Prepubescent Portent

The other day, Guy had his first phonecall from a girl, Celia. At age SIX, I think this is just too early. No growing up allowed!

I could hear her giggling and shrieking (and I think she had a friend at the other end of the line, too.) Guy liked the attention and was making silly jokes and laughing as well. After 5 minutes I said, "Let your friend know you have to get off the phone soon," and he dutifully did just that. Phew.

So, here I am, one of the LAST people I know to hold out and not get a cell phone, and my kids are slowly nudging me toward the lip of the friendly phone-calls, facebook, personal-email-accounts, cell-phones abyss. You can bet I got plenty of flack for not having a phone when I was 9 months (and then some) pregnant. I just hate the idea of yet another monthly bill, and I'm also not so interested in figuring out how to carry a phone on my person. Yes, I'm also holding out against carrying a purse or a diaper bag! I am just an easy "jump in the car and go" kinda gal. (Did I mention that before jumping into the car I have to make sure 5 people each have on 10 different sub-zero-temperature protective clothing items, AND help them into seatbelts AND remember the gym bag AND reusable shopping bags?)

Jumping in the car to dash someplace means taking 30 minutes to GET in the car. And who wants to add a purse or bag or phone to that mess? I put a diaper, few wipes and a hand-sanitizing spray nudged in the baby's seat, and my wallet comes along, and we go. Enough already.

But, then, the other evening at a Christmas party, I sheepishly borrowed a cell phone to call Doug and let him know that the party was starting and he'd better come on over (he'd been at the holiday physics show with the boys - WHAT?! - don't YOU go to the holiday physics and chemistry show each year? You should!) The owner of the phone wisely stated, "Aahh, but when your kids are teenagers, THEN you'll really need a cell phone of your own."

And sadly, I think he was right. Now someone please tell me that "teen" does not begin at age six!