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The Watercooler
Is easy child on the phone at 3 a.m. a normal thing?
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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 63818" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>Different rules for different households. Certainly, different rules for different countries, because our phone billing system is probably very different to yours.</p><p></p><p>Our younger kids have pre-paid phone cards and the phone is for emergency use only. Our mobile charges are ridiculously high, so the kids will use the land lines to talk to a friend on another land line - the mobile phones are used solely to set up a phone rendezvous.</p><p>As they get older, the kids pay their own mobile phone bill entirely. As they feel they can handle it, they switch from pre-paid to a plan system, which is where they can risk a bill blow-out if they're not careful. But it's their choice, their money at this stage. They have to be legally adult to do this.</p><p></p><p>The issue concerning late night phone calls often comes down to - can they still function normally? And that's where they have to have consequences. natural consequences. If a kid is sleeping in, I go in and wake them. With a spray bottle of water, if necessary, set on jet and shot straight up the inside of the pyjama leg. I do give a warning first, they know from experience that it's better to get up immediately and have dry pyjamas.</p><p>If they are on a day off, I let them sleep a bit longer, but if I get them up and they're overtired because they were on the phone too late the night before - tough! Even if the call was for a good cause, such as counselling a friend, it's still - tough! You have to live your life and meet your responsibilities. If you find it's difficult, then you might think twice about taking/making that 3 am call next time.</p><p></p><p>The problem, as Sara pointed out, is the circadian rhythm. Let them get into the habit of living like a bat is not going to help at all. They are awake in the middle of the night, they are bored, they want to chat. THAT is not on in our household. If they're doing it, the insistence on keeping a normal day-night wake-sleep pattern soon pushes them to make their own decisions in this. And, of course, the other rule - do not wake thy parents except it shall be for a darn good reason.</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 63818, member: 1991"] Different rules for different households. Certainly, different rules for different countries, because our phone billing system is probably very different to yours. Our younger kids have pre-paid phone cards and the phone is for emergency use only. Our mobile charges are ridiculously high, so the kids will use the land lines to talk to a friend on another land line - the mobile phones are used solely to set up a phone rendezvous. As they get older, the kids pay their own mobile phone bill entirely. As they feel they can handle it, they switch from pre-paid to a plan system, which is where they can risk a bill blow-out if they're not careful. But it's their choice, their money at this stage. They have to be legally adult to do this. The issue concerning late night phone calls often comes down to - can they still function normally? And that's where they have to have consequences. natural consequences. If a kid is sleeping in, I go in and wake them. With a spray bottle of water, if necessary, set on jet and shot straight up the inside of the pyjama leg. I do give a warning first, they know from experience that it's better to get up immediately and have dry pyjamas. If they are on a day off, I let them sleep a bit longer, but if I get them up and they're overtired because they were on the phone too late the night before - tough! Even if the call was for a good cause, such as counselling a friend, it's still - tough! You have to live your life and meet your responsibilities. If you find it's difficult, then you might think twice about taking/making that 3 am call next time. The problem, as Sara pointed out, is the circadian rhythm. Let them get into the habit of living like a bat is not going to help at all. They are awake in the middle of the night, they are bored, they want to chat. THAT is not on in our household. If they're doing it, the insistence on keeping a normal day-night wake-sleep pattern soon pushes them to make their own decisions in this. And, of course, the other rule - do not wake thy parents except it shall be for a darn good reason. Marg [/QUOTE]
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Is easy child on the phone at 3 a.m. a normal thing?
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