I know a lot of us pay for our adult kids to have cell phones. I think that maybe it is good, maybe not. I think one thing at the base of our paying for the phone for our kids is our worry that they cannot get help if they don't have a cell phone. I want to challenge that idea.
Right now the majority of people over about 12 have cell phones, at least in my area. There are almost no pay phones anywhere because they don't get used. Some of us see this as a problem because our kids cannot use a pay phone to make a call if they don't have a cell phone. I don't. Our kids have far more access to phones if they don't have them than they did when pay phones exist.
I dont' have a cell phone. largely because I kill them. I kill watches if I have them, even expensive ones guaranteed to work no matter what. Something in the electric system in my body zaps them dead and it has since I was a teen. I have a couple of relaives who do htis also. I kill cell phones if I carry them, even in a purse. After ten of them, well, I give up.
I took a month and tried to make a call every time I went anywhere outside of my home. I was able to use someone's cell phone for free (even for a long distance call six times when I was out of my home city) or use a business phone every time I asked. I was told no only 3 times, and each of those times there was someone standing near me who OFFERED their cell for me to use. Only one little old lady accepted the dollar I offered to pay for my call. NO ONE else would accept my money for using their phone. All told, I made over fifty calls on other people's phones with almost zero hassle.
Your kids do NOT need you to provide a cell phone. They will get in touch if they want something from you, and they WILL be able to contact people for services. THey can even get free govt cell phones if they are not working.
It is one thing I have seen in so many posts about adult kids who are getting help, that we pay for their phones because otherwise they cannot call for help. It is a manipulation on their parts, because if all of their friends have phones, they they have that many phones that they can use if they want to talk to us or anyone.
I know it may not change your ideas on paying for their phones. If you WANT to pay for their phones, that is fine. As long as you know that it is a choice, and you realize that not having a phone is an inconvenience, NOT a problem that could be life threatening. Heck, they can call 911 from any phone iwth a charge, regardless of if it has regular service or not.
Mostly I think what you choose to do with your money is your choice, as long as you have the facts. In my opinion, it is a FACT that phone access is far easier now than it was when payphones were everywhere.
Right now the majority of people over about 12 have cell phones, at least in my area. There are almost no pay phones anywhere because they don't get used. Some of us see this as a problem because our kids cannot use a pay phone to make a call if they don't have a cell phone. I don't. Our kids have far more access to phones if they don't have them than they did when pay phones exist.
I dont' have a cell phone. largely because I kill them. I kill watches if I have them, even expensive ones guaranteed to work no matter what. Something in the electric system in my body zaps them dead and it has since I was a teen. I have a couple of relaives who do htis also. I kill cell phones if I carry them, even in a purse. After ten of them, well, I give up.
I took a month and tried to make a call every time I went anywhere outside of my home. I was able to use someone's cell phone for free (even for a long distance call six times when I was out of my home city) or use a business phone every time I asked. I was told no only 3 times, and each of those times there was someone standing near me who OFFERED their cell for me to use. Only one little old lady accepted the dollar I offered to pay for my call. NO ONE else would accept my money for using their phone. All told, I made over fifty calls on other people's phones with almost zero hassle.
Your kids do NOT need you to provide a cell phone. They will get in touch if they want something from you, and they WILL be able to contact people for services. THey can even get free govt cell phones if they are not working.
It is one thing I have seen in so many posts about adult kids who are getting help, that we pay for their phones because otherwise they cannot call for help. It is a manipulation on their parts, because if all of their friends have phones, they they have that many phones that they can use if they want to talk to us or anyone.
I know it may not change your ideas on paying for their phones. If you WANT to pay for their phones, that is fine. As long as you know that it is a choice, and you realize that not having a phone is an inconvenience, NOT a problem that could be life threatening. Heck, they can call 911 from any phone iwth a charge, regardless of if it has regular service or not.
Mostly I think what you choose to do with your money is your choice, as long as you have the facts. In my opinion, it is a FACT that phone access is far easier now than it was when payphones were everywhere.