Comments on: Call me, kiddo — with kajeet http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/ Having it all with less. Tue, 22 May 2012 18:09:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Want Not » Winner of the kajeet phone http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67887 Want Not » Winner of the kajeet phone Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:42:46 +0000 http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67887 [...] I don’t expect this will come as much of a surprise, but I sat down with my daughter this weekend to ask her to pick a winner for the kajeet contest based upon your comments, and she said “that one sounds good” or “maybe her” a couple of times, right up until we got to this: April says: Wow, where to begin? I write this for our newest member of our family. My 11 year old niece just came to live with us on Monday. Her mother is an alcoholic who drank away their rent money and proceeded to get them evicted from their apartment. My niece was homeless for 2 days before we could get her down to us. Her story got worse last when at the dinner table we laid a few ground rules and found that that my sister abused her by slapping her around and pulling her hair. This child has never had anything nice or anything to call her own. Birthday money was spent by her mother for items her mother wanted or at the bar. I think she deserves a cell phone because it would be something that is all hers and she would not have to share it with anyone. Also because we would love to show her than we think she is responsible and mature enough to have one and not the useless thing her mother would make her feel like she was. I’m EXTREMELY happy to say that we’re prepared to have her live with us until she’s 18 and a cell phone would be a great start at showing her that we trust her. [...] [...] I don’t expect this will come as much of a surprise, but I sat down with my daughter this weekend to ask her to pick a winner for the kajeet contest based upon your comments, and she said “that one sounds good” or “maybe her” a couple of times, right up until we got to this: April says: Wow, where to begin? I write this for our newest member of our family. My 11 year old niece just came to live with us on Monday. Her mother is an alcoholic who drank away their rent money and proceeded to get them evicted from their apartment. My niece was homeless for 2 days before we could get her down to us. Her story got worse last when at the dinner table we laid a few ground rules and found that that my sister abused her by slapping her around and pulling her hair. This child has never had anything nice or anything to call her own. Birthday money was spent by her mother for items her mother wanted or at the bar. I think she deserves a cell phone because it would be something that is all hers and she would not have to share it with anyone. Also because we would love to show her than we think she is responsible and mature enough to have one and not the useless thing her mother would make her feel like she was. I’m EXTREMELY happy to say that we’re prepared to have her live with us until she’s 18 and a cell phone would be a great start at showing her that we trust her. [...]

]]> By: Kris http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67881 Kris Sun, 23 Sep 2007 03:10:04 +0000 http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67881 Me! Me! (Well, her! Her!) Kasia is deserving becuase she worked so darn hard to get her black belt, be on Core Demo Team, and be part of our Harmony Polish Dance Ensemble. she gave up STORM team when it got to be too much, stating, "I just want to be ten for awhile." She walks to school and gets herself ready, which is more than I could ask for. And in spite of sibling rivalry, she really does care and look out for her little sister. (In fact she told off her best friend, in order to defend her sister who was having an Asperger moment. That was REALLY HARD for her to do.) She's getting more independent and trustworthy. But seriously - she's not an angel. I do need to know what she's doing at all times, whether she's with me or not. We promise to use said phone for good, never evil (although there may be a picture or two that could be incriminating - left there by mom of course!) Me! Me! (Well, her! Her!) Kasia is deserving becuase she worked so darn hard to get her black belt, be on Core Demo Team, and be part of our Harmony Polish Dance Ensemble. she gave up STORM team when it got to be too much, stating, “I just want to be ten for awhile.” She walks to school and gets herself ready, which is more than I could ask for. And in spite of sibling rivalry, she really does care and look out for her little sister. (In fact she told off her best friend, in order to defend her sister who was having an Asperger moment. That was REALLY HARD for her to do.)

She’s getting more independent and trustworthy. But seriously – she’s not an angel. I do need to know what she’s doing at all times, whether she’s with me or not. We promise to use said phone for good, never evil (although there may be a picture or two that could be incriminating – left there by mom of course!)

]]> By: Ruth http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67867 Ruth Sat, 22 Sep 2007 16:33:02 +0000 http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67867 I'm a single mom and my oldest son needs a cell phone. He is in Junior High now and sometimes he has to babysit his little sister. The only reason I keep paying for the landline is so that he can call if there are any questions or issues. That boy is a rock - he deserves better than he gets. He does all his schoolwork, helps around the house, rarely complains, is never picky, and supports me all around. He hugs me when I am sad. He is usually very kind to his little 3 yr. old sister, playing with her and reading to her. Truthfully there are times when he ignores her but he is never rough or loud. If he had a phone he would have more freedom to be a kid. He'd be able to organize baseball and snow fort games at the little league diamond 5 blocks away (I'd let him do it if I knew he could call if there were problems), he would be able to go further on his bike and with less worried nagging from me. If he had his own phone he would be able to call his Dad and his favorite relatives (who live far away) whenever he wanted instead of waiting until mine was available. My phone is perennially low on battery and is therefore frustrating to use. I know that he wouldn't squander the minutes and cost me too much because he saves his money carefully and plans before he spends it. Honestly, the only thing he really needs improvement on is being more comfortable socially - he is shy and more likely to spend his free time on his hobbies than with other kids. A phone would help him with that and it would be so cool if you could help us with the phone. Thanks. I’m a single mom and my oldest son needs a cell phone. He is in Junior High now and sometimes he has to babysit his little sister. The only reason I keep paying for the landline is so that he can call if there are any questions or issues. That boy is a rock – he deserves better than he gets. He does all his schoolwork, helps around the house, rarely complains, is never picky, and supports me all around. He hugs me when I am sad. He is usually very kind to his little 3 yr. old sister, playing with her and reading to her. Truthfully there are times when he ignores her but he is never rough or loud. If he had a phone he would have more freedom to be a kid. He’d be able to organize baseball and snow fort games at the little league diamond 5 blocks away (I’d let him do it if I knew he could call if there were problems), he would be able to go further on his bike and with less worried nagging from me. If he had his own phone he would be able to call his Dad and his favorite relatives (who live far away) whenever he wanted instead of waiting until mine was available. My phone is perennially low on battery and is therefore frustrating to use. I know that he wouldn’t squander the minutes and cost me too much because he saves his money carefully and plans before he spends it. Honestly, the only thing he really needs improvement on is being more comfortable socially – he is shy and more likely to spend his free time on his hobbies than with other kids. A phone would help him with that and it would be so cool if you could help us with the phone. Thanks.

]]> By: Niki http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67860 Niki Sat, 22 Sep 2007 13:53:39 +0000 http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67860 OK, probably shouldn't have read all of the other entries before posting mine, as it will now sound fairly lame. I have 2 girls, 17 and 12, and an extra 16 year old this year. 17 yo has and pays for her own phone with her killer babysitting money, and we bought a phone for the 16 yo, as she does not drive, but will go places with friends, and she needs to be able to call home. This leaves poor 12 yo phoneless - and in the last few weeks, as she has fallen into the social strata at school with football and soccer games, tailgating parties, etc., we have found that the lack of a phone has been a real problem - hundreds of people at school, can't find her sister for the ride home, friends (who all have phones) didn't bring theirs, etc. We really don't want a phone for "call the friends" purposes, as we have a perfectly good home phone that sits almost completely unused in a house full of teenaged girls. Tell Chickie for us that she's pretty - I know her mom loves to hear it! OK, probably shouldn’t have read all of the other entries before posting mine, as it will now sound fairly lame. I have 2 girls, 17 and 12, and an extra 16 year old this year. 17 yo has and pays for her own phone with her killer babysitting money, and we bought a phone for the 16 yo, as she does not drive, but will go places with friends, and she needs to be able to call home. This leaves poor 12 yo phoneless – and in the last few weeks, as she has fallen into the social strata at school with football and soccer games, tailgating parties, etc., we have found that the lack of a phone has been a real problem – hundreds of people at school, can’t find her sister for the ride home, friends (who all have phones) didn’t bring theirs, etc. We really don’t want a phone for “call the friends” purposes, as we have a perfectly good home phone that sits almost completely unused in a house full of teenaged girls.

Tell Chickie for us that she’s pretty – I know her mom loves to hear it!

]]> By: Kristi http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67838 Kristi Fri, 21 Sep 2007 17:59:59 +0000 http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67838 OH, and I forgot to add---because he WANTS one. He is "old enough" to NEED one, says he who is also old enough to stay home alone. OH, and I forgot to add—because he WANTS one. He is “old enough” to NEED one, says he who is also old enough to stay home alone.

]]> By: Kristi http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67837 Kristi Fri, 21 Sep 2007 17:57:54 +0000 http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67837 The problem here is that I have recently given in to my oldest child's requests to please NOT MAKE HIM GO to his younger sisters' soccer practice or to the grocery store for a quick run for milk because he is ENTIRELY capable of staying home ALONE for the 15 minutes it takes me to get there and back. The problematic part is that we do not have a traditional home telephone--you know, the kind that actually relies on a plug in the wall. We only have my "mommy" cell phone and the "daddy" cell phone. So, when I do leave him home for those short few minutes, which in my mind is an unimaginably LONG TIME and surely that will be when the oven will decide to spontaneously combust or there will be an unprecedented large scale earthquake here in Virginia, I have to leave him my cell phone so that he will be able to first call all his friends to tell them about how cool it was to see all the windows blow out and then to call 9-1-1. Surely, the cell phone would alleviate all this worrying, no? The problem here is that I have recently given in to my oldest child’s requests to please NOT MAKE HIM GO to his younger sisters’ soccer practice or to the grocery store for a quick run for milk because he is ENTIRELY capable of staying home ALONE for the 15 minutes it takes me to get there and back. The problematic part is that we do not have a traditional home telephone–you know, the kind that actually relies on a plug in the wall. We only have my “mommy” cell phone and the “daddy” cell phone. So, when I do leave him home for those short few minutes, which in my mind is an unimaginably LONG TIME and surely that will be when the oven will decide to spontaneously combust or there will be an unprecedented large scale earthquake here in Virginia, I have to leave him my cell phone so that he will be able to first call all his friends to tell them about how cool it was to see all the windows blow out and then to call 9-1-1.

Surely, the cell phone would alleviate all this worrying, no?

]]> By: Linda Sherwood http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67835 Linda Sherwood Fri, 21 Sep 2007 17:43:07 +0000 http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67835 I have four children - three girls and a boy. The oldest is 13, a girl, and equipped with an iPod, a cell phone, breasts larger than her mother's ever were at that age and a mother who dares ask her to do things like dishes. Frankly the girl thinks she is an adult and has been dangerously close to...I'm not sure what because everything I think of when I hear my smart-mouth daughter talk to me is illegal and out of my capability. And then I have an almost 12 year old, also a girl, who has pretty much been a tom boy most of her life. But lately, said girl has been growing and not just on her chest. I am most shocked by her facial changes. She is starting to look young womanly -- all of the baby curves are disappearing and high cheek bones are finding their way to her face. It's disgusting and gut-wrenching. Where did my baby disappear to? And so, the girl is in obvious need of a cell phone and iPod (I know you can't help with the iPod) because she needs to be able to start showing her mother the disdain her older sister has perfected. And that way, when I look at her, I won't ache for the baby she used to be, and instead (in between dampening those impulses that are illegal and/or too violent), I will be counting the days until she grows up and leaves me. Because it is happening. Way too soon. And I need all of the help I can get in dealing with it. The time until they move out is closer than the time when I cuddled their newborn bodies against me. Why must time march so FAST? I have four children – three girls and a boy. The oldest is 13, a girl, and equipped with an iPod, a cell phone, breasts larger than her mother’s ever were at that age and a mother who dares ask her to do things like dishes. Frankly the girl thinks she is an adult and has been dangerously close to…I’m not sure what because everything I think of when I hear my smart-mouth daughter talk to me is illegal and out of my capability.

And then I have an almost 12 year old, also a girl, who has pretty much been a tom boy most of her life. But lately, said girl has been growing and not just on her chest. I am most shocked by her facial changes. She is starting to look young womanly — all of the baby curves are disappearing and high cheek bones are finding their way to her face. It’s disgusting and gut-wrenching. Where did my baby disappear to?

And so, the girl is in obvious need of a cell phone and iPod (I know you can’t help with the iPod) because she needs to be able to start showing her mother the disdain her older sister has perfected. And that way, when I look at her, I won’t ache for the baby she used to be, and instead (in between dampening those impulses that are illegal and/or too violent), I will be counting the days until she grows up and leaves me.

Because it is happening. Way too soon. And I need all of the help I can get in dealing with it. The time until they move out is closer than the time when I cuddled their newborn bodies against me. Why must time march so FAST?

]]> By: Megan http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67830 Megan Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:20:45 +0000 http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67830 My Children do not need cell phones (desire? Oh yeah baby, they're all over the desire end of things). I need my Children to have a cell phone - why? So I can reach out and touch them any damn time I want. That would mean: Child 1 would not stand on one leg convinced that as I'm 5 minutes late I have forgotten it and will never, ever be there to pick it up. Also I'm dead. Child 2 would be seen off to walk over the bridge to soccer practice without me immediately being sure that somehow on that bridge it will be kidnapped and/or terribly injured and I (horrible mama) will never, ever know. Child 3... well Child 3 could never open the honest blue eyes of a congenital liar (well, more like congenital forgetter really) and announce that it had no idea it had a curfew! None! And imagine that its weird mother wanted to be told when it was going to be home! So... short version - I'm still trying to learn how to do this single-parent-widow thing and I'm looking for sanity baby, I'm talking utterly selfish desire for parental sanity. My Children do not need cell phones (desire? Oh yeah baby, they’re all over the desire end of things). I need my Children to have a cell phone – why? So I can reach out and touch them any damn time I want. That would mean:

Child 1 would not stand on one leg convinced that as I’m 5 minutes late I have forgotten it and will never, ever be there to pick it up. Also I’m dead.

Child 2 would be seen off to walk over the bridge to soccer practice without me immediately being sure that somehow on that bridge it will be kidnapped and/or terribly injured and I (horrible mama) will never, ever know.

Child 3… well Child 3 could never open the honest blue eyes of a congenital liar (well, more like congenital forgetter really) and announce that it had no idea it had a curfew! None! And imagine that its weird mother wanted to be told when it was going to be home!

So… short version – I’m still trying to learn how to do this single-parent-widow thing and I’m looking for sanity baby, I’m talking utterly selfish desire for parental sanity.

]]> By: jen lemen http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67825 jen lemen Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:28:58 +0000 http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67825 dearest mir: it is essential that madeleine have a cell phone now--right now!--at the cusp of her tweendom because: 1. if she gets one now while she still wants to call/talk to me every second of the day, she might continue to do so as a matter of habit when her tweendom gives way to full-fledge teenagery and a real contact list. 2. if she gets one now, she can activate her dream of reporting crime of all kinds day or night. please make her nancy drew dreams come true. 3. if she gets one now, she will stop changing the settings, the ringtone, the picture, the screensaver etc on MY cell phone since she will have her own to hack and i will not have to kill her. 4. if she gets one now, she will be more interested in calling whoever is on her preprogrammed list than talk to the fifth grade boys on the bus who today are "annoying her" and tomorrow might be trying to lead her down the path of destruction. 5. if she gets one now, it could be a christmas miracle worthy only of santa and her childhood innocence will be reprieved for one more christmas season, staving off atheism, cynicism and other forms of irony for at least one more year. god bless us, everyone. dearest mir:

it is essential that madeleine have a cell phone now–right now!–at the cusp of her tweendom because:

1. if she gets one now while she still wants to call/talk to me every second of the day, she might continue to do so as a matter of habit when her tweendom gives way to full-fledge teenagery and a real contact list.

2. if she gets one now, she can activate her dream of reporting crime of all kinds day or night. please make her nancy drew dreams come true.

3. if she gets one now, she will stop changing the settings, the ringtone, the picture, the screensaver etc on MY cell phone since she will have her own to hack and i will not have to kill her.

4. if she gets one now, she will be more interested in calling whoever is on her preprogrammed list than talk to the fifth grade boys on the bus who today are “annoying her” and tomorrow might be trying to lead her down the path of destruction.

5. if she gets one now, it could be a christmas miracle worthy only of santa and her childhood innocence will be reprieved for one more christmas season, staving off atheism, cynicism and other forms of irony for at least one more year. god bless us, everyone.

]]> By: Kristen http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67822 Kristen Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:15:34 +0000 http://wantnot.net/2007/09/20/call-me-kiddo-with-kajeet/#comment-67822 I would just like my child to answer a phone other than MINE. That and wouldn't it be great if the chatty cathy would talk to someone else all day long instead of me? You didn't mention an age requirement. He's 2. Going on 20. Is that a problem? I would just like my child to answer a phone other than MINE. That and wouldn’t it be great if the chatty cathy would talk to someone else all day long instead of me?

You didn’t mention an age requirement. He’s 2. Going on 20. Is that a problem?

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