. We are just outside of their large markets. Broadband cable internet is $30/month and speed is around 300K or 10 times faster than dial-up. It is fast enough for our needs. The total bill (excluding my business) is around $67/month for all phones and broadband for my wife and I. Here is a link that might be useful: Cheap Phone Cards

I am going back to a land line, I am tired of worrying about the safety of cells when someone calls and keeps me on the thing for an hour. I am not even going for cordless. I will drag out my Kermit and Mickey Mouse wired phones and connect them. Cox Cable is my server and I got their best phone service for $9 a month plus $5. for taxes. It is a 2 year promotion, no contract and at the end of the two years I will go back to basic phone service.