I have had some thoughts on this over the last few months as well. It seems everywhere you go, the people are texting the entire time and it seemed like my kid was getting right in the middle of it, if he wasn't texting half of the population of the high school he was calling them. We made rules similar to WID about the phone and the IMing that was going on.

Once we talked about how there isn't any real alone time any more because as long as someone has your cell phone number or your IM name, they are as good as wherever you are. In the bathroom, the bedroom, church, school, car, store...you get my drift. He got it as well. We, as a family always "had" more people with us as his attention could never ignore the buzz of the cell or the ding of IM.

He understood what we were trying to say and the rules became texting while out of our home, cell phone used outside of our home and never to bed.(actually he often leaves it in his car). If someone needed to get him while he is home, they can call the regular land line so there was some sort of monitoring of time and attention.

In the beginnng, cell phones were used for emergency use only. Now they are a necessary item so in our home as long as he in our physical home, they are back to being an emergency item and a convenience item not a required item..

He also seemed relieved. I don't think he liked being "with" his girlfriend constantly. Our home is peaceful and we are able to have conversations with him without the constant buzz.

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GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!