how did this happen you ask?
i’ve been raging against the cell phone machine since he was in second grade. yes. second grade.
he would say, “mom, can i PLEASE have a cell phone?”
and i would say, “PLEASE. who are you going to call? you are either at school (where you are technically not allowed to use a phone) or at home with me. where you can use what we old folks like to call a LAND LINE. so, no. no cell phone. not until you are at least 56.”
but now he is in middle school, and he walks to school without me, and he goes to friend’s houses after school without me. and you know, i would like to be able to keep my grip on him firm and strong. and text him every 30 seconds as he walks to school.
“you still alive?”
“no one has kidnapped you yet?”
“look both ways!”
and most importantly:
“DONT DO ANYTHING STUPID!”
its like having me in his pocket.
lucky him.
but he was so so excited you guys, that my kid having a cell phone was worth seeing him freak out when he realized on his birthday, that that ringing? that ringing in the backseat? thats not moms cell phone, or dads cell phone, or anyone elses cell phone, THAT WAS HIS CELL PHONE.
his birthday got even better the next day when we took a few of his friends to the beach, and had an out and out junk food pizza ferris wheel bungee jump rock climbing ice cream candy birthday love fest.
my boy is 11!
That looks like fun.
All my kids have cell phones and it has made my life easier. Like you said, I can be with them at all times.
how FUN! happy birthday drew boy! tristan asks for a cell phone all the time but he’s in 4th grade and is ALWAYS with me so that’s a no go for now. i totally understand why parents get them for their kids though and i’m sure that will be my kids some day. :) happy texting.
you MIGHT just be the coolest mom on the planet to him right now. that in and of itself might be worth the monthly charge for texting…
Lucky, lucky boy. I too dread the cell phone requests that will be coming any day now…
we did the exact same thing, for the exact same reasons last month when my daughter turned 11.
I only wish we could have had bungee-ing! That looks like a total blast!
Hi Tara! Sooo cool on the cell phone! I can totally relate! I have a quick question for you…which beach to do you normally go to? My son is attending college in California and we are going to visit this weekend. My 16 yr. old dd has never seen the ocean, so her big thing this trip is to go to the beach. My husband and I were there in September and went to Huntington Beach, which was close to were we were staying (Redlands)…but do you have any other options or suggestions? Laguna? Newport? Your beach photos are always so amazing! Thanks so much!
My son has been asking since he was 3… I fear that day ;) You are a cool parent… looks like a great party!
You are an awesome Mama. I would love to have my gift ringing in the back seat!
I have an 11 year old Drew too! We just gave him a cell phone this year too because I used to drive him to school and now he walks waaayyy down to the bus stop. ;) I’m on the “firm grip on my children” band wagon as long as I can be. It’s a different world now.
what a GREAT birthday party!!!! Looks like tons of fun!
.. good for you ! .. and exciting for him ! .. that is exactly why mine have cell phones as well … and texting is soooo much fun … i was in a store one day and received a text and it was my oldest just to say he loved me … awww
Love the photos! Happy Birthday to your big boy!!! :-)
My son will be 11 in May and that is NUMBER ONE on the list.
He has to have the grade FIRST but yeah he will probably get one as well.
I love that I can keep tabs on him but give him a little leash out :)
hehe
Drewsicle is growing up!
I love him!
I was like you. I fought getting a cell phone forever with my daughter, but gave in last Christmas when talk came up of a class trip away from home for 4 days. So we got her the phone but they weren’t allowed to bring them on the trip! I was so upset. But it’s still nice to know she has it and I can get in touch with her whenever I want. I hope he had a great birthday!
What a fun birthday! Even as a grown up I wish I could have one like this :)
11?! sheesh how did that happen!?!
and believe me, i know all about the begging for cell phones.
savannah got one last year in 2nd grade and she is NEVER without me
because i walk her to school and home and she is always home, never even goes to friends houses.
so what’s the point right?! well my husband got a new one and gave her his old one and got her a number. for no whatsoever! NONE! she doesn’t use it at all! we really should cancel it as she is only 8 and 3rd grade and is never far away from my side, reading this as i type LOL!
gotta go eat dinner!
that sounds like ONE heck of a FUN AWESOME COOL birthday tara!
and your boy is so happy!
tara
Traveling Mercies, Tara.
FREAKING OUT!! Yep, that’s me, FREAKING out!!! HOW did this happen!?!!! How did Drew turn 11???? I’m in denial that Spencer will be there in 2 months! I think it means we’re getting OLD!!! I just caved on the cell phone thing too! Annie flew by herself to see my Sister in Fresno and the thought of her sitting in an airport with the potential that no one would be there to pick her up, due to traffic or whatever and no way for her to contact anyone was just too much. Soooo, I caved and bought a “Kids EMERGENCY phone” that the kids take when I deem the situation an Emergency. So far emergencies are when they go to the park with a friend, when they are at a birthday party at the bowling alley, when I have to drop them off at practice and head out to run a few errands… really and truely I think the phone is more for my peace of mind than there social lives…. but, so far, it has warded off the “PLEASE can I have a cell phone?” over and over and over!! I’m sure in a few months it will turn into “Please can I have MY OWN cell phone?” but till then, I’m still FREAKING OUT that our babies are growing up! Have an AMAZING time on your trip!!! Can’t wait to hear all about it!
that looks like the most perfect middle school birthday party ever…
11!!!! my girl will be 11 soon and she’ll be getting a cell phone for exactly the same reasons. when she got her nano for her 10th birthday the excited scream was ear shattering. y’all will probably be able to hear when she get’s the phone. ;o)
Tara
It looks like he had an awesome birthday. I just had to say that I have been totally against the whole cell-phone issue. I really had to eat crow over that ” I will never ….” However, I told my friends just wait till they get to middle school and you will SO change your mind! Then they just say… Ya right I am never……
Oh man, it was the same with my kiddos. Getting the cell phone felt a little like breaking down and letting my kids “keep up with the Jones” but at the same time, I love being in constant contact with them – though, I’m not with the 20 year old. He’s on his own. We like to keep it that ;)
what a fun mom and dad he must have! Yes, my 9 year old keeps begging for a cell phone too. Maybe having mom and dad in his pocket isn’t such a bad idea?! I’ve considered a tracking chip, but the cell phone may have to do for now…
i can’t handle this post. i’m not ready.
So cool, what a lucky guy! Have a great trip! :)
i just wanted to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY before you left. i’ll be thinking of you. this should be one birthday you won’t soon forget. love you bunches friend!
LOL oh i am so in tune with that conversation…again till my dd’s 11th birthday then miraculously parenting styles/attitudes and guidlelines take a backflip..all in the name of them doing the unthinkable…being somewhere other than school or with me!!
dontcha just love motherhood!! :)
Debs
I love these mosaics you’re doing. It’s a really fun way to showcase a day. Looks like an awesome outing and birthday!
I have an 11 year old, too and I know just what you mean. We got my daughter a cell phone, too, for all the same reasons you stated and it’s good, I think :) hope thailand is wonderful. I cannot wait to see all the beautiful images you will bring back.
I am still fighting the cell phone monster with my oldest he is 12 however he rides the bus to school and if he goes to a friends house he calls when he gets there.. however there is an upcoming 7th grade field trip overnight to another state.. so I am thinking he may end up getting one.. so I can call him while he is in another state.. I am still befuddled as to why they think 7th graders even need to go to the Rock and Roll hall of fame and Cedar point amusement park as a class trip.. none of that is exactly Educational really right? yeesh.. Oh … and the birthday party.. looks awesome.
You will not regret getting your son a cell phone. When my son was a freshman, I got a text from him that read, “bomb threat”. I quickly responded with, “re u ok, where are u”. It was a prank and everything was fine, but I could only imagine trying to find him if it had been real. Technology – it’s good stuff.
Hi Tara. Seeing your wonderful family photos from Southern Cal makes me miss my brother and his fam who live in Yorba Linda. Your photos bring a smile. Inspiring! Can’t wait to see what you bring back from Thailand!