Mom requires 13 year old son to sign contract to use phone

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

1. It is my phone. I bought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you. Aren’t I the greatest?

2. I will always know the password.

3. If it rings, answer it. It is a phone. Say hello, use your manners. Do not ever ignore a phone call if the screen reads “Mom” or “Dad”. Not ever.

4. Hand the phone to one of your parents promptly at 7:30pm every school night & every weekend night at 9:00pm. It will be shut off for the night and turned on again at 7:30am. If you would not make a call to someone’s land line, wherein their parents may answer first, then do not call or text. Listen to those instincts and respect other families like we would like to be respected.

5. It does not go to school with you. Have a conversation with the people you text in person. It’s a life skill. *Half days, field trips and after school activities will require special consideration.

6. If it falls into the toilet, smashes on the ground, or vanishes into thin air, you are responsible for the replacement costs or repairs. Mow a lawn, babysit, stash some birthday money. It will happen, you should be prepared.

7. Do not use this technology to lie, fool, or deceive another human being. Do not involve yourself in conversations that are hurtful to others. Be a good friend first or stay the hell out of the crossfire.

8. Do not text, email, or say anything through this device you would not say in person.

9. Do not text, email, or say anything to someone that you would not say out loud with their parents in the room. Censor yourself.

10. No porn. Search the web for information you would openly share with me. If you have a question about anything, ask a person – preferably me or your father.

11. Turn it off, silence it, put it away in public. Especially in a restaurant, at the movies, or while speaking with another human being. You are not a rude person; do not allow the iPhone to change that.

12. Do not send or receive pictures of your private parts or anyone else’s private parts. Don’t laugh. Someday you will be tempted to do this despite your high intelligence. It is risky and could ruin your teenage/college/adult life. It is always a bad idea. Cyberspace is vast and more powerful than you. And it is hard to make anything of this magnitude disappear – including a bad reputation.

13. Don’t take a zillion pictures and videos. There is no need to document everything. Live your experiences. They will be stored in your memory for eternity.

14. Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision. It is not alive or an extension of you. Learn to live without it. Be bigger and more powerful than FOMO – fear of missing out.

15. Download music that is new or classic or different than the millions of your peers that listen to the same exact stuff. Your generation has access to music like never before in history. Take advantage of that gift. Expand your horizons.

16. Play a game with words or puzzles or brain teasers every now and then.

17. Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling.

18. You will mess up. I will take away your phone. We will sit down and talk about it. We will start over again. You & I, we are always learning. I am on your team. We are in this together.

http://thenextweb.com/shareables/20...s-of-use-to-teenage-son-would-you-be-tempted/

I don't think this is a bad idea. What are your thoughts?

 

[SMOGZINN]

Personally, I think it is a great idea. We have a 10 year old, and we are definitely going to do something like this with him when we get him a phone in a few years. (Unfortunately his Bio-dad will undermine us by getting him a phone with no restrictions, just like he did with the girl and her Ipad. That way he can be the cool parent.)

I think number 15 is a bit uncalled for. Musical taste is mostly informed by your peers, I know their music is different then mine and I don't like it, just like my parents didn't like or understand my musical tastes. Eventually they will branch out and find other musics just like we did.

 

[JM Aggie08]

My parents did something similiar to me when I was around that age, except it was for the computer.

There were many times that my keyboard was taken away 🙁

 

[highland145]

I like it except I didn't see where the kid had to pay his own bill.

 

[Raizinman]

I am a child. I will do childish things. If you give me a phone I will do with it as I please.
If you continue to threaten and/or bully me, I will run away from home. If they bring me back, I will run away again. Eventually, the Child Protective Services will get involved and put me in a foster home and get me new parents. They will also assess you for child support until I'm 18. If you want me back, it will cost thousands in attorney costs. I also have the knowledge that you smoke weed occasionally, drink too much or watch porn on TV. I can pick any of these (or even make it up) and call CPS and have you arrested.

The sooner you realize that I'm the boss and not you the sooner and better we will get along. I will go to school when I want, I will participate in religion if I want, I will have any allowance amount that I want, I will set my own bedtimes. Those are my rules. Either obey or suffer the consequences. Signed: Any child USA

 

[slayer202]

the woman is clearly a see you next tuesday

 

[waggy]

http://thenextweb.com/shareables/20...s-of-use-to-teenage-son-would-you-be-tempted/

I don't think this is a bad idea. What are your thoughts?

i think it's great. we did pretty much the same with our daughter when she got her phone.

 

[lxskllr]

Not unreasonable, but it is unrealistic. Doesn't hurt to try, and the expectations are clearly listed. I'm in favor.

 

[QueBert]

If I was 13 I'd sign this contract, then as soon as I had the phone in my hand I'd break about 75% of the rules in the 1st couple of hours.

 

[highland145]

I am a child. I will do childish things. If you give me a phone I will do with it as I please.
If you continue to threaten and/or bully me, I will run away from home. If they bring me back, I will run away again. Eventually, the Child Protective Services will get involved and put me in a foster home and get me new parents. They will also assess you for child support until I'm 18. If you want me back, it will cost thousands in attorney costs. I also have the knowledge that you smoke weed occasionally, drink too much or watch porn on TV. I can pick any of these (or even make it up) and call CPS and have you arrested.

The sooner you realize that I'm the boss and not you the sooner and better we will get along. I will go to school when I want, I will participate in religion if I want, I will have any allowance amount that I want, I will set my own bedtimes. Those are my rules. Either obey or suffer the consequences. Signed: Any child USA

LOL

:Bitch Slap; Any half assed parent in the USA.

 

[darkewaffle]

That's actually much more reasonable than I expected.

 

[GobBluth]

the woman is clearly a see you next tuesday

Good parents always are. Your parents not being that way is probably the reason you turned out to be the entitled, self-richous, hippie that you probably are. *based off of your assessment of good parenting**

 

[waggy]

If I was 13 I'd sign this contract, then as soon as I had the phone in my hand I'd break about 75% of the rules in the 1st couple of hours.

Not unreasonable, but it is unrealistic. Doesn't hurt to try, and the expectations are clearly listed. I'm in favor.

lol true.

We have something close with our daughter. BUT we also understand she is still a kid. She has "lost" the phone a few times. luckily between the family locator thing on it and knowing where she was we have found it.

i know she is going to break the rules (part of growing up!) but she also knows if caught there is punishment.

but hell that's part of growing up!

only real rules i push are the no pictures, answer when a PARENT calls and if she loses it she pays to replace it. heh


though..boys are starting to call her..so we might change the rules..:awe:

 

[MovingTarget]

Awesome. I wish that many of my students' parents would do this. Too many kids have carte-blanche with their smartphones. They are a tool to be used just as forks/knives, but that does not mean that children should be excluded from using proper manners. That kid will probably turn out alright.

On another note, why would you give a cellphone to a kid not old enough to drive, or at least have a learner's permit? It isn't like they are left unattended without access to a landline. It is just asking for trouble. If I see one more first grader toting an iphone 4 to school on a regular basis, I'm going to give up on humanity.

 

[slayer202]

Good parents always are. Your parents not being that way is probably the reason you turned out to be the entitled, self-richous, hippie that you probably are. *based off of your assessment of good parenting**

No. Good parenting doesn't require a ridiculous and specific 18 point contract to use a phone. Might as well add "19. You are going to hell if you disobey"

but really, the woman is just trolling for publicity and you clowns are eating it up.

13. Don’t take a zillion pictures and videos. There is no need to document everything. Live your experiences. They will be stored in your memory for eternity.

how obnoxious

 

[rcpratt]

The first dozen are reasonable, the last six are just stupid. They also devalue my perception of the "contract" because they are so stupid.

I don't think it's necessary to write it in a contract, but whatever. If that works for this mother, then go for it.

As for the actual rules? As a 24-year old male with no children, I think most are overprotective - especially number 2. I understand the need for rules (and strict ones) when a child is given such a powerful tool, but I don't think an invasion of privacy is a good way to build trust. As for the others, I hope they are phased out as the kid nears driving age. Otherwise, that's going to be an amusing shock to that mother.

 

[Raizinman]

LOL

:Bitch Slap; Any half assed parent in the USA.

Any physical contact that causes me even the slightest bruise will wind you up in jail before the hour. Heck, perhaps I'll just pick any ole bruise from basketball or soccer practice and have the cops throw your butt in jail. Courts believe kids over parents, we are all so innocent.

 

[PowerYoga]

I am a child. I will do childish things. If you give me a phone I will do with it as I please.
If you continue to threaten and/or bully me, I will run away from home. If they bring me back, I will run away again. Eventually, the Child Protective Services will get involved and put me in a foster home and get me new parents. They will also assess you for child support until I'm 18. If you want me back, it will cost thousands in attorney costs. I also have the knowledge that you smoke weed occasionally, drink too much or watch porn on TV. I can pick any of these (or even make it up) and call CPS and have you arrested.

The sooner you realize that I'm the boss and not you the sooner and better we will get along. I will go to school when I want, I will participate in religion if I want, I will have any allowance amount that I want, I will set my own bedtimes. Those are my rules. Either obey or suffer the consequences. Signed: Any child USA

 

[waggy]

Awesome. I wish that many of my students' parents would do this. Too many kids have carte-blanche with their smartphones. They are a tool to be used just as forks/knives, but that does not mean that children should be excluded from using proper manners. That kid will probably turn out alright.

On another note, why would you give a cellphone to a kid not old enough to drive, or at least have a learner's permit? It isn't like they are left unattended without access to a landline. It is just asking for trouble. If I see one more first grader toting an iphone 4 to school on a regular basis, I'm going to give up on humanity.

depends on the child. 1st grade though? no.

my daughter (10) has a phone (no way in hell is she getting a smart phone.). she is pretty good with it. sure she has "lost" it 2-3 times. her minutes are roughly 100-200 a month. her big thing is texting (no she can't do pics). and even then im 2nd on the list of people she sends to.

it's something the children have to earn. she did and continues to keep. as you said it's a tool and a good one to have...within reason.

 

[SMOGZINN]

No. Good parenting doesn't require a ridiculous and specific 18 point contract to use a phone. Might as well add "19. You are going to hell if you disobey"

but really, the woman is just trolling for publicity and you clowns are eating it up.



how obnoxious

Ah, I see you have not dealt with children, ever.

 

[gorcorps]

A lot of the rules make sense, but her reasoning and way of writing is stupid.

EX:
14. Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision. It is not alive or an extension of you. Learn to live without it. Be bigger and more powerful than FOMO – fear of missing out.

If you want them to leave their phone at home, great. But what the hell is this FOMO garbage? Shut up with your foofy life lessons.

 

[HumblePie]

I like everything but number 13 and 15. I would leave those off personally.

 

[LTC8K6]

Seems like signing the contract is an adult thing, but the contract itself reflects a child.

If the child is mature enough for a contract, then they're mature enough to be left on their own with the phone.

When I was 13, I would have declined such a deal and tried to get my own phone or just gone without.

 

[lxskllr]

The first dozen are reasonable, the last six are just stupid. They also devalue my perception of the "contract" because they are so stupid.

I don't think it's necessary to write it in a contract, but whatever. If that works for this mother, then go for it.

As for the actual rules? As a 24-year old male with no children, I think most are overprotective - especially number 2. I understand the need for rules (and strict ones) when a child is given such a powerful tool, but I don't think an invasion of privacy is a good way to build trust. As for the others, I hope they are phased out as the kid nears driving age. Otherwise, that's going to be an amusing shock to that mother.

A lot of the rules make sense, but her reasoning and way of writing is stupid.

EX:
14. Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision. It is not alive or an extension of you. Learn to live without it. Be bigger and more powerful than FOMO – fear of missing out.

If you want them to leave their phone at home, great. But what the hell is this FOMO garbage? Shut up with your foofy life lessons.

I'm not sure how good they are when written in a "contract", but they're useful life lessons, and most can be distilled down to "Don't be a follower". Putting it all in one place makes it easy to remember, and makes a good check list so you don't forget to cover something. They likely won't all be followed, but it's still a good blueprint for best practices. When something comes back to bite the kid in the ass, you can ridicule them, and tell them they were duly warned. Ignorance can't be claimed when they were told in an easily read, printed document.

 

[waggy]

When I was 13, I would have declined such a deal and tried to get my own phone or just gone without.

i find that hard to believe. most 13 yr olds would agree and try to break the rules and do what they wanted anyway. while some of the rules are idiotic there is nothing really bad.

also at 13 you can't get your own phone heh.

I'm not sure how good they are when written in a "contract", but they're useful life lessons, and most can be distilled down to "Don't be a follower". Putting it all in one place makes it easy to remember, and makes a good check list so you don't forget to cover something. They likely won't all be followed, but it's still a good blueprint for best practices. When something comes back to bite the kid in the ass, you can ridicule them, and tell them they were duly warned. Ignorance can't be claimed when they were told in an easily read, printed document.

/this

though the same can be said with just talking with the child and reinforcing the rules. Being consistent and fair.