Reply #36: When She Starts Dating [View All]

which around this house is 16.

At least, that was always my answer. However, now that circumstances have changed...she's going a ka-zillion places this summer with some activities that last all day and are weather-dependent aka it rains it's over, and sometimes goes to the movies with a couple of other girls, and...and...
and...she's getting a cell phone at 14. Now to convince her father.

She's not someone who yaks on the phone for hours, as she is known for being both terse and business-like ('Yes, page 300, questions 1 through 6, anything else?, okay, bye.') so I don't think the minutes thing will be a problem. She already knows that we will pick her up at any time for any reason. I want her to be able to call us at any time for any reason and not have to 'borrow' or knock on a strange door to use a phone in an emergency. (Remember that college girl who was killed when she borrowed a phone from a man who turned out to be nuts?) I want her phone in her pocket with a panic button. Kidnapped people have been rescued thanks to their cell phones when they've called from car trunks or remote locations. And though I hope the worst never happens, communication is key to survival in so many situations from mountain climbing to sailing to...heaven knows what.