Recently, my wee one had been keeping on about getting a mobile phone. In a way, that's the equivalent of boys dreaming of remote-controlled cars when I was at elementary school in Japan in the late 1970s. Many of her friends already have mobiles, and their parents seems happy about it because they regard a mobile as a safety equipment. But I still can't see the point of a child having a mobile. I was out of the town with my friends for hours when I was a child, and didn't need a mobile phone, you know. Yeah, it's nice to be able to get in touch with your kids when they are out without you. But it doesn't mean that they will be safer. Some weirdos can still grab those kids carring mobiles. See the tragic example of Holly and Jessica. And how about the convenicence of keeping in touch with friends?? But kids can use landlines at home and payphones in streets, and they very rarely come across emergency situations or urgent business calls. And how about health risk? Parents seem worried about MMR jabs or allergy risks, but they somehow love ignoring the risk of brain damage by mobile signals. I don't know much about mobile health risk. (I now know the truth about MMR jab hysteria. I recommend you "Bad Science" by Ben Goldacre.) And most importantly, who would pay bills? 99% of the calls and texts would be unnecesary/non-important, and this Scottish Jew won't give even a penny for that.
So, I told my wee one that she didn't need one. But she was so pushy that she eventually suggested that she would save up enough money for a handset. And a few days ago, she saved up enough money, but I had to tell her that I couldn't afford airtime for 2 extra phones (for her and her sis), by showing her the figures of average bills and travels + treats that I regularly pay for. Of course she went into a big huff, and she hasn't got over this yet. But it seems that she understands my point, which is good.
This is a kind of moment that I hate to be a single parent. But probably the stress would be bigger if another adult lived in this household. I can imagine myself and this person arguing like hell about what is best for my kids... Oh well. Somehow I can't really think "Oh, isn't it lovely that they are getting together at long last" when I think about my brother and his fiancee. I'm very very happy for them, but I don't want to follow the way they are going, knowing how selfish/stubborn/bossy I have become...
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